Stirling III BF515 - Tågerup Mose                                                          Updated:  20 SEP 2009

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
a076001.htm Berridge G F F/Lt RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b150446 c076.htm Reerslev
a048011.htm Bolton J A Sgt RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b070543 c048.htm K - Bispebjerg
a076002.htm Erne K F Sgt RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b150446 c076.htm Reerslev
a076003.htm Fitzpatrick A A Sgt RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b150446 c076.htm Reerslev
a076004.htm Parsloe C V F/O RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b150446 c076.htm Reerslev
a076005.htm Traynor J M P/O RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b150446 c076.htm Reerslev
a048012.htm Wheelhouse T C F/O RAF 218 p174.htm STI BF515 Minelaying Tågerup Mose d280443 b070543 c048.htm K - Bispebjerg


 Om STI BF515 styrtet her ved Tågerup den 28. april 1943. Et monument for besætningen er rejst ved nedstyrtningsstedet. Se foto af de 7 flyvere i Reerskev Kirke.
"Natten mellem den 28. og 29. april 1943 foretog RAF krigens hidtil største minering. 226 fly kastede 593 miner i danske farvande og i Østersøen. Da det var overskyet i flere mineringsområder, måtte bombemaskinerne flyve ekstra lavt for at få landkending, før minerne blev kastet på de rigtige positioner. Dermed blev flyene lette mål for flak i området. Tyske natjagere var atter aktive, men på grund af den lave flyvehøjde blev kun få natjagerangreb rapporteret. RAF mistede 7 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons og 2 Halifaxes denne nat." (FT 90-50-13) Af dem gik 11 fly tabt over dansk område. (Kilde: AOD)

"BF515 blev over Sjælland angrebet af en tysk natjager, og efter en længere luftkamp eksploderede flyet og styrtede ned i en mose ved Tågerup. Ligene af 2 besætningsmedlemmer (J.A. Bolton og T.C. Wheelhouse) blev fundet dagen efter, og de blev begravet på Bispebjerg Kirkegård den 7. maj 1943. Efter krigen lykkedes det at fremdrage resterne af de sidste 5 besætningsmedlemmer (G.F. Berridge, K.F. Erne, A.A. Fitzpatrick, C.V. Parsloe og J.M. Traynor). De blev begravet i een kiste den 15. april 1946 på Reerslev Kirkegård." (FAF 88-33-11)

Airwar over Denmark har mere om dette fly og dets besætning. 7 flyvere. Flere links i engelsk version.

 About STI BF515 crashed here at Taagerup on 28 April 1943. A monument to the crew has been erected at the crash site. See photos of the 7 airmen in Reerslev Church.
"On the night between 28 April and 29 April 1943 the RAF carried out the biggest minelaying operation so far in the war. 226 planes dropped 593 mines into Danish waters and into The Baltic Sea. As the sky was overcast at several mining areas the bombers had to fly at an extra low altitude to come in sight of land, before the mines were dropped at the right positions. That made the planes easy targets for flak in the area. German night fighters were active again, but due to the low flying altitude only a few attacks by night fighters were reported. The RAF lost 7 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons and 2 Halifaxes this night." (FT 90-50-13) 11 of the bombers were lost over Danish territory. (Source: AOD)

"Over Zealand BF515 was attacked by a German night fighter, and the aeroplane exploded after a rather long aerial combat and crashed into a bog at Taagerup. The bodies of 2 crew members (J.A. Bolton and T.C. Wheelhouse) were found the next day, and they were buried in Bispebjerg Cemetery on 7 May 1943. The remains of the last 5 crew members (G.F. Berridge, K.F. Erne, A.A. Fitzpatrick, C.V. Parsloe og J.M. Traynor) were found after the war. They were buried in a single coffin in Reerslev Churchyard on 15 April 1946." (FAF 88-33-11)

See No. 218 Squadron at RAF Bomber Command 60th Anniversary and 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association. This Stirling started from RAF Downham Market.
Airwar over Denmark has more about this plane and its crew. 7 airmen. Lost Bombers has this.