Archive Report: Allied Forces

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21/22.02.1941 No. 149 Squadron Wellington IC R1045 OJ-M F/O. Henderson

Operation: Wilhelmshaven

Date: 21/22nd February 1941 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No: 149 Squadron

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1045

Code: OJ-M

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: No further details - lost without trace

Pilot 1: F/O. Ian Stuart Henderson 33406 RAF Age 23. Missing - believed Killed

Pilot 2: Sgt. William Pryce Jinks 745105 RAFVR Age 20. Missing - believed Killed

Obs: Sgt. William Holland Macleod 904361 RAFVR Age 23. Missing - believed Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Fred May 754677 RAFVR Age 25. Missing - believed Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Patrick Redmond 975988 RAFVR Age ? Missing - believed Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Stewart 945565 RAFVR Age 27. Missing - believed Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Mildenhall at 18:25 hrs to attack the "U" Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven. The aircraft was lost without trace and no night fighter claims have been established for any of the losses on this raid.

It is now understood that R1045 may have been one of the aircraft coned by searchlights between 22:05 and 22:11 hrs. and shot down by Stabsbaterie 1.-3 and 5./M Flak Battery 226 based on Norderney with the Wellington coming down in the North Sea off Heligoland at 22:11hrs. A total of 54 Wellingtons took part with 19 actually bombing the target area. No details were available of damage to the town (shown below)

Mid-upper gunner of Wellington R1045 Sgt. James Stewart (courtesy Jo Graham)

This was one of two aircraft lost on this raid - the other a Wellington IC T2503 from 75 squadron flown by P/O. Arthur Falconer was also lost without trace, together with all six crew.

Another Wellington IC T2547 crashed on landing, colliding with a fence near the airfield perimeter - all crew survived.

Burial details:

None, classed as missing.

F/O. Ian Stuart Henderson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 30. Son of Randall Walter and Annie Maude Henderson, of Herne Bay, Kent, England.

Sgt. William Pryce Jinks. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 46. Son of Frederick Henry and Elizabeth Jinks, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Sgt. William Holland Macleod. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 47. Son of William and Christina Macleod, of Brora, Sutherlandshire, Scotland.

Sgt. Fred May. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 48. Son of Fred and Sarah Jane May, of Oldham, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. James Patrick Redmond. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 51. Of 12B Silvester Street, Liverpool 5, England.

Sgt. James Stewart. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 52. Son of James Cameron Stewart and Janet Christian (née Hardie) Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland.

Researched for Jo Graham and for other relatives / friends of the crew. Medal collection courtesy Michel Beckers - January 2019. With thanks to the following sources:

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