Operation: Anti Shipping Patrol

Date: 5th/6th November 1941 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 144 Squadron

Type: Hampden I

Serial: AE424

Code: PL:?

Base: RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, England.

Location: Probably North Sea off Terschelling.

Pilot: Plt Off. Llewellyn Newton Evans 65534 RAFVR Age 20. Missing

Obs: Plt Off. Harry Walter 67084 RAFVR Age 21. Missing

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Thomas George Miskin 932393 RAFVR Age 30. Missing

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. George Henry Sydney Bennett 1113757 RAFVR Age 20. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Aircrew remembered has been contacted by Alison Pick, third cousin once removed of Plt Off. Evans and has offered to provide information about his ancestry to close relatives. Contact Aircrew Remembered for contact details.

Taking off from RAF North Luffenham in Rutland early evening to attack shipping in the Frisian Islands. Armed with 4 x 500 lb. and 2 x 250 lb. wing bombs. 11 Hampdens from Bomber Command and some Hudsons from 608 Squadron, Coastal Command were on the operation which were met by both heavy flak and nightfighter patrols from 5./NJG2 who claimed 2 of the 5 aircraft lost.

AE424 was hit by ship's Flak of a Vorpostenboot (Flak Ship) and crashed in the sea off Schiermonnikoog, time unknown. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (13 July 1941 - 29 May 1942) The Early Years Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

144 Squadron lost two other aircraft during this night:

Hampden I AD846 Flown by Plt Off. D.A. Baker who with another member of the crew were taken PoW, with two others killed. Hit by Flak of a Vorpostenboot (Flak Ship) and crashed in the sea off Terschelling. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (13 July 1941 - 29 May 1942) The Early Years Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Hampden I AE253 Flown by 24 year old Plt Off. Frederick L. Kidd killed with 2 other crew members, 1 being taken PoW. Claimed by Uffz. Heinz Grimm, his 2nd Abschuss , from 5./NJG2 off the North Sea beach of Spiekeroog at 04:52 hrs. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (13 July 1941 - 29 May 1942) The Early Years Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

608 Squadron lost:

Hudson V AM657 Flown by 36 year old Wg Cdr. Rupert S. Darbyshire missing with all 3 other crew members.

Hudson V AM642 Flown by Canadian Sgt. Gordon R. Yeates missing with all 3 other crew members. Claimed by Oblt. Rudolf Schoenert, his 8th Abschuss, from 5./NJG2, in the sea 20km north of Nordeney at 01:13 hrs. Nachtjagd Combat Archive (13 July 1941 - 29 May 1942) The Early Years Part 2 - Theo Boiten).

Burial details:

Runnymede Memorial - photographed during a visit by Aircrew Remembered 2013

Plt Off. Llewellyn Newton Evans. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 32. Born in September 1921 in Cardiff. Son of Idris David (deceased in May 1934) and Winifred (née Newton) Evans of Cardiff, Wales.

Plt Off. Harry Walter. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 35. Son of Jonathan David and Harriet Amelia Walter, of Chatham, Kent, England.

Sgt. Thomas George Miskin. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 48. Son of Henry Albert and Susan Edith Miskin, husband of Phyllis Kathleen Miskin.

Sgt. George Henry Sydney Bennett. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 39. Son of Sydney C. Bennett and of Madge Bennett (nee Newell), of Parkstone, Dorset, England.

Researched for relatives of these crews. Update to loss information and NoK details for Plt Off Evans by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2022).

Other sources listed below.

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