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Operation: Bremen
Date: 02/03 July 1942 (Thursday/Friday)
Unit: No. 12 Squadron (motto: Leads the Field) 1 Group
Type: Wellington II
Serial: Z8579
Code: PH-?
Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshre
Location: Barchem, Netherlands
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Ian Clarke Dunn AUS/404927 RAAF Age 27. Killed
Obs: Sgt. Geoffrey Hugh Butler-Williams NZ/402848 RNZAF Age 24. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Sgt K.W. Hawkins 1073118 RAFVR Age ? Pow No: 25025 Camp Stalag Lamsdorf
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Evans 1313522 RAFVR Age ? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. S. Morris 948566 RAFVR Age ? Pow No: 24988 Camp Stalag Lamsdorf
REASON FOR LOSS:
At 23:35 hours on 2 July 1942, Wellington Z8579 took off from Binbrook to attack Bremen, Germany.
Sgt. Morris reported later that the aircraft crashed at Lochem, Holland. Sgt's Williams, Dunn and Evans were still in the aircraft when I left. Both Williams and Evans were killed in the engagement with an enemy night fighter when the aircraft exploded. Hawkins was a PoW. 'Sgt. Hawkins reported “Morris baled out before me, and the other three were still in the aircraft. Morris is a PoW like myself'.
Shot down by the Luftwaffe ace Lt. August Geiger of 8./NJG1(shown right) at 02:49 hrs. flying a Bf 110. His 7th claim of the war. He went on to claim 54 victories before he was killed on the 30th September 1943. (courtesy Kracker Archive)
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. Ian Clarke Dunn. Laren General Cemetery (Barchem). Plot 2. Row A. Joint grave 6. Born on the 11th December 1914 at Laidley, Queensland. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Dunn, of Laidley, Queensland, Australia. B.A. (Queensland). Grave inscription: 'Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That He Lay Down His Life'.
Sgt. Geoffrey Hugh Butler-Williams. Laren General Cemetery (Barchem). Plot 2. Row A. Grave 5. Born on the 23rd October 1917 at Sydney. A clerk for J.J. Craig Ltd. in Auckland prior to service. Son of Hugh Evan Butler-Williams and Catherine Maud Butler-Williams (née Cuddon), of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Sgt. David Evans. Laren General Cemetery (Barchem). Plot 2. Row A. Joint grave 6. No further details. Are you able to assist?
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and 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, Kracker Archive, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 07-01-2021
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