Sgt Anthony H Rex RAFVR and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1941.
Crashed on Return – 20/21st September 1941 – Vickers Wellington IC – R1539 – Op Frankfurt.
Anthony Rex was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds around July 1941. He flew as co-pilot with Sgt Hare and crew on the 14/15th August to Hanover and completed another 2 operations with this crew before being made full captain of his own crew.
He completed 3 operations with them being lost on the 4th. See below.
07-Sep-41 – Boulogne – Wellington – R1667 – Sgt AH Rex
11-Sep-41 - Le Havre - Wellington – R1539 – Sgt AH Rex
16-Sep-41 - Le Havre – Wellington – R1538 – Sgt AH Rex
20-Sep-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt AH Rex - Crashed on return at Barrington House Farm, Frogs Abbey Gate near Holbeach, UK whilst trying to make emergency landing in fog.
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Sgt Anthony Hughenden Rex RAFVR – Pilot – Age 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Edwin Stanley and Margaret Elsie Rex of Bristol – Bristol Arnlos Vale Crematorium, Bristol, Gloucestershire.
Sgt George Kenneth Proctor RCAF ( pictured below ) – Pilot – 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of George and Rachel A. Proctor, of Toronto Ontario, Canada – Sutton Bridge St Matthew Churchyard, Lincolnshire
F/O Alan Geoffrey Stanes RAFVR – Observer – 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of Sydney and Jessie Stanes of Cannons Park, Edgware – Edgware St Margaret Churchyard, Middlesex.
Sgt Eric George Paul RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of Albert George and Annie Helga Paul of Otley – Otley Newall-with-Clifton and Lindley Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Sgt Ernest Goerge Birch Lennon RAFVR - Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - Husband of R. Lennon, of Corby, Northamptonshire – Streatham Park Cemetery, Surrey.
Sgt T Bennett – Slightly Injured
Sgt George Kenneth Proctor RCAF
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20-Sep-41 – Frankfurt
103 Squadron detailed 4 aircraft to attack the German city of Frankfurt. Due to worsening weather they were recalled and 1 crew bombed Ostend. The others did not receive the signal and pressed on to the primary target. Bomb bursts were observed in the target area and fires were seen. Moderate heavy flak was encountered and searchlights which did not work in co-operation with the flak. All aircraft were diverted to Linton-on-Ouse on return. P/O Wallis and crew ran out of fuel in very poor visibility and they were forced to abandon their aircraft which crashed near Market Rasen. All crew safe
This was a shocking night for 103 Squadron who lost 4 aircraft of the 9 detailed for the attacks on Berlin and Frankfurt. Wardenhaugh and Murchie failed to return. Rex crashed on return in fog and Wallis abandoned on return also due to the exceptionally poor visibility
For this attack on Frankfurt Bomber Command detailed 34 aircraft but all were recalled due to worsening weather. Some flew on and bombed the target. 3 crews crashed on return in bad visibility.
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Wellington R1539
Wellington R1539 enjoyed a good career without any early returns. It was damaged twice by flak and lost on its 20th operation
08-May-41 – Bremen – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Wareing - Hit by flak. Slightly damaged
10-May-41 – Emden – Wellington – R1539 – P/O RG Eccles RNZAF
13-Jun-41 – Brest – Wellington – R1539 – P/O CH Muggeridge
17-Jun-41 – Boulogne – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
20-Jun-41 – Kiel – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
23-Jun-41 – Cologne – Wellington – R1539 - Sgt Munro - Landed at Mildenhall on return due to lack of fuel
03-Jul-41 – Bremen – Wellington – R1539 – P/O JW Purcivall - Delayed take off. Aircraft would not climb above 12,500 ft. Bombed searchlight concentration near Meppen.
07-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
08-Jul-41 – Bielefeld – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro - Unable to locate primary. Bombed Osnabruck.
10-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
14-Jul-41 – Bremen – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
20-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt Munro
02-Aug-41 – Cherbourg – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF - Hit by flak
07-Aug-41 – Essen – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF
14-Aug-41 – Hanover – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF
29-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF - Encountered electrical storm and unable to climb over 10,000 ft. Bombed secondary.
31-Aug-41 – Essen – Wellington – R1539 – F/O RJA Leslie RNZAF
11-Sep-41 - Le Havre – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt AH Rex
20-Sep-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – R1539 – Sgt AH Rex - Crashed on return at Barrington House Farm, Frogs Abbey Gate near Holbeach, UK whilst trying to make emergency landing in fog.
Item compiled and written by David Fell. Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial
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