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Stirling IV LK151 lost without trace 26/11 1944 The aircraft belonged to 138 Squadron RAF and was coded NF-E The Stirling took off on a mission to drop supplies to the Danish resistance
at drop zone Tablejam 69 with the Danish name Rosalie on the island of Fyn. The Stirling arrived over the drop zone at 23:25 hours and dropped its load
on first pass. The reception committee from Odense received 18 containers and
one package containing a Eureka. The German War Diary reports: The Stirling could well be one of the aircrafts reported to have been shot at
by light flak from Blaavand. The crew of the Stirling were: Pilot Flight Lieutenant Reginald Ronald Witham DFC 425800 RAAF from Australia, Flight Engineer Sergeant Reginald Hughes Berrett 1890825 RAF from United Kingdom, Navigator Flying Officer Thomas Patrick McHale J.24741 RCAF from Canada, Air Bomber Flying Officer Geoffrey Herbert Brandon Slinn RAAF 423263 from Australia, Wireless Operator Pilot Officer Charles Ellemann 186688 RAF from United Kingdom, Air Gunner Flight Sergeant Arthur Henry Bedggood 1853408 RAF from United Kingdom and Air Gunner Flight Sergeant Kenneth Naylor 1622999 RAF from United Kingdom. The crew is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in the United Kingdom.
Air Bomber Flying Officer Geoffrey Herbert Brandon Slinn RAAF 423263 from Australia
Dorothy (Peggy) Slinn. Dorothy (Peggy) Slinn.
Dorothy (Peggy) Slinn.
Peggy remarried in 1962 but never forgot Geoffrey. I was contacted by a friend of Peggy, Historian Mr. John Reid of Bacup, Lancashire and readily agreed to assist. The ceremony was arranged with the first class support of the Danish Home
Guard (Navy) and on the evening of July 13. 2009 Peggys ashes were committed to
the waters of Lillebælt. The author, wife Aase and friends of Peggy, Lisa Kraul and Alice Green found the naval ship MHV 817 waiting for us in Assens harbor at 19:00.
The ship slowed down and I committed Peggy’s ashes to the sea.
A pair of gold flyers wings Peggy had been given by Geoffrey followed her.
The Skipper of the ship, Henriette, read The Lord’s Prayer and four bouquets was dropped in the sea. After a few commemorative words had been said by Alice, the ships flag was once again hoisted. We circled the place where the ashes and the flowers had been dropped a few times and then set course for Assens.
Sources: AIR 27/956, AIR 27/956, BCL, Stirling group, HS8/146, AIR 20/8278, Original reports on drops on Fyn, AIR 20/8314, AIR 20/8363, Paul Niemczyk.
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