AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

408 Squadron Crest
20/21.10.1941 No. 408 Squadron Hampden I P1212 EQ-T Sgt. Bradley

Operation: Bremen

Date: 20/21st October 1941 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 408 Squadron 5 Group (motto: 'For Freedom') RCAF

Type: Hampden I

Serial: P1212

Code: EQ-T

Base: RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire

Location: Haltham, Lincolnshire

Pilot: Sgt. Desmond George Bradley NZ/401801 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Alexander Teryl McMillan R/67522 RCAF Age 24. Killed (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Robert Arthur Stansfield 1055943 RAFVR Age 27. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. E.L Coles RAFVR Survived injured (no further details)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 18:14 hrs joining 152 other aircraft from various squadrons. The report from Bremen described it as a small raid with no significant damage.

5 of them were lost either in England or on the coast. 5 others crashed in occupied territory.

P1212 was returning to land at RAF Coningsby both cut out (probably through lack of fuel and at 00:45 hrs crashed at Haltham north of the airfield. Sgt. Coles survived the crash badly injured. Some reports state that he died later, but we have not been able to find any information to back this up.

(1) The brother of Alexander, 21 year old, P/O. Osman McMillan J/92574 RCAF also lost his life. On the 25th September 1944 whilst with 441 Squadron RCAF flying Spitfire NH151 9G-S when he was hit from a Fw190a over Nijmegen in Holland. Killed during an attempted crash landing.

Burial details:

Sgt. Desmond George Bradley. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery Sec. Q. Grave 300. Born on the 05th December 1918 at Wangaroo, the son of Vincent Henry and Edith Victoria Bradley (née Barnes), of Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Prior to service worked as sheep farmer. A total of 322 flying hours logged and on his 10 operational sortie.

Sgt. Alexander Teryl McMillan. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery Sec. Q. Grave 299. Son of Osman and Ina McMillan of 685 Chilver Road, Windsor, Ontario, Canada and husband of Betty McMillan, of Windsor, Canada, Grave inscription: 'In Life Loved, In Death Remembered'.

Sgt. Robert Arthur Stansfield. Blackpool Cemetery (Carleton) Sec. E. Grave 71. Son of Frederick and Clara Stansfield and husband of Jean Sunsfield, of Leyland, England. Grave inscription: 'There, The Warfare Ended, Bid Them Rest In Peace'.

Other: P/O. Osman McMillan. Mook War Cemetery. Grave II.A.6. Inscription reads: 'God Rest His Soul In Peace'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 02.11.2019

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 15 March 2021, 21:36

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor