Operation: Reconnaissance

Date: 25th April 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 212 Squadron (motto: Amari ad Astra - ' The Sea to the Stars') (1)

Type: Spitfire PR.III

Serial: N3071 (2)

Code: -

Base: RAF Heston, Middlesex (3)

Location: Esslingen, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. 'Snowy' Cecil Dunn Milne 33273 RAF Age 24. PoW No. 412 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan

REASON FOR LOSS:

N3117 was one of a small number of specially modified Spitfire Is to PR Type B standard. These were unarmed, but equipped with two F24 cameras in the wings and an extra 29 gallon fuel tank in the rear fuselage. A detachment from No. 2 Camouflage Unit based at Heston airfield in England began operating from Lille-Seclin airfield in France from 5 November1939 as the Special Survey Flight, giving the British a strategic reconnaissance capability. This Flight was redesignated 212 Sqn. on 10 February 1940.

Shot down he became the longest-serving New Zealand prisoner of war of the Second World War.

In 1947 he commanded 617 Squadron when it carried out a goodwill tour of North America with its Lincolns. He later played a leading part in reorganising the RAF's Flying Training Command in the early 1950s, and was awarded an OBE for this work. Group Captain Milne, OBE, DFC, retired from the RAF on 30 November 1956 and returned to New Zealand.

Above PoW's at Stalag Luft Sagan. Fl/Lt. Milne is shown as No. 8. For details of the others see end of this report

Burial and additional details:

W/Cdr. Cecil Dunn Milne OBE. DFC:- Born on the 02nd July 1916 Son of William Milne (18 September 1884–2 April 1972, age 87), was 32 and his mother, Catherine Gifford Wylie Smith (21 January 1884-23 August 1976, age 92), was 32. He married Miriam Whitehouse on 17th June 1939, in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom. Cecil Milne was educate:! at the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Auckland. Former Mathematics Teacher Papakura High School. CecilHe was nominated by the New Zealand Defence Department in 1931 for entry into the R.A.F. as an aircraft apprentice, and in January, 1932, he entered the No. 1 School of Technical Training, .Halton, England, for a three years’ course. Flight 'Lieutenant Milne was awarded a cadetship and entered the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, for training as a pilot officer. He also took first prizes for the grand aggregate and educational subjects, and was awarded the Lord Wakefield scholarship.

He died on 15 August 1983, in his hometown, at the age of 67. Rests in Manukau Memorial Gardens, Auckland, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive.

(1) 212 Squadron:- The squadron was first formed as No. 12 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service, a training unit of No. 1 Wing, founded at Hondschoote on 8 June 1917. Unlike other RNAS units, it was not absorbed into the RAF when that service was established, and was disbanded on 1 April 1918.

World War I (1918-1920); On 20 August 1918, Flights 490, 557 and 558 of the former RNAS base at Great Yarmouth were formed into No. 212 Squadron RAF. Flying the DH4, DH9 and DH9A, it carried out anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea until the end of the war. In March 1919 it moved to Swingate Down near Dover, and was disbanded on 9 February 1920.

World War II - First Incarnation (1940): Reconnaissance; The squadron was reformed on 10 February 1940 to carry out strategic reconnaissance missions, operating alongside the Photographic Development Unit. It was originally planned to operate three detachments of Spitfires, but a shortage of aircraft meant it was equipped instead with the Bristol Blenheim. The French detachment flew a few operational sorties, but on 14 June 1940 the advancing Germans forced it to evacuate France, and on 18 June the squadron was absorbed into the Photographic Development Unit.

World War II - Second Incarnation (1942–1945): Maritime Patrol The squadron was reformed on 22 October 1942 at Korangi Creek, Karachi, as a Catalina-equipped maritime patrol squadron. It operated over the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, with a detachment based at Masirah (an island off the east coast of Oman). In October 1944 a second detachment was posted to Calcutta to provide air-sea rescue cover along the India and Burmese coasts. The main part of the squadron moved to Madras in May 1945, and the squadron was renumbered as No. 240 Squadron on 1 July 1945.

