AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

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.

692 crest
25/26th September 1944 692 Squadron Mosquito B.X VI PF393 F/O. Brennan

Operation: Mannheim

Date: 25/26th September 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: No. 692 Squadron (motto: Polus Dum Sidera Pascet - 'So long as the sky shall feed the stars') 8 PFF Group

Type: Mosquito B.X VI

Serial: PF393

Code: P3-?

Base: RAF Gravely, Cambridgeshire

Location: Mignault, Belgium

Pilot: F/O. Leonard James Brennan NZ/413020 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Nav: F/O. John Thomas Bolger Aus/405291 RAAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19:06 hrs from RAF Gravely on an operation consisting of 48 Mosquitos on a raid to Mannheim, Germany. We have not established if they were hit by anti aircraft fire or a night fighter attack.

The body of the pilot was recovered from the burnt out wreckage but that of the navigator was found some way from the crash site wearing a half-opened parachute. It can be assumed that F/O. Bolger had attempted to escape the stricken aircraft but it was too low to allow his parachute to deploy.

This was the only loss from the Mosquitoes although a Stirling III from 199 Squadron which was providing airborne Mandrel jamming screen for the Mosquito force crashed in bad weather on return. The pilot of Stirling III LJ518 EX-K 26 year old, P/O. Francis Reginald Chatwin 179033 RAFVR was killed with the remaining 7 crew members.

Burial details:

F/O. Leonard James Brennan. Mignault Communal Cemetery. Grave 1. Born on the 10th November 1921 at Onehunga, Auckland. Worked as a clerk for Campbell and Ehrenfried Ltd, wine and spirit merchants, Auckland. Enlisted on the 25th May 1941 at Levin. Pilots badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 08th November 1941 after training with 3 and 2 Flying Training School in New Zealand. Embarked for England on the 17th November 1941. Awarded his commission on the 21st July 1943. Flew various aircraft with various units including the Tiger Moth, Liberator, Oxford, Mosquito and Wellington. A flying instructor with 16 Flying Training School. Son of Francis Michael Brennan and of Elizabeth Sarah Brennan (nee Simmons), of Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand. An experienced pilot with a total of 1588 flying hours logged and completed at least 5 operational sorties.

/O. John Thomas Bolger. Mignault Communal Cemetery. Grave 2. Born on the 15th April 1921 at Maryborough, Queensland. Worked as a clerk for the Ordinance Department, Australian army prior to service. Enlisted on the 10th July 1940 at Brisbane. Son of Thomas and Elsie Josephine Bolger (nee Moran). Bother to Hugh Burke, Moia Theresa Agnes, Brian Patrick (died age 3 in 1925) of Hendra, Queensland, Australia. His brother 20 year old Fl/Sgt. Hugh Burke Bolger Aus/414193 was killed on the 12th July 1943. 467 Squadron Lancaster ED531 PO-T crashed at Sion, Switzerland with the loss of all 7 crew.

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

KTY 04-05-2021

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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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 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 - 2025
Last Modified: 04 May 2021, 19:43

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