...... 72 years ago.......
The loss of Halifax LK789 to a marauding Me410 on this day in
1944
The crew of Halifax LK789 :
Pilot: P/O. Douglas Robert Dibbins 171730 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 21. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Gerard John Head 1801075 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 20. Killed
Nav: Sgt. Kenneth Craven Oswald 1493028 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 22. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. John Raymond Bathe 1395700 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 30. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James George Davenport 1337654 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Norris Mervyn Harrison 1819564 R.A.F.V.R. Age. 19. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. John Anderson 1573409 Age. 20. Injured
The crew of LK789
Further research by Mike Harrison :
Took off from Holme-on-Spalding Moor at 22.09 hrs to attack Karlsruhe. 637
aircraft took part in the raid made up from 369 Lancasters, 259 Halifax and 9
Mosquitoes. A total of 19 aircraft, 11 Lancasters, 8 Halifax were lost (1 from
76 Squadron) 3% of the force. According to reports, cloud over the target and a
strong wind which pushed the Pathfinders too far north, spoiled this attack. The
markers appeared to be very scattered, consequently the bombing was not
concentrated, however many large fires were seen reflected through the cloud and
several explosions were also observed. Enemy fighter activity was also
handicapped owing to the 10/10th cloud, and the ground defences were
ineffective. Only the northern part of Karlsruhe was seriously damaged and most
of the bombs fell outside the city. Later as the main force recrossed the
English coast, enemy intruder aircraft were patrolling over Eastern England.
Halifax LK789 was attacked by a Me410 flown by Leutnant Wolfgang Wenning of
II./KG51 at a height of 1,000 mtrs, 20km NE of Cambridge. During the attack,
another 76 Squadron Halifax, LK785 T-Topsy piloted by Lieutenant Carl Larsen
R.N.A.F was flying on the right hand side of the bomber. The following eye
witness account is by Sgt H.W Kirtland the wireless operator onboard T-Topsy :
We were within an hour from base and safety and had no idea intruders were
operating. As usual, when routed up England from the south coast, the risk of
collision was our main concern, hence the Nav lights were on. From my position
on the port side of the aircraft and immediately below the pilot, I had a small
window which gave restricted view forward and downward on the port side. Alerted
by the Skipper's shout, I looked out and saw the Halifax curving down on fire
until it hit the ground. Almost certainly it had been attacked by a night
fighter with an upward firing 20mm cannon. He would have stalked the Halifax
from below - our blind spot aimed to strike between the bomber's fuselage and
inner engines. We didn't see any parachutes, which we always looked for if the
gunners reported a bomber in flames. I well remember how angry Larsen was over
this we all were - it could easily been us. To be told by the Squadron
Intelligence officer that there was no intruder activity that night was too much
Halifax LK789 crashed opposite Colony farm near Welney, Norfolk at 04.20 hrs.
The only survivor was the rear gunner, Fl/Sgt John Anderson. He was rescued by
the Welney fire brigade after being trapped in his turret and taken to R.A.F.
Hospital Ely, with a fractured femur and lacerations of the scalp. After
recovering he visited the local fire crew to thank them and Mr Goodger, the
senior member. All those killed were taken to their home towns for burial. The
names of the crew are listed on the memorial in York Minster. This takes the
form of The Astronomical clock, in the North transept. Below the clock face is a
glass topped case with a book of remembrance listing all the names of some18,000
allied airmen who died operating from Yorkshire and the North East between 1939
and 1945. A page is turned every day of the year.
Lt. Wolfgang Wenning and Fw. Gustav Delp lost their lives two
days later on the 27th of April 1944 during another intruder operation over
England. Their Me410 collided with an Airspeed Oxford LX196 piloted by F/O.
Gregor Stephen Moore R.C.A.F whilst in circuit of Church Lawford airfield. Both
aircraft crashed near Frankton, Rugby, all onboard were killed. Investigation of
Halifax LK789 crash site by Jeff Carless, East Anglian Aircraft Research Group.
We did make some enquiries regarding the crash of the Halifax when researching
in the Welney area, we found a couple of people that knew of it. One was in bed
at his house on the drove opposite to Colony Farm and was woken by cannon shells
falling on the roof. He recalled that the aircraft crashed in the field opposite
Colony Farm. It was described as having crashed flat rather than diving into the
ground. Two of the engines were in that field and the other two ended up further
down the drove. Both he and the other witness recalled that one of the crew
survived the crash.
Unseen
and Deadly by Ivan Berryman
Text for print : Having
survived the bombing raid on Karlsruhe, it was the cruelest of ironies that
Halifax III LK789 (MP-L) of 76 Sqn should fall victim to a lone German fighter
that was lurking in the night skies above Norfolk. Witnessed by another Halifax,
LK785 (MP-T), the upward firing waist guns of Lt Wolfgang Wenning's
Messerschmitt Me410 of II/KG51 found their mark, expertly exploiting the blind
spot of the Halifax, sending LK789 down in flames near Welney, killing all but
one of her crew. Wenning's victory was to be short lived, however, the German
being killed in a mid air collision with an RAF Airspeed Oxford just three days
later during another intruder operation over the midlands.
Ivan Berryman's painting was commissioned to depict the
moments immediately before the Halifax was shot down - The original acrylic is
still available and the signed limited edition is currently priced at £80 with
a saving of £35, and is signed by veteran Halifax pilot Bill Leckie - see
the print here.
Veteran Halifax pilot Bill Leckie signing this print.