Archive Report: Allied Forces

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No 9 Squadron Wellington Ic WS-? P/O. Douglas James Jamieson

Operation: Koln (Cologne)

Date: 7th/8th July 1941 (Monday/Tuesday

Unit: No 9 Squadron

Type: Wellington Ic

Serial: R1040

Code: WS-?

Base: RAF Honington, Suffolk

Location: Near Maastricht (Limburg) Holland

Pilot: P/O. Douglas James Jamieson 401386 RNZAF Age 26 Killed (1)

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Wilfred George Jesson 401388 RNZAF Age 27 Killed

Nav: P/O. Grossett Keith Coates J/3272 RCAF Age 28 Killed (2)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Norman Walter Harding 910064 RAFVR Age 23 Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Cyril George Blandon 645412 RAF Age 30 Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Stanley Burnside 538670 RAF Age? Killed

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RAF Honington (courtesy of Fold3) Wellington Ic of No. 9 Squadron (courtesy of Imperial War Museum)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Wellington R1040 took off from RAF Honington at 23.40hrs for an operation on Koln (Cologne). One of 114 Wellington aircraft that took off that night for the same operation to bomb the city of Cologne. The weather was very good that night and the crews reported good bombing. Much damage was caused to the centre of the city and in the eastern areas of the city. There were many large fires and much damage was caused to the railway lines, industrial buildings and the Maria Himmelfahrt church. Wellington R1040 was shot down by a night fighter Obit. Reinhold Knacke of 2./NJG1 this was his 8th claim of the war (abschusse) The aircraft crashed at 01.15hrs. P/O. Jamieson and crew had flown together on five operation prior to this night

Above right: Obit. Reinhold Knacke and Uffz. Kurt Bundrock. Obit. Reinhold Knacke Bff110 had to return with battle damage, possibly by the gunners of Wellington R1040. Obit. Reinhold Knacke went on to have a total of over 40 kills. He was killed on the 3/4th February 1943 from return fire from a Stirling aircraft near Achterveld/Ede. His bordfunker (radio operator) Kurt Bunrock survived by baling out.

Two further Wellington aircraft were lost that night Wellington T2880 of No. 99 Squadron and Wellington T2992 of No. 214 Squadron with the total loss of 11 crew and 7 became prisoners of war

Burial details:

P/O. Douglas James Jamieson and Sgt. Wilfred George Jesson

P/O. Douglas James Jamieson. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 20. B. 7. Son of Ernest and Ada Jamieson of St. Albans, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. Husband of Jessie Moore Jamieson of Riccarton, Canterbury. (1) P/O. Jamieson's was posted from No. 20 OTU (Operational Training Unit) RAF Lossiemouth to No. 9 Squadron on the 10th May 1941 and flew his first operation with the Squadron to Kiel on the night of the 18th/19th May 1941 returning to base safely

Sgt. Wilfred George Jesson. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 20. B. 5. Son of William George Jesson and Sophia Jesson (nee Edgar) Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

P/O. Coates Sgt. Harding Sgr. Blandon and Sgt. Burnside (all headstone pictures courtesy of Des Philippet)

P/O. Grossett Keith Coates. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 20. B. 8. Son of Grossett Alvin and Ethel Christina Coates of London, Ontario, Canada. (2) P/O. Coates arrived in the UK on the 7th February 1941 and was posted to No. 20 OTU (Operational Training Unit) RAF Lossiemouth and then to No. 9 Squadron on the 10th May 1941. Grossett Keith Coates attended the University of Western Ontario and is remembered in the Remembrance books London, Ontario, Canada

Sgt. Norman Walter Harding. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 12. B. 7, Son of Walter John and Lily Mary Harding of Lanes End, Dartford, Kent

Sgt. Cyril George Blandon. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 20. B. 9. Son of Walter James Blandon and Minnie Blandon of Hammersmith, London

Sgt. John Stanley Burnside. Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands. Grave Ref: 20. B. 6. No further information on next of kin. Are you able to help?

Researched by: Kate Tame Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew. With special thanks to Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Sir George Grey Special Collection Auckland Library AWNS-194107-23-34-19, Pastpapers National Archives of New Zealand, Fold3, W R Chorley - Bomber Command Losses 1941, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - Bomber Command War Diaries 1939-1945, Gordon Thorburn - Bombers First and Last, Des Philippet,

For further detailed accounts we recommend the folowing publications: Gordon Thorburn - Bombers First and Last ISBN 10: 1 86105 946 9. With thanks to Michel Beckers and Thomas Cooper for grave and portrait photo of P/O. Coates - September 2016.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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