Operation: Duisburg

Date: 17/18th June 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 142 Squadron (motto: 'Determination'). 1 Group

Type: Wellington II

Serial: W5370

Code: QT-?

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

Location: At base

Pilot: F/O. G.M Kelly 41186 RAFVR Safe

Obs: P/O. Robert McDougal Durham 519723 (45231) RAFVR Safe

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Leslie Frith 617340 RAFVR Safe

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Kenneth Stuart Holman 751800 RAFVR Safe

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Alfred Maclean 525672 RAF Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 22:58 hrs the ORB states that the 'sky was particularly bright' while crossing the North Sea with the result that the aircraft was attacked by two Ju 88, killing the rear gunner. The aircraft otherwise made a safe return to base. Given that it landed at 01:27 whereas the others landed after 05:00 hrs., it is reasonable to assume that the aircraft did not go on to bomb the target once the rear gunner had been killed

On the 12/13th August 1941 some of this crew in Wellington II W5433 were shot down by flack on an operation to Berlin. Crew details:

Fl/Lt. Alexander Douglas Gosman 40107 RAFVR PoW No: 3713. Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan
P/O. John Raymond Gibbon 61312 RAFVR PoW No: 3732. Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan
P/O. Robert McDougal Durham 45231 RAFVR PoW No: 3722. Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan
Sgt. Leslie Frith 617340 RAFVR PoW no further details
Sgt .Kenneth Stanley Holman 751800 RAFVR PoW No: 145. Camp: Stalag Kopernikus
Sgt. James Jackson 2206208 RAFVR PoW No: 148. Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug

Burial details:

Sgt. Maclean was buried with full military honours on the 21st June 1941.

Sgt. Douglas Alfred Maclean. Eastleigh Cemetery. Section D. Grave 485. From Southampton, England. No next of kin details - are you able to assist?

Michael McRitchie wrote to us in February 2024 Douglas joined the RAF in 1936 and met Stanley McRitchie of Belfast in 1938 at Andover when they trained as air gunners. They were posted to 142 Sqn (Fairey Battles) and went to war in1939, being stationed at Berry-au-Bac in France where the RAF suffered appalling casualties.

When the squadron returned to Binbrook in Lincolnshire Stanley was posted away but kept in close touch with his friend Doug, who sent him his picture in April 1941. Stanley found later that back in Belfast his son Michael had arrived into this world at just about the time his best friend Doug was leaving it.

Stanley wanted to visit Doug's parents at the end of the war but was posted to India in 1944 (Vultee Vengeance) he remained until the end of 1945.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Michael McRitchie for bringing the loss of Sgt. Maclean to our attention, National Archives Kew AIR 27-872-18/19.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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