(2) Spitfire PR.III N3071:- 11-10-39. To RAF at 27MU Shawbury 12-10-39. To A&AEE Boscombe Down 25-10-39 comparison trials with Spitfire K9793 of the PDU. To Heston Aircaft Ltd and Converted to Spitfire PR.III (modifications included 2xF24 vertical cameras (one per wing) and repainted in pale green Camotint overall). First Photo-Recce Spitfire on operational sortie to Aachen, Germany, 18-11-39 from Lille, France.Flown by Ft/Lt Maurice 'Shorty' Longbottom. (shown right) Housed in hangar 'Special Survey Flight'; second sortie 20-11-39. To RAE for trials. To 212 Squadron (presumably on formation on 10-2-40)

(3) Heston Aerodrome:- Was an airfield located to the west of London, operational between 1929 and 1947, situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex. In September 1938 it had become famous worldwide when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew from Heston to Nazi Germany three times for talks with Adolf Hitler, returning from Munich brandishing the paper that gave rise to his "Peace for our time" speech.

The Air Ministry had intended to take over the site for civil airline operations, but the declaration of war intervened. By 1 September 1939 the civil airlines had transferred to Bristol, and the aerodrome was requisitioned by the RAF.

Frederick Sidney Cotton and (shown right) The Secret Reconnaissance Mission; Sydney Cotton is regarded by many as the father of modern photographic reconnaissance techniques in the UK. His Lockheed 12A was fitted with cameras hidden behind hatches almost impossible to detect on the ground. This apparently innocent "executive" transport aircraft was commissioned to fly missions across Europe before and during the war. Cotton was very friendly and persuasive, and able to invite important German figures to fly with him - unbeknown to them, he photographed the military installations and airfields they flew over.

Commissioned in the RAF as a substantive squadron leader and acting wing commander on 22 September 1939, Cotton was recruited to head up the fledgling Photographic Development Unit (PDU) at Heston Aerodrome. The PDU was originally equipped with Bristol Blenheims, but Cotton considered these quite unsuitable - far too slow - and consequently obtained Supermarine Spitfires. These were steadily adapted to fly higher and faster, with a highly polished surface and a special blue "PRU Blue" camouflage scheme developed by Cotton himself.

The Units at Heston in 1940; The aerodrome was a hive of clandestine activity through the first half of 1940, hosting a succession of redesignated reconnaissance units all growing from Cotton's original flight:
The "Heston Flight" was redesignated first as No. 2 Camouflage Unit on 1 November 1939, then as the Photographic Development Unit on 17 January 1940, then as the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit on 18 June 1940, and finally as No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit on 14 November 1940.

Later in 1940 another reconnaissance unit, 212 Squadron, formed at Heston. This was the unit from which Flying Officer Cecil Dunn Milne departed on 25 April 1940 in Spitfire N3071 — and failed to return.
The Photographic Reconnaissance Unit formed from the PDU on 18 June 1940 at Heston, operating as 'A' to 'D' Flights detached to other stations for operations, whilst 'E' Flight remained at Heston for experimental work.

Departure from Heston;After a parachute mine incident on 19 September 1940 had damaged several of its aircraft, No. 1 PRU was transferred to RAF Benson on 27 December 1940.
German attacks during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz of 1940–1941 made the reconnaissance function unsafe at Heston, and the reconnaissance units moved to Benson. They were replaced by Operational Training Units and Polish squadrons.

So on 25 April 1940, Heston was at the very peak of its wartime reconnaissance role — Milne's Spitfire would have taken off from its grass runway into a sky still unmarked by the Battle of Britain battles that would come just months later.

