John James Copley                                                                             Updated:  01 NOV 2012

Airman: o888402.htm Surname: Copley Init: J J Rank: Sgt Service: RAF Sqdn: 7

P_link: p049.htm Plane: STI W7441 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Lillebælt

Crash_d: d290941 Buried_d: o888 C_link: o888.htm At_Next: POW

Den 29. september 1941 kl. 18.50 startede STI W7441 fra RAF Oakington for at lede bomberstyrken til målet Stettin (Szczecin her).
Flyet blev skudt ned af en tysk natjager på vej mod målet og styrtede i Lillebælt her ud for Bågø kl. 22.15. (Tidspunkter fra Lost Bombers.)

4 flyvere sprang ud med faldskærm, men de blev taget til fange i løbet af et par dage. 3 flyvere har ingen kendt grav: Fulbeck, Rodger og Tovey.
4 flyvere fra
STI W7441 ses på dette foto.

29 år senere skrev Alec Donaldson sin beretning om hvordan flyet blev skudt ned og han selv blev taget til fange.

Cobbold landede på kysten ved St. Anslet. Copley landede nær Hejlsminde. Det gjorde Neil også. De blev arresteret og ført til Tyske krigsfangelejre.

Sergeant John James Copley fik tildelt DFM, Distinguished Flying Medal i 1940. 

Den 29/9 2012 blev en mindesten afsløret her for 3 omkomne flyvere fra STI W7441 ved siden af Mindesten for 6 omkomne flyvere fra Lancaster I R5702.
7 flyvere.

On 29 September 1941 at 18.50 hours STI W7441 took off from RAF Oakington to lead bombers to the target  Stettin (Szczecin here).    
The plane was shot down by a German night fighter on its way to the target and crashed into the Lillebælt here off Bågø at 22.15 hours. (Times from Lost Bombers.)

4 airmen bailed out, but they were captured in a couple of days. 3 airmen have no known grave: Fulbeck, Rodger og Tovey.
4 airmen from
STI W7441 are in this photo.

29 years later Alec Donaldson wrote his account about how the plane was shot down and how he was captured.

Cobbold landed on the shore near St. Anslet. Copley landed near Hejlsminde and so did Neil. They were arrested and taken to German POW Camps.

Sergeant John James Copley was awarded DFM, the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1940. (Then DFM to NCOs, DFC to officers.)
See The Wartime Memories Project No: 7 Squadron with the long story of LAC John James Copley DFM.

On 29 SEP 2012 at 14.00 hrs a memorial stone to the 3 perished airmen from STI W7441 was unveiled here next to Monument to 6 airmen from Lancaster I R5702.
See Bomber Command No. 7 Squadron. No. 7 Squadron RAF. 7 Squadron Association. This Stirling took off from RAF Oakington. 7 airmen.