Archive Report: Allied Forces

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27/28.02.1942 77 Squadron Whitley V Z9148 KN-L Plt.Off. McCarthy

Operation: Wilhelmshaven (Scharnhorst)

Date: 27/28th February 1942 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: 77 Squadron

Type: Whitley V

Serial: Z9148

Code: KN:L

Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire

Location: Holtgast, Gemany

Pilot: Plt.Off. Morris Donald Darwin McCarthy 403976 RNZAF Age 19. Killed (1)

2nd Pilot/Nav: Sgt. Arthur Robert Harrington 1264074 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Bert Gordon Hibell 404029 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Roland Wilfred Lancaster 611985 RAF Age ? Killed

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. John Meredith Farley Shilan 946428 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from Leeming, Yorkshire to attack the Scharnhorst (2) which was believed to be under repairs at Wilhelmshaven. 33 aircraft took part and the raid was considered a failure due to heavy cloud. Only 3 bombs exploded in the harbour and no damage caused.

The Luftwaffe night fighters sprang into defending the area with the result that 3 Whitleys all from 77 Squadron were shot down. The Luftwaffe night fighters sprang into defending the area with the result that 3 Whitley's all from 77 Squadron were shot down. Whitley Z9148 was shot down by Lt. Leopold Fellerer (3) of 5./NJG2 with combat taking place at 4.100 mtrs. near Holtgast, NNe of Aurich at 21:38 hrs.

The other 77 Squadron losses this night:

Whitley V Z9280 KN-K Flown by Sqn.Ldr. Leslie Parkin DFC. killed along with 3 crew, 1 PoW.

Whitley V Z6943 KN-A Flown by Flt.Lt. Donald Irving RAAF killed with all 5 crew members.

(1) Tragically the family of Fg.Off. McCarthy also lost two other son's - Sqn.Ldr. Ray McCarthy, 7 Squadron, killed 15th April 1943 and L/Cpl. Robert McCarthy New Zealand Infantry killed on the 25th October 1942.

(2) The Scharnhorst was eventually sank on 26th December 1943 at 19:45 hrs. with the loss of 1,932 crew after a total of 55 torpedoes and 2,195 shells had been fired at the battlecruiser.

(3) Lt Leopold Fellerer survived the war with a total of 35 night kills and a further possible 2 day kills.

Burial details:

(Above) Plt.Off. Morris Donald Darwin McCarthy. Sage War Cemetery Grave 5.E.9. Son of William Edmond and Clara McCarthy, of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand.

Image of Sgt. Harrington and his Grave marker (Courtesy of Robert Hutchinson)

Sgt. Arthur Robert Harrington. Sage War Cemetery Grave 8.B.8. Born on the 5th May 1912. Immediate family details currently not available.

(Left) Flt.Sgt. Bert Gordon Hibell. Sage War Cemetery Grave 8.B.10. Next of kin details currently not available - are you able to assist further?

Sgt. Roland Wilfred Lancaster. Sage War Cemetery Grave 8.B.11. Next of kin details currently not available - are you able to assist further?

Flt.Sgt. John Meredith Farley Shilan. Sage War Cemetery Grave 8.B.9. Next of kin details currently not available - are you able to assist further?

With thanks to William Prosser who's wife is the granddaughter of Sgt. Arthur Robert Harrington. Thanks also to Robert Hutchinson for the image and grave marker for his Grand Uncle, Sgt Harrington. Also to the sources shown:

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