Operation: Anti Shipping Texel Holland

Date: 25th May 1941 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 139 Squadron

Type: Blenheim MkIV

Serial: R2791

Code: XD-O

Base: RAF Horsham St.Faith, Norfolk

Location: North Sea, some 5 kilometres NW of the Isle of Texel

Pilot: Sgt George Allan Bye R/69632 RCAF Age 20. Missing - believed Killed

Obs: Sgt William George Thorneycroft 920237 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt Stanley Bertram Bransby 1357702 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 05:13 hrs from RAF Horsham St.Faith with 7 Blenheims - sent out for an attack on ships near Texel. There were many rain showers with poor visibility. They flew in pairs. Blenheim R2791 piloted by Sgt. Bye flew together with V6333 of Sgt. McPhee.

They saw nothing, just as Sgt. McPhee headed towards the home base and climbed above the clouds, his W/OP Sgt. Ken Whittle saw a large ship with behind it a trawler. This turned out to be a Flak ship which put up a Flak barrage. The were already flying at zero feet and couldn't turn back. A curtain of white-hot metal was flying around V6333.

In the meantime Sgt Bye chose, as briefed, another target.

Sgt. McPhee's and his Blenheim jumped into the air after releasing bombs and Sgt. Whittle opened fire from his turret.

Now Sgt McPhee's Blenheim wasn't main target anymore and Sgt Bye got the full attention of the Flak. His Blenheim R2791 was hit at a distance of 500 metres and crashed as a ball of fire into the engine chamber of the 1,049 tons Sperrbrecher 'Silvia'. The engines penetrated the hull and came out at the other side. Fire broke out which couldn't be extinguished - the ship sank at position 53.09N, 04.43E, some 5 kilometres NW of the Isle of Texel. It was the Blenheim R2791 48th mission. For Sgt Bye and his crew was this their second mission and the first with enemy contact.

Burial details:

Sgt George Allan Bye. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 61. From Toronto, Ontario, Canada - no further details, are you able to assist further?

Sgt William George Thorneycroft. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 53. - no further details, are you able to assist further?

Sgt Stanley Bertram Bransby. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 40. Son of Allen and Annie Elydia Bransby, of Stockton, Co. Durham, England.

Researched Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered December 2015. Additional information via Hans Naut from the great RAF Commands Forum. Aircrew Remembered strongly recommends this informative forum.

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 - 2023 Last Modified: 14 March 2021, 09:42