Stalag Luft Sagan PoW Image

1

P/O. (Fl/Lt) Retired as Fl/Lt George Maurice Baird 42094 RAF Pow No: 61 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 248 Squadron (Coastal Command) flying Blenheim IV P6952 WR-X out of RAF Sumburgh, Shetland Islands. Sunday 20 October 1940 at 07:25 hrs for a reconnaissance off the south-west coast of Norway. After engaging and damaging a Dornier Do18 of 1./KuFlGr.406 the Blenheim was attacked by Bf109's of JG77. His observer 20 year old, Sgt Richard Copcutt 581146 RAF from Whetstone, Middlesex was listed as missing believed killed. The two wireless operators / air gunners, 23 year old Sgt. Douglas Lawrence Burton NZ40187 RNZAF from Opunake, New Zealand (PoW No: 55544) and 20 y3qr old, Sgt Stanley Victor Wood f 649800 RAF rom Bury, Lancashire (PoW No: 69103) survived with the pilot survived after climbing into their rescue dingy. They were later picked up by He59 BV+HH of Seenotflugkdo.5 and landed at Stavanger. They spent the rest of the war as prisoners. ( Fl/Lt George Baird passed away on the 01st May 2008, age 94)
(Further details available

2

P/O.(Fl/Lt.) Basil William Peryman 36205 PoW No: 413 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 142 Squadron (Bomber Command) Fairet Battle I L5200 out of Villiersfaux, France Tuesday 11th June 1940. On an operation to attack pontoon bridges over the Seine at Le Manoir. six aircraft from 142 squadron the aircraft was hit by 20mm AA fire from 2./Flakabteilung 37, The pilot was thrown out by the blast at 1000 ft and although injured with burns landed safely by parachute and was captured. The other two crew were killed after the aircraft crashed in flames in woodland. They were 21 year old, Sgt. James Henshall Ledson 615842 RAF from James Henshall Ledson and 19 year old Sgt.Jack Nairn Fraser 581049 RAF from Hempnall, Norfolk. (P/O. Basil Peryman passed away on the 24th May 2000, age 80),
(Further details available)

3

Fl/Lt. Robert Garth Stark NZ40631 PoW No: 414. Stalag Luft Sagan Whilst flying with 75 Squadron (Bomber Command) Wellington ICR3211 AA-J out of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.Sunday/Monday 29/30th December 1940 . Aircraft ran out of fuel due to strong head headwind and made a forced landing at 02:25 hrs. Pilot's, Fl/Lt Henry Daniel Newman RAF 37584 Pow No. 4509 and P/O. Sgt. Jack Middleton Garrett NZ/40631 RNZAF PoW No. 414, Welles operator / air gunner Sgt. Sidney Laurence Spittle 968421 RAF PoW No. 447, air gunner's Sgt. Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF Pow No. 447 and Sgt. David Garrick Branscombe Protheroe NZ//401231 RNZAF PoW No. 446 all survived the war. (Fl/Lt. Robert Stark passed away on the 08th October 1999, age 83 MBE. Bronze Star-USA)
(Further details available)

4

Fl/Lt. Arthur Vicary Hunter NZ/40723 RNZAF PoW No: 467. Stalag Luft Sagan. 217 Squadron (Coastal Command) Beaufort I N1173 MW-E out of St. Eval, Cornwall on a Reconnaissance patrol. S12th February 1941 at 11L:15hrs . Sot down by enemy flak near the German-occupied naval base at Brest. One of the pilots. F/O. John Hexley Wybrants 79689 RAF was killed, the remaining four were picked up by the Germans and made PoW. Two wireless operator air gunners P/O Louis Brull Barry, 78668 RAF PoW No. 407 and Sgt Geoffrey Dean Holiday. 627394 RAF POW Number 432 and the observer Sgt Peter Henry Clarke, 745759 RAFPOW No. 490, (note; some records incor rectly have F/O. Wybrants middle name as Hetley, and that it was a four man crew) (Fl/Lt. Arthur hunter passed away on the 11th May 2008, age 90 MiD)
(Further details available)

