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Operation: Wilhelmshaven (Scharnhorst)
Date: 27/28th February 1942 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Type: Whitley V
Serial: Z9280
Code: KN-K
Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire
Location: Northern Driesum, north east of Leeuwarden. Holland
Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Leslie Hugh William Parkin DFC 37982 RAF Age 30. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Douglas John Sandlin 655186 RAF Age 22. Killed
Obs: W/O. 'Hank' Robert Charles Hancock RAF Age 27. P.O.W. No: 24748 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus. (1)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Wilfred Whittam 993807 RAFVR Age 28. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Edmund Sidney Ayton 54793 RAF Age 26. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF 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 Whitley's all from 77 Squadron were shot down.
Whitley Z9280 was shot down by Uffz. Heinz Vinke (3) 5./NJG2 at 22.58 hrs. with combat taking place over northern Driesum, north east of Leeuwarden. Holland.
The other 77 Squadron losses this night:
Whitley V Z9148 KN-L Flown by F/O. Morris McCarthy RNZAF killed with all 5 crew members. Tragically the family of F/O. McCarthy also lost two other son's - Sq/Ldr. Ray McCarthy, 7 Squadron, killed 15th April 1943 and L/Cpl. Robert McCarthy New Zealand Infantry killed on the 25th October 1942.
Whitley V Z6943 KN-A Flown by Fl/Lt. Donald Irving R.A.A.F. killed with all 5 crew members.
(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.
Uffz. Heinz Vinke (courtesy Rob De Visser)
(3) This was his first victory of a massive score of 52 bomber command aircraft shot down during WW2. Heinz Vinke went missing on the 28th February 1944 some 15 KM north west of Dunkirk after being shot down by two typhoons pf 198 Squadron (Fl/Lt. Cheval L'Allemand and F/O. George Hardy)
Dantumadeel (Driesum) Protestant Churchyard (courtesy San van Guinicus from Putten, Netherlands)
(1) Sadly, 'Hank' Hancock died on the 1st May 1985 after suffering a stroke some time previously.
Burial details:
Sq/Ldr. Leslie Hugh William Parkin D.F.C. Dantumadeel (Driesum) Protestant Churchyard Row 15. Joint grave 35. Son of Frank Leslie and Elizabeth Eleanor Parkin, of Buxton, Derbyshire, England. Awarded King's Gold Medal. H.M.S. Worcester, 1929.
Sgt. Douglas John Sandlin. Dantumadeel (Driesum) Protestant Churchyard Row 15. grave 34. Son of Frederick Finlay Sandlin and Laura Esther Sandlin, of Vicar's Cross, Cheshire, England.
Sgt. Wilfred Whittam. Dantumadeel (Driesum) Protestant Churchyard Row 15. Joint grave 35. Son of William and Ann Whittam; husband of Olwen Whittam, of Rhyl, Flintshire.
Sgt. Edmund Sidney Ayton. Dantumadeel (Driesum) Protestant Churchyard Row 15. grave 33. Son of Edmund Kaye Ayton and Hilda Annie Ayton, of Warwick, England.
Researched for the daughter of W/O. Hancock, Pat Jackson (Pat has also set up a page dedicated to her father). With thanks to the following: Grave photo's San van Guinicus from Putten, Netherlands, Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vol 3', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vol's. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt 'Bomber Command War Diaries'. The C.W.G.C.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 03 May 2014, 22:17