AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

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.

101 squadron badge
15/16.04.1942 No. 101 Squadron Wellington III X3694 SR-U Sgt. Nesbitt

Operation: Dortmund

Date: 15/16th April 1942 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 101 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3694

Code: SR-U

Base: RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire

Location: Lutrebois (Luxembourg)

Pilot: Sgt. James Festubert Nesbitt 1064494 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

Pilot 2: Sgt John Howard Hunt 1191011 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Thomas Hubert Beament 1166172 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Arthur Richard Langston 1283289 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Basil Norman Burnett 1259335 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt Arthur William Holman 1317897 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 23:55 hrs from RAF Bourn in Cambridgeshire to join 151 aircraft to bomb Dortmund. Thick cloud and icing were encountered by the Bomber stream.

A total of 88 of these aircraft put in claims to have bombed the city. The reports state that 1 house was destroyed and a further 12 seriously damage with 2 people on the ground killed and 6 injured. The amount of bombs dropped on the city turned out to be the equivalent of 8 aircraft loads.

During this raid 3 Wellingtons and a Stirling were lost.

All 26 aircrew were killed. It is thought probable that flak shot down two Wellingtons and the Stirling.

The other Wellington from 214 Squadron Z8951 was claimed by Uffz. Walter Schienbein of 2./NJG1 at 03:30 hrs.







Charleroi Communal Cemetery

(courtesy C.W.G.C.)









Burial details:

Sgt. James Festubert Nesbitt. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave 6. Son of William James Nesbitt and Mary Nesbitt, South Shields, County Durham, England.

Sgt John Howard Hunt. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave ID. Son of Frederick Sydney and Jessie Hunt, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England.

Sgt. Thomas Hubert Beament. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave I8. Son of William Hollingshead Beament and Harriet Ann Beament; husband of Gwendoline Janette Beament, of Cowley, Oxford, England.

Sgt. Arthur Richard Langston. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave IC. Son of Thomas Edward and Annie Langston; husband of Ida Louise Langston, of South Chingford, Essex, England.

Sgt. Basil Norman Burnett. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave IE. Son of Norman and Mavis Burnett, of Hampstead, London, England.

Sgt Arthur William Holman. Charleroi Communal Cemetery Row U. Grave IF. Son of John Holman, and of Effie Susan Holman, of Cross Park, Saltash, Cornwall, England.

Researched for the nephew (Mike Nesbitt) of the pilot Sgt. Nesbitt

Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries", Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt "Bomber Command War Diaries", the C.W.G.C.

We would like to hear from any reader regarding further information on this crew / aircraft.

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 buy research books from Amazon •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: 28 May 2018, 06:30

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