AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.
We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.
40 Squadron Crest
12/13.03.1941 No. 40 Squadron Wellington Ic R1013 BL-B Sq/Ldr. Eric H. Lynch-Blosse

Operation: Berlin

Date: March 12/13th 1941

Unit: No. 40 Squadron

Type: Wellington Mk1C

Serial: R1013

Code: BL-B

Base: RAF Alconbury

Location: Over Berlin ?

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Eric Hugh Lynch-Blosse 33194 RAF Age 23. PoW No: 472 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria (1)

2nd Pilot: P/O. Henry Heaton 87046 RAFVR PoW No: 3764 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria.

Obs: Stanley Harold Palmer 76165 RAFVR PoW No: 475 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria.

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. D.R. Clay 759138 RAFVR PoW No: 491 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus

Air/Gnr: Sgt. A. Hammond 900464 RAFVR PoW No: 501 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug

Air/Gnr: Sgt. H. Caldicott 971482 RAFVR PoW No: 487 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 19.55 hrs from RAF Alconbury to bomb Berlin. Some 72 aircraft taking part made up from 30 Hampdens, 28 Wellingtons and 14 Whitleys.

Bombing was reported as scattered with most of the bombing falling to the south of the city. Reports state that 60 assorted buildings were hit with none of these classed as destroyed. 11 people on the ground were killed, 24 injured with 80 being bombed out.

The crash scene of Wellington R1013 (courtesy Michel Beckers)

After signalling that they had completed the task and were returning nothing further was heard from them. No claims from night fighters for this Wellington, so likely it had been brought down by flak over the target area.

40 Squadron lost another crew on this operation:

Wellington Ic T2515 BL-U - Flown by19 year old Sgt. Douglas William Gough NZ/40764 RNZAF of Wellington, New Zealand. Killed with all other 5 crew.
(1) Sq/Ldr. Lynch-Blosse born on 30th July 1917. Graduated from RAF Cranwell 31st July 1937. Later MiD and in 1952, made an OBE. Died aged 82 on the 25th February 2000.

Burial details:

None - all view survived.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered - February 2015 - updated August 2018.

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

 Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 13 March 2021, 20:48

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor