Blenheim IV R2772 ditched in Limfjorden north of Egholm island on 13/8-1940.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 82 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded UX-T.
T/o 0840 Watton OP:Aalborg.
After having dropped its bombs R2772 was attacked by German fighters. One engine
was lost and a fire started. Pilot Sgt. Donald Blair decided to ditch the
aircraft in shallow water north of Egholm island. During the landing boulders
ripped the aircraft apart and the Blair, Sgt. Bill Magrath and Sgt. Bill
Greenwood found themselves floating in the water with lifejackets inflated.
All
were badly hurt but alive. Local people dragged them ashore and they were taken
to the Kamillianerklinikken hospital in Aalborg.
After about a week Magrath was
loaded onto the bed of a truck and taken to a field lazarett in
Schleswig-Holstein. After having examined Magraths wounds the doctor suggested
that he should be sent to another hospital to have a major operation performed.
This was done and Magrath was returned to the field lazarett where he for a
while shared a room with Oates from T1889.
In the fall of 1941 he was
transferred to a POW camp near Rouen in France from which he was supposed to be
repatriated back to England in exchange for some German POW`s.
When it became
clear that this would not be, Magrath decided to repatriate himself.
On 21/11-41
he and Sgt Oliver James cut their way thru the fence and started walking south.
In January 1942 they reached the Pyrenees where they promised a bootlegger 25000
Franc to guide them across. They arrived at the British Consulate in Barcelona.
The bootlegger was paid and the flyers were sent on to Gibraltar.
In March 1942 they returned back to England.
Also Blair and Greenwood were transferred to Germany to the Stalag Luft I in
Barth.
On 8/2 1943 while at Stalag Luft I Barth Blair tried to escape. In a home made
uniform he tried to walk out through the camp gate, but was recognised by one of
the guards. He was later moved to Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug and Stalag Luft IV
Gross Tychow. Greenwood was transferred to Stalag Luft III Sagan and to Stalag
Luft VI Heydekrug to end up in Stalag 357 Fallingbostel.
(Robert Milne)
(Henry Jensen via Ole Rønnest)
(Henry Jensen via Ole Rønnest)
(Via Clausen, Aalborg)
The remains of the aircraft were taken to Aalborg and sent to Germany for
recycling
(Via Ole Rønnest)
One of the survivors is brought to Nørresundby by the boat
”Mira”
(Ole Rønnest)
Sgt. Bill Magrath
(Ole Rønnest)
Sgt. Bill Magrath and his mother
(Via Robert Milne)
Pilot Sgt. Donald Blair
(Via Ole Rønnest)
Sgt. Bill Greenwood
This photo was taken by a German for his POW card
Sources: Ole Rønnest, Aabybro, LBUK, OLCB.
Links to the other crashed aircrafts:
August 13 1940 attack on Aalborg West
Blenheim IV R1933 crashed in Restrup enge on
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3800 crashed in Limfjorden on 13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R2772 ditched in Limfjorden north of
Egholm island on 13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3821 crashed at Aalborg West on
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3829 crashed in Torpet Kær, Vadum on
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3904 crashed two km. east of Aabybro on
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV T1827 crashed two km. east of Kaas on
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3802 crashed two km. east of Kaas
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV T1934 crashed in Tranum dune plantation
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV R3913 crashed in Tranum dune plantation
13/8-1940
Blenheim IV T1889 crash landed near Vust 13/8-1940
Back to 1930 - 1940
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