Helge W. Gram - Lancaster ED709                                          Updated:  05 OCT 2017

15 SEP 1993 skrev Helge W. Gram til CWGC om Lancaster ED709.
Han havde vigtige pointer. Han tilføjede detaljer om Sidwell og Carter.

Ringkøbing Fjord er siden 1929 at betragte som en sø, hvor det vil være umuligt
for lig at komme fra Nordsøen og ind gennem slusen ved Hvide Sande.

5 lig blev fundet fra 21 APR til 22 SEP 1943 (Whellams og Watkins ikke
inkluderet) og det eneste fly de kan komme fra er Lancaster ED709.

Det tog mange år at finde de rigtige rapporter fra Ringkøbing Politi og sammen-
ligne indholdet med beskrivelser af de flyvere, der blev fundet og begravet.
Hvert besætningsmedlems grad og funktion kunne ses af hans uniform.
Her ses nøgleinformation fra rapporterne i kopi fra Bent Baagøe Anthonisen.

21 APR 1943 En flyver fundet. "Engelsk flyver Myer, kendingsnummer 411043"  (Kilde: Politirapport 834) begravet 24 APR 1943 i Lemvig. B.F. Myers.

22 MAY 1943. En flyver fundet. Engelsk flyveruniform. Et "E" over venstre brystlomme, sergent. (Kilde: Politirapport 1043) Passer med Sgt Flight Engineer
T. Carter, men først i 1998 fik han en headstone med navn, og det var med
tilføjelsen "Antages at være - - ". Se Vinger og funktioner.

31 MAY 1943. En flyver fundet. "Over venstre lomme et O og en halv vinge".
(Kilde: Politirapport 1090) Se Glover. Sgt Air Bomber C.E. Wellard.

20 JUN 1943. En flyver fundet. "På uniformens højre overarm fandtes tre vinkler,
der kendetegner en "Sergeant", samt der ovenover radiotelegrafisternes kendings- mærke." (Kilde: Politirapport 1314) Passer med Sgt Wireless Operator / Air
Gunner R. S. Sidwell, men først i 1998 fik han en headstone med navn, og det var med tilføjelsen "Antages at være - - ".  Se Radio - en radiotelegrafist i arbejde.

22 SEP 1943. En flyver fundet. Identitetsmærke "J.G. Swain - OFFR - CoFE -
39.136 - R.A.F." (Kilde: Politirapport 2224)
Wing Commander Pilot J.G.W. Swain blev begravet i Esbjerg 27 SEP 1943.

Dele af agterskytten R.G. Whellams blev fundet af dykkere i 1971 og identificeret
i 1995. Begravet i Lemvig, grav 703A, 17 SEP 1998.

Skytten på ryggen af flyet Sgt M.A.B. Watkins blev aldrig fundet.
Hans navn ses på Panel 194 i the Runnymede Memorial.

On 15 SEP 1993 Helge W. Gram wrote to the CWGC about Lancaster ED709. He made some important points. He added details about Sidwell and Carter.

Ringkøbing Fjord has been a lake since 1929. It would be impossible for bodies
to drift from the North Sea and through the chamber sluice at Hvide Sande.

5 bodies were found from 21 APR to 22 SEP 1943 (Whellams and Watkins not included) and the only plane could have come from is Lancaster ED709.

It took many years to find the right reports from the Ringkøbing Police and compare the contents with descriptions of airmen, who were found and buried.
The rank and crew position of each airman could be seen on his uniform.
Here is key information from the reports in copies from Bent Baagøe Anthonisen.

21 APR 1943. An airman found. "English airman Myer, service number 411043"
(Source: Police report 834) buried on 24 APR 1943 in Lemvig. B.F. Myers.
 
22 MAY 1943. An airman found. Tunic had an "E" on top left chest pocket. Sgt.
(Source: Police report 1043) Matches Sgt Flight Engineer T. Carter, but not until 1998 did he have a headstone with his name, and it was with the addition:
"Believed to be - - ". See Wings and crew positions.

31 MAY 1943. An airman found. Tunic had an "O" and a half wing on top left chest pocket. (Source: Police report 1090) See Glover. Sgt Air Bomber C.E. Wellard.

20 JUN 1943. An airman found. Right sleeve three stripes, on top the badge of a Wireless Operator. (Source: Police report 1314) Matches Sgt Wireless Operator /
Air Gunner R. S. Sidwell, but not until 1998 did he have a headstone with his
name, and it was with the addition:
"Believed to be - - ". See Radio - a Wireless Operator at work.

22 SEP 1943 An airman found. ID tag  
"J.G. Swain - OFFR - CoFE - 39.136 - R.A.F." (Source: Police report 2224)
Wing Commander Pilot J.G.W. Swain was buried in Esbjerg on 27 SEP 1943.

Parts of Rear Gunner R.G. Whellams were found by divers in 1971 and identified
in 1995. Buried in Lemvig, Grave 703A, on 17 SEP 1998.

Sgt Mid-Upper Gunner M.A.B. Watkins was never found.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 194.