Operation: Cologne

Date: 20/21st April 1941 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 99 Squadron (motto: Quisque tenax - 'Each tenacious'). 3 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: T2997

Code: LN-?

Base: RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire

Location: North Sea

Pilot: P/O. Frank Henry Cook 87387 RAFVR Age 26. Missing - believed killed

Pilot: P/O. Wilfrid Edgar Bowden 61262 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed killed

Obs: P/O. Rex Mulligan Morrow NZ/401212 RNZAF Age 30. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Brinley Morgan Evans 908598 RAFVR Age 19. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick George Hindrup NZ/40284 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Maurice Alfred John Savage 975994 RAFVR Age? Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 20:47 hrs with 10 others from the squadron to bomb Cologne - weather described as heavy showers but good visibility.

During the return trip at 01:20 hrs the Wellington collided with a barrage balloon over Harwich harbour and caught fire. Th aircraft crashed into the sea 3000 yards off Landguard killing all the crew. The bodies of the two New Zealand crew were later recovered, the remaining 4 crew were listed as missing.

On the 07th November 1940 another 99 squadron Wellington was lost in the same area. Wellington IC R3289 flown by Fl/Lt. Ronald Watcyn Jones and his 5 crew all perished.

Burial and other personal details:

P/O. Frank Henry Cook. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 31. Also remembered at St Botolph, Chevening, Kent war memorial. Born on the 02nd March 1915 at Chevening. Son of Frank Stanley Cook and Mary Ann Franklin Cook (née Bayliss) Married Frances Mary (née Starkey on the 09th September 1939) Father of Christopher Frank (born 20th July 1940) of Chevening, Kent, England.

P/O. Wilfrid Edgar Bowden. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 31. Son of Herbert E. and Adele Margaret Bowden, of Horam, Sussex. Native of Canada.

P/O. Rex Mulligan Morrow. Felixstowe New Cemetery. lock B. Sec. L. Grave 22. Born on the 30th October 1910 at Dunedin. Educated at Christ's College and Canterbury University College. Secretary for R,W, Morrow and Sons of Christchurch. Served as a reserve in the RNVR for 6 months. Enlisted at Levin as air observer under training on the 07th May 1940. Trained at No. 1 Air Observers School 03rd June 1940. Air observer badge awarded on the 21st September 1940 and commissioned on the 23rd September 1940. Embarked for England on the 06th October 1940. Further training with No. 11 Operational Training Unit on the Wellington 14th December 1940. Joined 99 squadron on the 22nd March 1941 carrying out 5 operational sorties. Son of Robert William and Rose Anna Morrow (née Mulligan), of 46 Holmwood Road, Fendalton, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Sgt. Brinley Morgan Evans. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 43. Also remembered on the Llanwrtyd Wells war memorial in Wales. Educated at Builth Wells County School. Son of D. Cynan Evans and Elizabeth Evans, of Harvey, Illinois, U.S.A.

Sgt. Frederick George Hindrup. Felixstowe New Cemetery. Block B. Sec. L. Grave 32. Born on the 24th May 1917 at Dannevirke. Worked as a porter for New Zealand Railways in Napier. Enlisted at Levin as an air gunner under training at Levin on the 16th January 1940. Air gunner badge awarded on the 27th May 1940. Embarked for England on the 07th June 1940. Promoted to sergeant on the 27th June 1940 (backdated 27th May 1940). Further training with 50 Operational Training Unit 30th July 1940. Joined 600 squadron on the Blenheim 21st September 1940, carried out 6 operational sorties including 1 Air Sea Rescue. To 11 Operational Training Unit for training on the Wellington 07th February 1941. Joined 99 squadron on the 23rd May 1941 carrying out 5 operational sorties. Son of Rfn. Frederick John Hindrup, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. (killed in action in France 26th August, 1918 - buried in Vaulx Cemetery, France), and of Dorothy Hindrup (née Crosland), stepson of Henry Charles Eyles, of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Sgt. Maurice Alfred John Savage. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 51. No further details - are you able to assist?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air-27-789-5 National Archives Kew, other sources as quoted below:

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