Hi

details below regarding F/O Adrian Colebrook Brace:-

23rd September 1943                                     

Stirling EJ104  HA-G              218 Squadron RAF                   Operation: Mannheim

Sgt  R.G. Smith   +

F/O A.C Brace   +

Sgt  A. Thomas   +

F/O A.W Ward RCAF   +

Sgt G.W Wilkin   +

P/O R.B Woodhouse  +

P/O H.E Mosley   +

Took off at 1925 from Downham Market. Exploded and crashed in the Bauwaldthal at Kirchheimbolanden. Those killed are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Sgt R.G.Smith was repatriated aboard the Arundel Castle 6Feb45. F/O A.C.Brace KIA Sgt A.Thomas KIA F/O A.W.Ward RCAF KIA Sgt G.W.Wilkin KIA Sgt R.G.Smith PoW P/O R.B.Woodhouse KIA P/O H.E.Mosley KIA Sgt R.G.Smith was interned in Camps L6/L4 until repatriation. No PoW No.

Believed to be shot down by Oblt. Heinz-W. Schnaufer at 23.00 hours, Nachtjäger Me 110, 12./NJG 1

Hope this help,

Mike H.

Hi Mike

Thank you so much for the information I have trying for weeks to find something well done Mike

much appreciated it has been a great help.  Adrians Cousin will be delighted with this knowledge

cannot wait to see her face when I tell her what you have found out.

best wishes

Una  G-LIVH  (my war plane and I am still flying it) 

Hi Steve

I am writing a history of the life of my wife's uncle, Alan Cook. 

Alan trained as a pilot in Canada under the BCATS and arrived in the UK on 17 Juy 1941. He was posted to 23 OTU at Pershore and on 25 September 1941 was posted to 218 Squadron at RAF Marham. 

On 16 November Alan and his crew did not return from a mission to bomb Kiel. They took off from Marham at 2243 on 15 November in Wellington R1135 and presumably crashed in the North Sea on their return journey. An SOS was received, but they were well out to sea, well beyond the range of rescue craft. The crew consisted of Sgt Alan Cook, RAAF, Pilot; Sgt Jack Drury. RAF, Observer; F/Sgt Robert Glenny, RAF, ?; Sgt Robert Hannam, RAF, ?; Sgt Fred Reeve, RAF, ?. Drury's body was recovered in Norway and he is buried in Trondheim. The bodies of the others were never recovered and they are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

I am hoping that you may be able to help me with some further information, both general and more specific. 

Unfortunately, Alan's family did not retain very many of his personal effects. For a number of personal reasons, they destroyed all his letters and all official correspondence as well as all photographs of Alan. Fortunately I have access to his Personnel File and his Casualty File that have been digitised by our very efficient National Archives. One notable item missing from those records is Alan's flying log book. Am I correct in assuming that these were kept by individual airmen and not elsewhere? In which case, if his family destroyed the log book, it is gone for good.

From the dates of Alan's posting to 218 and the date of his death, it seems certain that his final sortie was one of his very early ones, perhaps even his first or second. I believe that this information is available in Squadron records kept at Kew. Given the distance between Melbourne and Kew, a visit there in the near future is out of the question (but probably not in the somewhat longer term). My question is how hard would it be for someone to extract information from the Squadron records to answer questions like: How long had the crew been together? Did they form up as a crew at Pershore? How many sorties had they flown?

I would also like to glean some more information on the actual raid on the 15th. I believe that the weather was terrible, another Wellington from 218 having encountered "very severe weather conditions" and crashed near Richmond, Yorkshire.

If such information is fairly easy to extract, I would consider employing someone in the UK to pursue these questions for me. Are you aware of anybody that might be interested in undertaking such a search?

I seems such a pity that a young man of such promise as Alan had shown could spend nearly 12 months being trained as a pilot and be dead just three weeks after joining his first operational squadron. Sadly though, I am aware that his story is far from unique.

Than you

Bruce

Hi steve

my uncle sgt Norman collins was killed on 23rd May 1943.  We have some information about his flight but have never been able to find out what happen to shut Bennett who survived.  Any information would be gratefully received.

many thanks

Tony

Good Evening, I am researching our family history and came across the only family member on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, FSGT Roy Gehrig, Australia. According to the AWM records he was KIA over NW Europe on 23 Sep 1943 and buried at Hanover War Cemetery. On the 218 Squadron history webpage the only reference to a squadron plane being shot down on that date is the one you detailed above. I am confused that you had not listed Roy's name in the aircrew. Could you please investigate this anomaly and provide some clarity.

kind regards,

Andrew Gehrig (ajgehrig@Hotmail.com)

Hi,

Please contact me off board and I will send what details I have.

Kind regards

Steve

Ann, on the white board, or go to my web page 218squadron.wordpress.com

Regards

Steve

Hi there. I am looking for any information on a Roland suter Bishop who was a rear gunner on 218 gold coast squadron. I am not sure his rank nor which years he served from but any information would be very much appreciated.