Short Stirling I (R9160 HA-G) on a mission to Kassel on 1942-08-28

On Thursday, 27 August 1942, (a part of) the aircraft of the 218 squadron (RAF), took off for a mission to Kassel in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Downham Market.
One of the crew members was Flight Sergeant J R Bird. He departed for his mission at 20:45.
He flew with a Short Stirling (type I, with serial R9160 and code HA-G). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Friday, 28 August 1942.

Information by the SGLO:

Time Cause of the Crash Crash Location Damage Province 0140 Shot down by NF Oblt. L. Becker of II/NJG 2 Crashed North Sea 30 km sw of Den Helder   North Sea

Source Mag / Page Additional sources Chorley W.R., Bomber Command Losses 1942 195 "Wespennest I" p.302 for location; Archive H. Welting for crew data

Function Mil Rank Ini Name Hon Mil reg Air Force Cemetery Grave Remark Pilot P/O. W.R.B. McCarthy DFC 149880 RAF Runnymede Memorial 70   Co-Pilot Sgt. H.M. Russel   R/85469 RCAF Runnymede Memorial 106   Flight engineer Sgt. H. Forshaw   1109833 RAF Runnymede Memorial 83   Observer P/O. T.P. Scanlan DFC 106553 RAF Bergen op Zoom 31 C 8 Washed up Callantsoog 25 Sep 42 Bomb aimer Sgt. L.A. Jones   41591 RNzAF Runnymede Memorial 117   Wo ag P/O. V.C.W. Trowbridge   J/15829 RCAF Runnymede Memorial 101   Air gunner Sgt. G.F. Medhurst   1312588 RAF Bergen op Zoom 31 C 5 Washed up near Den Helder pole 18 at 16 Sep 42 Air gunner F/Sgt. J.R. Bird   900012 RAF Runnymede Memorial 73

More photos (click to enlarge) by Selwyn Berriman Morgan:

1 Portrait of William as a newly promoted officer
2 William (seated) with two of his crew standing behind?  (perhaps someone will identify them).
3 Telegram to the family. William missing in action.  William had lost his life, as did all his crew members, on the 28/08/1942.  His plane, a Short Stirling bomber was shot down by a German night fighter piloted by Ludwig Becker.  The bomber was lost into the north sea.
4  William at Cranwell.  This must have been his Operational Training Unit.  Again, there are many faces that may be recognised.  William is 4th from left, front row.

 

 

Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.

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