Home
Books New Book by Steve Smith
Search this site by entering search words: |
Blenheim IV R3802 crashed two km. east of Kaas 13/8-1940. The aircraft belonged to RAF 82 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded UX-A R3802 piloted by F/L R.A.G.Ellen trying to escape to the west but had its elevator control shot to peaces and started loosing height. Ellen realised that also the intercom had failed and motioned to the Navigator Sgt V.J.Dance to leave the aircraft, which he did. There was no noise from the turret and Ellen hoped that the Air gunner Sgt Gordon “Taffy” Davies had gone already. Ellen tried to open the upper escape hatch, but it resisted his effort. Instead he dived to the lower hatch and left thru that pulling his ripcord instantly. Almost at once his feet hit the ground, and in the same moment he was shocked to hear a thump behind him. It turned out to be Bristow from Blenheim T1827.
R3802 crashed in a field not far away. A farm hand led Bristow and Ellen on borrowed bicycles to a house in what is today known as Kaas. When learning that there was no resistance movement and no escape lines, they chose to have the Danish family call the Germans. Also Dance landed safely and was soon captured by the Germans. The next day Bristow, Dance, Ellen and two more flyers were placed in a JU 52 and flown to an airfield near Hamburg. Here they were moved to a truck which took them to Dulag Luft in Oberursel near Frankfurt. After interrogation Ellen was sent to Offlag IX A/H Schloss Spangenberg. He was later sent to Stalag Luft I Barth and Stalag Luft III Sagan. Dance was sent to Stalag Luft I Barth and later to Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug to end up in Stalag 357 Fallingbostel. The body of “Taffy” Davies was found next to the wreckage. He had been killed by a shot thru the head and was laid to rest in Vadum cemetery on 16/9 1940.
Sources: Ole Rønnest, Aabybro, LBUK, WD, OLCB.
Links to the other crashed aircrafts: August 13 1940 attack on Aalborg West
|
|
Copyright © Søren C. Flensted 2004 - 2024 |