5

F/0. (Fl.Lt.) Eric Neil Baker 41641 RAF PoW No: 463 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 419 Flight Whitley V T4264 out of RAF Stradishall, Suffolk Monday/Tuesday 17/18th February 1941 1:15 hrs. A Lysander pilot but flying as an air gunner to familiarise the route. On return aircraft hit by flak and forced landed. All six crew survived and taken prisoner Pilote s Sq/Ldr. Francis John Baptist Keast DFC. 28090 RAF PoW No: 468, F/O. Kenneth Stanley McMurdie 43832 RAF PoW No: 474, Observer Sgt Archibald John Cameron 517909 RAFVR PoW No: 488, Air Bomber Sgt David Harold Bernard 966856 RAFVR PoW No: 481 and another Air Gunner gt Davud Waldo Davies 904254 RAFVR PoW No: 493. (F/0. Eric Neil Baker passed away on the 05th May 2008 age 93)(Further details available)

6

F/O. (Fl/Lt.) Herbert Douglas Newman 37584 RAF (later RNZAF) PoW No. 4509 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst with 75 Squadron (Bomber Command). Flying Wellington IC R3211 AA-J out of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk. Sunday/Monday 29/30th December 1940 02:25 hrs. During the return trip encounter strong headwinds. All six crew survived as PoW: 2nd pilot, Sgt. Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF PoW No. 429 observer Sgt. Sergeant Robert Garth Stark Sergeant Robert Garth Stark NZ/40631 PoW] 597, wireless operator air gunners, Sgt. Sidney Laurence Spittle 968421 RAF PoW No. 447 and Sgt, Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF PoW No. 429, air gunner Sgt. David Garrick Branscombe Protheroe NZ//401231 RNZAF PoW No. 446. (F/O. Herbert Newman passed away in April 1996, age 77)
(Further details available)

7

P/O. (Fl/Lt.) Michael Cyril Wallace Ormond (pre commission 907903) 88465 RAF NZ//2387 RNZAF PoW No. 39327 610 Squadron. Flying Spitfire IIa P7752 DWW-E. Three others from the squadron were lost; 21 year old P/O. Nigel George Drever 42205 RAF PoW No. 451. (survived the war, passed away on the 10th September 1964, age just 43) Flying Spitfire Ia P8027. Sgt. Sgt. Samuel Hamer 758049 RAFVR killed flying Spitfire IIa P7501 DW-O. 22 year old P/O. Raymond Edwin Owen 88466 RAF Spitfire P7752 DW-N missing - believed killed (PO. Michael Ormond passed away on the 10th Sept 1964 in Fife, Scotland, age 43)
(Further details available)

8

F/O (W/Cdr) Cecil Dunn 'Snowy' Milne PoW No: 412 Sagan 57 Squadron (1936), 212 Squadron PDU (later PRU); 617 Sqn (1947). Flying Spitfire PR.III N3071 shot down on the 25th April 1940 at Esslingen near Stuttgart. Captured by Ger9man forces and made PoW. Son of William and Catherine Milnen Death: August 15, 1983, in New Zealand). W/Cdr. Cecil Milne DFC. passed away on the 15th August 1983, age 67 DFC)
(Further details available)

9

Sgt. (W/O.) Albert Geroge Murray Coulam PoW No: 42719 Sagan. NZ/413286 RNZAF, 35 Squadron. Halifax II W7851 on an operation to Nurnberg on the 09th March 1943, taking off at 00:30 hrs. Shot down by Oblt. Ludwig Meister of the Stab I/NJG 4, flying Bf 110 F-4 3C+MB from Laon-Athies airfield. Pilot, F/O. John Hilton Brown RAFVR 109028 (NCO:1066452) killed. Fl/Eng. Fl/Sgt. Alan Tacey RAF 1057600 PoW No: 27744, Navigator Sq/Ldr. Gomer Donald Waterer RAF 77214 (NCO:749414 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 06 February, 1940) PoW No: 937, Air/bmr. Albert Geroge Coulam, W/Op/Air/Gnr. Fl/Sgt. David Aitken Sibbald DFM RNZAF NZ/411102 evaded capture, Air/Gnr. Fl/Sgt. Patrick Flynn RAFVR 1174414 killed, Air/Gnr. Stanley Seymour Vinicombe NZ/413286 RNZAF killed. (Albert Coulam passed away on the 17th August 1999, age 82)
Further details available)

0ther sources as quoted below:

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