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Operation: Dusseldorf, Germany
Date: 7th/8th December 1940 (Saturday/Sunday)
Unit No: 9 Squadron
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: R3220
Code: WS:L
Base: RAF Honington, Suffolk
Location: Stene on the Southern outskirts of Ostend
Pilot: Flt Lt. Desmond Geoffrey Stanley 33336 RAF Age 23. KiA
2nd Pilot: Sgt. Robert Coates Parker 75418 RAFVR Age? KiA
Obs: Sgt. John James Coulsham 'Jimmy' Nanson 75922 RAFVR Age? KiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Anthony Arthur Rogers 965303 RAFVR Age 26. KiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Alan Grocott 581509 RAF Age 20. KiA
Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. William Humphrey Pontin 967876 RAFVR Age 20. KiA
Above left: Flt Lt. Desmond G. Stanley (Courtesy of Rev. A.P. Stanley), and right: Sgt. John James Coulsham 'Jimmy' Nanson (Courtesy of Andrew Hudson)
If you have any further information on the loss of this aircraft, crew, their relatives and friends than please contact us via the "add info" button at the top of this page
Wellington IC type aircraft. Dusseldorf after a bombing raid
REASON FOR LOSS:
Wellington R3220 took off from RAF Honington at 17.00hrs for an operation on Dusseldorf. 69 aircraft took off that day most going to Dusseldorf with a total of 5 aircraft lost. Twelve aircraft from 9 Squadron were involved in this operation with Wellington R3220 failing to return.
The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed near Ostend. The following day nine aircraft from 9 Squadron carried out a search for the aircraft over the North Sea but without success.
Burial details:
Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Flt Lt. Desmond Geoffrey Stanley. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Joint Grave 8-9. Son of the Very Revd. Charles Geoffrey Nason Stanley, B. A. and Eileen Stanley of Lismore Deanery, Co. Waterford, Irish Republic.
Desmond Geoffrey Stanley was posted to 9 Squadron on the 21st Oct 1940 from No. 15 OTU (Operational Training Unit) Born on the 23 September 1917 in Waterford. Educated at Bishop Foy School he and entered Cranwell in 1936 and was assigned to C Squadron. Stanley is remembered on the Waterford Roll of Honour
Sgt. Robert Coates Parker. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Grave 4. No further information on next of kin
Sgt. John James Coulsham 'Jimmy' Nanson. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Joint Grave 8-9. Son of James and Isabella Dixson (née Armstrong) Nanson from Sunderland, Durham, England.
Sgt. Anthony Arthur Rogers. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Grave 5. Son of Samuel and Edith Jane Rogers of Manchester.
At the time of his death Anthony's address was 33 Deramere Street, Manchester
Sgt. Joseph Alan Grocott. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Grave 7. Son of Joseph and Grace Constant Grocott of Waltham Abbey, Essex
Sgt. William Humphrey Pontin. Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 9. Row 4. Grave 6. Son of William H. and Doris W. Pontin of Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire.
William Humphrey Pontin is remembered on the Pontnewydd War Memorial
Researched by Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. Thanks to Rev. A.P. Stanley for the image of Flt Lt. Stanley and for updating the aircraft code. (Oct 2020). Thanks to Andrew Hudson for the photograph of Sgt Nanson, who was the cousin of Andrew’s grandmother (Jun 2023).
Other sources listed below:
RS 22.06.2023 - Addition of image for Sgt. Nanson
KT - Original research and upload
RS 26.10.2020 - Addition of image for Flt Lt. Stanley and update to narrative.
RS 22.06.2023 - Addition of image for Sgt. Nanson
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 22 June 2023, 14:13