Operation: Bergen, Holland

Date: 4th July 1942 (Saturday)

Unit No: 226 Squadron

Type: Boston III (A-20 Havoc)

Serial No: Z2213

Code: MQ:U

Location: In the sea 20 km west of Callantaoog, Holland

Base: RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk

Pilot: Plt Off. Charles Masterman Henning 104360 RAFVR Age 20. MiA

Navigator: Plt Off. Percy James Voyzey 133592 RAFVR Age 24. MiA

Radio Op/Gunner: Sgt. Herbert Thomas Willig 1325218 RAFVR Age? MiA

This operation, flown on America’s Independence Day, involved for the first time crews from the 27th Bombardment Group (Light), 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) who had been attached to 226 Squadron for operational training in low-level day bombing techniques, whilst awaiting deliver of their own aircraft.

Above: RAF Bomber Command Boston Mk III

REASON FOR LOSS:

Twelve Bostons took off on an early morning attack on four enemy fighter airfields in Holland. Six of the aircraft were crewed by personnel from the US Army Air Force (AAF).

The four airfields were:

De Kooy which was 61 km north of Amsterdam and 4 km south of Den Helder. 2nd Lt Frederick A. Loehrl flying Boston III AL677 was shot down;

Bergen which was 4 km WNW of Alkmaar and 2½ km south of Bergen;

Haamstede which was near the western tip of Schouwen island and 2½ km NW of the village of Haamstede;

Valkenburg which was on the coast 14 km NE of den Haag and about 1½ km SW of the village Valkenburg.

Z2213 took off at 07:14 hrs detailed as #2 in a flight of three aircraft tasked with attacking the airfield at Bergen, Holland. The other two aircraft were AL679 MQ:Y flown by the flight leader Flt Lt. Robert A. Yates-Earl, 401163 RAFVR and as #3 AL741 MQ:V flown by 2nd Lt. William G. Lynn Jr., O-432081 AAF.

The combat report for this operation described that the airfield hangers and concealed dispersals were bombed from a very low altitude at 08:02 hrs. The Boston flown by 2nd Lt. Lynn Jr. went down over the target, probably from being hit by flak. Plt Off. Charles F. Henning’s Boston apparently was also hit by flak but carried out his bombing attack.

Flt Lt. Yates-Earl, just after dropping his bombs, encountered a Bf109 taking off immediately in front of him and gave him a 2 second burst from the front guns. The Boston’s speed caused him to overshoot the Bf109, however, as the enemy fighter turned to port the gunner, Sgt. Leaver, fired a burst of 20 rounds at point blank range to the port quarter of the Bf109.

The Bf109 was next seen emitting considerable black smoke, but continued to follow the two remaining two Bostons out to sea. The enemy fighter concentrated his attack on Plt Off. Henning’s damaged Boston shooting him down on fire, and breaking up, into the sea some 15 to 30 miles west of the Dutch coast.

The Bf109 appeared reluctant to close under 800 yards with Flt Lt. Yates-Earl’s Boston. The enemy fighter circled once over the spot in the sea where Plt Off. Henning’s aircraft crashed and then set course for his base still emitting large quantities of black smoke.

Above Uffz. Johannes Rathenow.

A Boston III was claimed by Uffz. Johannes Rathenow, his first Abschuss, from 10./JG 1 west of Den Helder at 08:33 hrs.

One Bf109 F-4 from IV./JG 1 was destroyed on the ground.(Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45 the Netherlands (Henry L. deZeng IV)).

Burial details:

Plt Off. Charles Masterman Henning. Remembered on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 70. Birth registered in 2nd quarter of 1921 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland. Son of Charles Edward and Ruby May (née Jeffers) Henning.

Charles is remembered on the Queen's University, Belfast WW2 memorial. He had attended the university's faculty of science from 1939-1940. There is also a family headstone for Charles in Mitchelstown St. George's Church of Ireland Churchyard, Cork, Ireland.

Above: Mayfield School WW2 Memorial - Plt Off. Voyzey (The Old Norther Grammar School, Portsmouth)

Plt Off. Percy James Voyzey. Remembered on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 72. Born on the 15th April 1918. Son of Percy James and Margaret Graham Dewar (née Leslie) Voyzey, of Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

Sgt. Herbert Thomas Willig. Remembered on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 96. No further details.

Researched by Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Reviewed and updated by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered (May 2021).

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