F/O Thomas Wardhaugh RAF and crew – 103 Squadron – RAF Elsham Wolds – 1941.
Failed to Return – 20/21st September 1941 – Vickers Wellington IC – X9609 – Op Berlin.
Tom Wardhaugh was a pre war regular airman and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds around June 1941. He flew 7 operations as co-pilot in the crew of the experienced P/O Muggeridge the first being on the 13th July 1941 to Brest. He was then promoted to captain of his own crew and flew the following operations :-
20-Jul-41 – Rotterdam – Wellington – X9609 – P/O T Wardhaugh
24-Jul-41 – Emden – Wellington – R1452 – P/O T Wardhaugh
02-Aug-41 – Hamburg – Wellington – R1452 – P/O T Wardhaugh
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – R1452 – P/O T Wardhaugh
07-Aug-41 – Essen – Wellington – R1452 – P/O T Wardhaugh
14-Aug-41 – Hanover – Wellington – R1452 – P/O T Wardhaugh
27-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – L7819 – P/O T Wardhaugh
29-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – L7819 – P/O T Wardhaugh
31-Aug-41 – Essen – Wellington – X9794 – P/O T Wardhaugh
07-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – L7819 – P/O T Wardhaugh
10-Sep-41 – Turin – Wellington – L7819 – P/O T Wardhaugh
12-Sep-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – L7819 – P/O T Wardhaugh
16-Sep-41 - Le Havre – Wellington – L7819 – F/O T Wardhaugh
20-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – X9609 – F/O T Wardhaugh – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed in the Ambt-Delden WSW of Hengelo, Holland.
..........
Wardhaugh and Ingram
Wright and Thomas
F/O Thomas Wardhaugh RAF – Pilot – 103 Sqn - Ambt-Delden General Cemetery, Netherlands
S/L J Anthony Ingram DFC RAF – Pilot – 103 Sqn - POW – Camp L3 - POW No 10.
Sgt N W Clyde – 103 Sqn - – POW – Camp 8B/L6/L4 – POW No 9686.
Sgt WD King – 103 Sqn – POW – Camp 8B/L6/L4 – POW No 9666
Sgt JG Wright – 103 Sqn - POW - Camp 8B/L6/L4 - POW No 9611
Sgt Charles Alfred Frederick Thomas RAFVR – 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of Edgar E. L. Thomas, and of Florence V. Thomas, of Ombersley, Worcestershire - Runnymede Memorial
...........
Night fighter victim claimed by Oblt Helmut Woltersdorf 7/NJG1
..........
20-Sep-41 – Berlin
103 Squadron detailed 5 aircraft for this attack on the German capital, Berlin. Due to worsening weather art base they were recalled. 2 aircraft reached Berlin but were unable to find the aiming point due to poor visibility. Intense flak was noted in a number of areas en route which co-operated with searchlights. Over the target light and heavy flak was pumped into the searchlight cones but opposition was not as intense as expected. 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 and one landed at Pocklington
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 Berlin Bomber Command detailed a total of 74 aircraft but all were recalled due to worsening weather. Some flew on however. 4 aircraft were lost and 12 more were lost in crashes on return in bad visibility.
…......
Wellington X9609
This machine was lost on its 19th operation of which 1 was an early return and 1 aborted.
02-Jun-41 – Duisburg – Wellington – X9609 – F/L DDA Kelly
12-Jun-41 – Osnabruck – Wellington – X9609 – F/L DDA Kelly
26-Jun-41 – Dusseldorf – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt JC Addy – Early return - Technical trouble
05-Jul-41 – Amsterdam – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt MS Lund RNZAF
10-Jul-41 – Cologne – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt MS Lund RNZAF
20-Jul-41 – Rotterdam – Wellington – X9609 - P/O T Wardhaugh
24-Jul-41 – Brest – Wellington – X9609 – F/L RD Max
02-Aug-41 – Hamburg – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare
05-Aug-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare
07-Aug-41 – Boulogne – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt RK Kitney
14-Aug-41 – Hanover – Wellington – X9609 - Sgt Hare - Combat. Attacked by twin engined night fighter which fired one burst. No damage
19-Aug-41 – Kiel – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare
22-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare
27-Aug-41 – Mannheim – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare
03-Sep-41 – Brest – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare – Aborted - General recall because of worsening weather
10-Sep-41 – Turin – Wellington – X9609 – Sgt Hare - Unable to cross Alps due to engines overheating. Bombed airfield.
12-Sep-41 – Frankfurt – Wellington – X9609 – P/O OB Hughes
16-Sep-41 – Karlsruhe – Wellington – X9609 – P/O DM Jones
20-Sep-41 – Berlin – Wellington – X9609 – F/O T Wardhaugh – FTR - Night fighter victim. Crashed in the Ambt-Delden WSW of Hengelo, Holland.
Item compiled and written by David Fell with photos from the Wright family and Morgan-Dean collection
....................
|
