Operation: Kiel, Germany

Date: 13th/14th December 1940 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 78 Squadron (motto: Nemo non paratus - 'Nobody unprepared'), 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Whitley V

Serial: N1485

Code: EY:?

Base: RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire

Location: The Wash, Norfolk

Pilot: Plt Off. Michael Lomax Stedman 36263 RAF Age 20. MiA

Pilot: Sgt. Dennis Angell 754951 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Frank Thomas Allcock 929984 RAFVR Age 24. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. F. Waldren RAFVR Age? Uninjured

Air Gnr: Sgt. Ernest Alfred Francis Grunsell 752233 RAFVR Age 20. Uninjured (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 16:36 hrs. with 6 others from the squadron. 4 bombed the primary target, 1 bombed an alternative target and 1 jettisoned its bomb load in the sea, due to engine failure.

N1485 suffered engine failure on return. Two crew managed to bail out before the aircraft crashed into The War at 03:06 hrs. The body is the second pilot was recovered from the sea several days later..

Plt Off. Stedman has a lucky escape from Whitley P4941 whist flying as the second pilot. After returning from an operation to Cologne they were unable to find an airfield due to low-lying fog. The pilot, Canadian Fg Off. David Robertson decided as they were dangerously low on fuel to force land the aircraft in a field. although the aircraft was badly damaged all five crew were uninjured and walked into the village of Pickering in Yorkshire.

Burial and other information:

Plt Off. Michael Lomax Stedman. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 10. Born on the 09th October 1920 at Eketahuna. Educated at Scots College, Wellington, On leaving school he immediately applied for a Short Service Commission in the RAF and was provisionally accepted on the 15th June 1939. Commenced training a fortnight later, his elementary training being undertaken by the Canterbury Aero Club. On the successful completion of the course, he proceeded to No. l Flying Training School, Wigram, where - on the 12th of September. Granted a temporary commission as a pilot officer. At this school, he trained on Moth, Vildebeeste, Gordon, Vincent and Avro aircraft. On the 20th November, he was awarded the flying badge. He proceeded to England late in February 1940. On arrival in England, was posted to the RAF Station at Uxbridge, Middlesex, before proceeding on the 20th of April, 1940, to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Evanton, Rossshire, where he carried out exercises on Harrow aircraft. His next posting on May 15th was to 10 Operational Training Unit at Benson, Oxfordshire, and thence, on the 29th June - to 12 Operational Training Unit, Abingdon, Berkshire, where he completed his training on Whitley aircraft. On 24th July he joined 78 Squadron at Dishforth, Yorkshire and with this squadron took part in 28 operational sorties and accrued 545 hrs. as pilot.

Son of Wing Commander Gerald Lomax Stedman (died on the 10 Dec 1971 aged 80 - Commanding Officer of RNZAF, Rongotai) and Beryl Eileen Stedman (née Townsend - died on the 03rd July 1955, age 69) of Larnachs Castle Dunedin, New Zealand.

Sgt. Dennis Angell. Golders Green Crematorium. Panel 1. Son of Robert James and Rose Angell, of West Ealing, London, England.

Sgt. Frank Thomas Allcock Selby Cemetery. Grave 5344. Born on the 13 March 1916 in Portsmouth, Son of Joseph Frank Allcock (died 28th September 1920, age 32) Mrs. M.P. Allcock and stepson of Mr. H.E. Mallett, of Goole, Yorkshire, England.

(1) Sgt. Ernest Alfred Francis Grunsell. Jonkerbos War Cemetery. Grave 16. C. 9. Son of Francis George Grunsell, and of Rose Grunsell, of Hounslow, Middlesex, England. Epitaph: 'In Proud And Glorious Memory Of Our Beloved Son Francis. Loved By All'.

Killed on the 27th March 1941 on an operation to Dusseldorf. With all 5 crew on 78 squadron, Whitley V Z6470. Shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Gerhard Herzog of the 3./NJG 1, who was flying a Bf 110 from Eindhoven airfield

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) 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 (Feb 2025). Correction to remove incorrect reference to Sgt. Sidney Soloman Waldman 1255786 on this crew . This was actually Sgt. F. Waldren (Jun 2026).

Other sources as quoted below:

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