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Operation: Merseburg
Date: 08/09th July 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: No. 35 Squadron
Type: Halifax I
Serial: L9521
Code: TL-Z
Base: RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire
Location: 187 Rijksweg, Mook
Pilot: Sgt. Lionel William Bovington DFM. 566881 RAFVR PoW No: 39258 Camp: 357 - Stalag Kopernikus
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Thomas Arthur Parkes 526677 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
Obs: Sgt. Archie Kiddey 1389004 RAFVR PoW No: 270051 Camp 4B - Stalag Muhlberg (Elbe) (1)
Air/Bmr: W/O. George Donald Barry 580820 RAFVR Age 23 PoW No: 39259 Camp: 357 - Stalag Kopernikus (2)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Albert Edward Hammond 535641 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Henry Septimus Bradbeer 805520 RAFVR PoW - Seriously injured - hospitalised
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Noel Eric Henry Coleman 1107286 RAFVR Age 33. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire at 22:33 to bomb the oil plant at Leuna, together with 7 others from the squadron and 7 other aircraft from various bases.
4 of the crew managed to bale out of the aircraft but it is understood that 3 went down with the Halifax. Sgt. Bradbeer was hospitalised, seriously injured - the German surgeons had to amputate his left leg.96 year old, Archie Kiddey passed away on the 08th January 2015 at his home in Wilford, Nottinghamshire, following a short illness.
Left: Hptm. August Geiger (Courtesy Kracker archives on this website)(2) During the 'Long March' (the moving of PoW away from the Russian advance) W/O. George Donald Barry was one of between 30 + allied prisoners hit by a strafing attack from Typhoons who mistook them for Germans on the retreat. This happened just outside the village of Gresse on Thursday 19th April 1945. W/O. Barry died from his wounds on the 25th April 1945.
(3) This was the 1st claim by the future nightfighter ace Oblt. August Geiger (a total of 49 kills) who was later shot down and killed by W/Cmd. Bob Braham from 141 Beaufighter squadron after a fierce dogfight on September 29th 1943.
Above taken at Stalag Kopernikus: T. Humphrey Ball 518234 RAFVR (PRU Spitfire), Neil Campbell (Hampden 61 Squadron), Gordon F. Bottomley 647964 RAFVR (AD924 Hampden 144 Squadron), A.L. Brown (Air Sea Rescue), Archie Kiddey (35 Squadron Halifax L9521 Sgt Pilot), Will Bennett (W/OP/AG) (courtesy of Frederick Thiede)Above: another PoW photo taken at Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria showing Sgt. Archie Kiddey 2nd from right (courtesy Frederick Thiede - May 2018)
The town of Merseburg an important target for the allies as one of the largest synthetic oil plants and second most extensive chemical operation in Nazi Germany - the IG Farben Leuna works was situated just out of the town. After 23 air raids, 6,200 dwellings were completely or partly destroyed.
The son of the navigator Sgt. Archie Kiddey Mr. John Kiddey recorded his memories:
Video 1: Sgt. Archie Kiddey recalls in 2000 his World War 2 experiences including being shot down over Holland, spending 4 years in PoW camps before escaping and getting home to England.
Video 2: Speaking in 2000 about his experiences during WW2 when he was a PoW.
Video 3: Part three of a long interview he did with his son in 2000.
Video 4: Here he remembers the latter stages of the war when food was short and it was becomg clear that Germany would, eventually, be defeated and Archie might finally get home to his wife and his baby son.
Video 5: In this last section, he talks about how he and others managed to escape and survive as Germany collapsed and British tanks rolled in from the west. He also regrets seeing fellow prisoners stealing silverware from German women who had helped them in their escape.
Burial details:
Reinterred on the 19th June 1946 in the CWWG Cemetery in Uden.
Sgt. Thomas Arthur Parkes. Uden War Cemetery. Grave 5.D.5. Son of Richard and Tamar Parkes- no further details. Grave inscription reads: "Resting Where No Shadows Fall".
Fl/Sgt. Albert Edward Hammond. Uden War Cemetery. Grave 5.D.4. Son of Sgt. Major A.E. Hammond of Cleethorpes, Yorkshire, No further details - are you able to assist?
Sgt. Noel Eric Henry Coleman. Uden War Cemetery. Grave 5.D.3. Son of Edward Henry and Mary Ann Coleman, of Starbeck, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England and husband of Ruth Coleman. Grave inscription reads: "Always Remembered By All Who Loved Him".
Later:
W/O. George Donald Barry. Hanover War Cemetery Grave: 6.G.16. Initially buried at the Diepholz Cemetery, Germany. Reinterred on the 07th June 1947. Son of George and Mary Barry and husband of Freda Barry, of Liverpool, England. Grave inscription reads: "May He Find In God's Haven Of Rest, The Joys He Missed In Life. Ever In Our Thoughts".
Researched for John Kiddey, son of the observer, Sgt. Archie Kiddey and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Frederick Thiede for PoW photographs, other sources as shown below.KTY - 30.01.2018
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 15 March 2021, 13:36