Archive Report: Allied Forces

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17.06.1944 No. 99 Squadron Wellington XI HZ719 Sq/Ldr. A.S.R. Ennis DSO. DFC.

Operation: Bomb ferrying

Date: 17th June 1944 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 99 Squadron

Type: Wellington XI

Serial: HZ719

Base: Jessore Airbase

Location: Loktak Lake, Manipur, India

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Anthony Stewart Reginald Ennis DSO. DFC. 104249 RAFVR Age 26. Killed (1)

Pilot 2: W/O. II. Donald Mcleod Lindsay R/157741 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. William Edmund George Griffin 1389497 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. David Robert Rees 1467524 RAFVR Age ? Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Arthur Sisterton Davison 1015920 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Alwyne Atkin 1663367 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Understood to have been on a Bomb ferrying assignment when on return they were jumped by a Ki-Oscar. It is reported that during the air battle that ensued that this Oscar, flown by Sgt Tomesaku Igarashi (50th Sentai) shot down the Wellington which came down in Loktak Lake. The rear gunner also managed to return fire, bringing him down during the battle.

Ki-43-Oscar

Other reports state that it was brought down by ground fire from Japanese troops. We are open to any new evidence.

We understand that a group of local researchers are trying to identify the crash site (not discovered as yet - despite reports in the Times of India on the 8th October 2014)

Researched for the Wimbledon College Roll Of Honour - Aircrew Remembered have offered to provide basic information for the school records. Sq/Ldr. Ennis had been a former pupil.

(1) The family also lost his younger brother, 21 year old Sgt. Patrick Joseph William Ennis 911094 RAFVR in July 1941. 102 squadron Whitley V Z6573.

Sq/Ldr. Anthony Stewart Reginald Ennis (shown left) - DFC Citation London Gazette 19th May 1942 - whilst with 158 Squadron:

"One night in May 1942, Fl/Lt. Ennis and P/O. Hanson, as pilot and rear gunner respectively of an aircraft, were detailed to carry out a low level attack on Warnemunde. The target was heavily defended both with searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, which made a low-level attack very hazardous. Fl/Lt. Ennis displaying great courage, flew the aircraft at a very low level, but found that he could not penetrate the heavy defences. In all, three attempts were made, before the target was reached and attacked successfully. Throughout this time P/O. Hanson continued firing at the searchlights and other defences and destroyed at least two searchlights. The skill and courage displayed by him contributed largely to the safe return of the aircraft."

DSO Citation London Gazette 6th November 1942 - whilst with 158 Squadron:

"This officer has completed many operational sorties. There are very few targets in Germany which have not suffered as a result of his remarkable spirit of determination to achieve his objective. In February 1941 he was employed on a special mission to Malta which he accomplished with complete success, and in May 1942, he was awarded the DFC."

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Anthony Stewart Reginald Ennis DSO. DFC. Imphal War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 6.H.14-18. Son of W/Cdr. Wilfrid Edmund Ennis and of Maud Marie Ennis (née Robinson), of Edgware, Middlesex.

W/O. II. Donald Mcleod Lindsay. Imphal War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 6.H.14-18. Son of Lorne N. Lindsay and Edith M. Lindsay, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Fl/Sgt. William Edmund George Griffin. Imphal War Cemetery. Grave 6.H.19. Son of George William and Matilda Lucy Griffin, of Willesden, Middlesex.

Fl/Sgt. David Robert Rees. Imphal War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 6.H.14-18. No further details - are you able to assist?

Fl/Sgt. Arthur Sisterton Davison. Imphal War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 6.H.14-18. No further details - are you able to assist?

Fl/Sgt. Alwyne Atkin. Imphal War Cemetery. Coll. Grave 6.H.14-18. Son of Cyril John and Ada Atkin; husband of Eveline Maud Atkin, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

Researched for the Wimbledon College Roll Of Honour. Our thanks to Matt Poole, David Kavangh. Martin Bond (99 Squadron historian) Plus the excellent information on the Keypublishing Forum. Michel Beckers for photos of W/O. Lindsay - July 2016. For further details our thanks to the sources shown below.

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