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Stirling I EF356 shot down near Aadum on 29/4 1943.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 218 Sqn Bomber Command and was coded HA-O.
T/o 21:05 Downham Market OP : Gardening Sweet Pea (Fehmern belt).
At 01:45 hours EF356 was shot down by a German night fighter near Aadum after
being picked up by German radar. The night fighter was piloted by Leutnant
Günther Rogge from 12/NJG3. The night fighter was controlled by Ringelnatter radar.
Before the crash Air Gnr. Sgt Harry Bliss succeeded in getting out, and
landed safely in his parachute. At 07:00 hours in the morning he called in at a
local smallholder, who in turn called the Parish Executive Officer. He arrested
Bliss and took him to Aadum village.
(Via Anni Vestergaard)
(Via Anni Vestergaard)
Bliss had his picture taken outside
the local co-op together with the manager`s daughter, before he at 12:15 hours
was picked up by the Danish police and at 13:10 was handed over to the German
Wehrmacht in Skjern.
He was send to Dulag Luft in Oberursel for interrogation. From there he was sent
to Stalag Luft I Barth, Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug, Stalag Luft IV Gross Tychow.
At the war drew to an end he was sent to Stalag 357 Fallingbostel.
He died from exhaustion in a cattle wagon on 30/3 1945 near the Fallingbostel
and now rest in Becklingen War Cemetery in Soltau north of Hannover.
(Via Steve Smith)
The rest of the crew were all killed in the crash. The morning after the crash
the dead body of Air Bomber F/O Sidney M. Holliman was recovered. He was laid to
rest in Gravlunden Cemetery in Esbjerg on May 7.
The remains of Air Gnr. Sgt. James A. Head was found at the crash site on 18/5
and was laid to rest in Fovrfelt cemetery in Esbjerg on 24/5 1943.
The remains of four crew members were excavated from the crash site on 20/5 and
were laid to rest in Aadum cemetery on 23/5. It were W/Op Sgt Ronald J. Barton,
Pilot P/O Kenneth S. Hailey, Navigator Sgt Arthur G.P. Sindrey and Flt. Engr.
Sgt. Andrew G. Surtees.
Sources: BE, OLCB, CWGC, BCL, AS 62-280, RL 19/455+456, LBUK.
Minelaying on the night of 28/29 April 1943
Lancaster I W4898 crashed in the
southern part of Kattegat
29/4-1943
Stirling III BK807 crashed in Langelands Belt on
29/4 1943
Wellington X HE395 crashed at Over Jersdal on 29/4
1943
Stirling I BF447 shot down near Vrønding on 29/4
1943
Stirling III BF467 crashed in Langelands Belt near
Kappel on 29/4 1943
Stirling III BF515 shot down by Taagerup on 29/4
1943
Wellington X HE170 tried to crash land near
Bjerndrup 29/4 1943
Wellington X HZ278 crashed Esbjerg on 29/4 1943
Lancaster I W4945 crashed 29/4 1943 at Remmerstrand
Stirling I EF356 shot down near Aadum on 29/4 1943
Lancaster III ED733 crashed at Jordrup on 29/4-1943
Stirling I serial number R9290 crashed in the
Langelandsbælt near Vesternæs of Lolland 29/4 1943
Back to 1943
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