Den 9. marts 1943 kl. 21.30 styrtede
WEL BK368 ned nær Filskov ved stedet
her,
(overblik her)
hvor et monument
blev
afsløret den 5. maj 2008. Se p140MACR.
Flyet havde været på en minelægningsoperation.
Se
Minelægningsområder. Samme dag afsløredes et monument for besætningen på LAN ND675.
Se Folder p290 + p140 fra
Filskov
Lokalhistoriske Arkiv via Anne-Vibe Jensen,
Billund Kommune. 2 sider om LAN ND675 fulgt af 2
sider om WEL BK368.
Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift:
"Medens 264 RAF bombefly fløj til München, minerede 62 fly i de danske farvande,
Kielerbugten og ved de Frisiske øer. Tre Wellingtons
gik tabt, og mindst to af disse havde mineret i Lillebælt. Den kraftige
aktivitet i luften over Lillebælt havde adviseret tyskerne, og på hjemturen blev
BK368 skudt ned af en tysk natjager. Det lykkedes
telegrafisten, Sgt James Sandilands, at komme ud af flyet i meget lav højde, og
faldskærmen foldede sig ud, lige før han ramte jorden og brækkede et ben. Han
fik
hurtigt hjælp og blev transporteret
til Give sygehus. To andre besætningsmedlemmer
kom også fri af flyet, men deres faldskærm nåede ikke
at folde sig ud, før de
ramte jorden og blev dræbt. Piloten P/O John Patrick
Kavanagh, og et andet besætningsmedlem blev fundet
dræbt i flyet." (FT 90-48-9)
4 flyvere fra
WEL BK368 blev
begravet den 13. marts 1943 i
Esbjerg. 1 besætningsmedlem blev krigsfange. Han endte i
Tyske krigsfangelejre. (Kilde: FAF)
Sergeant (Wireless Operator) James Sandilands blev interneret i lejrene
L1 Barth (fotos) / L6
Heydekrug og 357 Fallingbostel. (Kilde: Lost Bombers) 5 flyvere.
On 9 March 1943 at 21.30 hours
WEL BK368 crashed near Filskov at the place
here,
(overview here)
where a monument
was unveiled on 5 May 2008.
The plane had been on a minelaying operation.
See
Minelaying areas. On the same day a monument to the crew of LAN ND675
was unveiled.
(Danish) Aviation Historical Review:
"While 264 bombers from the RAF headed for Munich, 62 planes were on minelaying
operations in Danish waters, the Kiel Bay and at the Frisian Islands. 3
Wellingtons were lost, and at least 2 of them had dropped mines into the
Lillebælt. The heavy activity in the air over the Lillebælt had advised the
Germans. BK368 was shot down on the return flight by a German night fighter.
Sergeant (Wireless Operator) James Sandilands managed to bail out at a
very low altitude, and his parachute opened up just before he hit the ground and
broke his leg. Soon he got help. He was taken to Give Hospital. 2 other crew
members also bailed out, but their parachutes did not open up before they hit
the ground and were killed. Pilot Officer (Pilot) John Patrick Kavanagh and
1 other crew member were found killed in the plane." (FT 90-48-9)
4 airmen from
WEL BK368 were buried on 13 March 1943 in
Esbjerg. 1 crew member became a POW. He was taken to
German POW-Camps. (Source: FAF)
Sergeant (Wireless Operator) James Sandilands was interned in Camps
L1 Barth (photos)
/ L6 Heydekrug and
357
Fallingbostel. (Source: Lost Bombers)
4 airmen from
WEL BK368 were buried on 13 March 1943 in
Esbjerg. 1 crew member became a POW. He was taken to
German POW-Camps. (Source: FAF)
See
No. 166 Squadron
RAF-Wikipedia * RAF 166 Squadron
*
166 Squadron
RAF-Lincolnshire.info.
Wellington III BK368 AS-P
took off from
RAF Kirmington
at 18.43 hrs on 09 MAR 1943. (Source:
Aircrew Remembered
has
this.) See p140MACR. 5 airmen.
|