Operation: Hengelo

Date: 11th April 1943 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 105 Squadron. 2 Group (motto: Fortis in Proeliis - 'Valiant in battles')

Type: Mosquito IV

Serial: DZ536

Code: GB-S

Base: RAF Marham, Norfolk

Location: Metelerkamps Bauernhof 4, Bentheim, Germany

Pilot: F/O. David Polglase NZ/415714 RNZAF Age 27. Killed.

Nav: Sgt. Lesley Charles Lampem 1311504 RAFVR Age 23. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took-off at 19:10 hrs from Marham for mission to the Stork Diesel Works at Hengelo, shot down in a running fight with six FW190s, though Uffz. Werner Wiegand of 2./JG1 is credited with the victory.

Out of control, the Mosquito crashed at Metelerkamps Bauernhof, at Bentheim. Both airmen were buried on 14th April at Lingen (Ems) though their graves are now in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

105 Squadron Mosquitos preparing to take-off from RAF Marham on an operation and insert David Polglase. (Flight photo/Auckland Cenotaph)

The remains of DZ536 were scattered over a wide area, here Luftwaffe personnel can be seen loading the wreckage onto a trailer, one of the aircraft’s propellers in the foreground. (King/Poelchau)

Second photo of the recovery it is interesting to note that the vehicle being used for this operation is a British Scammell Pioneer, most likely captured during the fall of France in 1940.

Grave at Reichswald Forest.

Burial details:

F/O. David Polglase. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Plot 15. Row G. Grave 1. Born on the 15th August 1915 at Takaka, the son of George Davis Polglase and Gertrude Ellen Polglase , of Takaka, Nelson, New Zealand. Husband of Olive May Polglase (née Langford), of Takaka. On arrival in UK hospitalised with appendicitis. Prior to service worked for Richmond Borough Council as a clerk/treasurer. A total of 313 flying hours logged and having completed 7 operational sorties.

Sgt. Leslie Charles Lampen. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Plot 15. Row F. Grave 18. Son of Charles Albert John and Daisy Katherine Lampen, of Plymouth, England. Grave inscription: 'Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten. Duty Nobly Done. Mam And Dad'.

Researched for relatives of the crew. With thanks to Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Gert Poelchau, Auckland Cenotaph, Flight, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.