warshipbuilder
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From: C-eh-n-eh-d-eh
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405 Sqn RCAF(Pocklington – Wellington II) 17.1.42
55th OPERATIONS. – Bremen
There was unexpectedly thick cloud over the North Sea, persisting over the enemy coast. This led three of our Captains to attack Emden, but only one experienced clear weather. This advantaged was unluckily neutralised by mechanical failure of release of 4,000 pounder. It was eventually released by hand and is believed to have found a good mark in Emden town. Other Captains bombed flak concentrations but reported no definite results. Six A/C dropped NICKELS.
“L” (Z8329), captained by S/Ldr. W.B. Keddy D.F.C., was missing from this operation. A message was sent at 1745, received 1813, “returning base engine trouble”. At 1832 Observer Corps reported a/c, believed to be a Wellington, down in the sea close to the coast at Skipton. The A/C was reported to be on fire.
ASRS left Bridlington at 1840, returned at 2225 with nothing to report. Sea search by a/c led from this Squadron by W/Cdr. R.M. Fenwick-Wilson proved to be fruitless.
But in the morning word was received that two of the crew had been picked up by a British destroyer: F/Lt. D.R.S. Scrivens RAF (Bombing Leader Obs.) and Can R.65168 Sgt. R.L. Turnbull (WOP/AG) of Digby, Nova Scotia. Both were suffering from exposure and frostbite, and Sgt. Turnbull had a broken nose. These extracts from a letter to W/Cdr. Fenwick-Wilson from F/Lt. Scrivens give a personal account of the accident. It was written from Sheppey County Hospital, Kent.
“…my hands have thawed enough to let me write, although my feet are still swollen. We are both covered in cuts and Turnbull had his nose straightened to-day and seems quite good. It will probably be a fortnight before we both can walk again, as we were pretty bad when we were picked up. The destroyer that picked us up was firing at an a/c five minutes later and we’ve got a faint idea it might have been someone looking for us.”
“Well, as to what happened – we crossed the coast and started climbing, and about half an hour later S/L Keddy said, “We’ll turn back, the starboard engine is duff.” We did so and I sent a message to base and thought no more of it. We jettisoned bombs. 10 minutes later the captain told Masse (2nd Pilot) to go back and pump oil as we had no oil pressure and told us to get our chutes ready as the coast was ahead of us, and we were at 2,000 feet. Just then the engine caught fire and I went forward and let the 2nd W/Op out of his turret (Sgt. P.A. Gale RAF) out of his turret he came out and went back, and as I shut the door again I was thrown on the floor and covered with water. After crawling around the bomb hatch for about 10 minutes (it seemed that long) trying to get out someone fell on top of me and rolled off, and I shot straight to the surface (my Mae West was inflated). I should think the nose turret fell off completely or something, as I can’t imagine I went up through the hatch. On reaching the surface the rear of the kite was still floating and I spotted the dinghy with Turnbull clinging to it. I swam over to it and after several unsuccessful attempts, I found I had my chute harness on, so I got it off. Turnbull was already in the dinghy and with his help, I scrambled in. Our hands were so frozen we couldn’t open the rum bottle, the torch didn’t work, one distress signal didn’t work, and the other we let off when we thought we heard a motorboat, but no good – we froze for fourteen hours before we were picked up. They were very good on the ship and we enjoyed it. We saw no sign of the others after reaching the dingy.” (A copy of this letter is being forwarded with the Diaries to H.Q. R.C.A.F.)
The members of the missing crew are:
S/Ldr. W.B. Keddy D.F.C (Can. 39535) of Cornwall, Ont., Can R56128 Sgt. G.J. Masse (2nd Pilot) of Central Falls, Rhode Island, U.S.A.; 1166976 Sgt. P.A. Gale R.A.F. (2nd W/OP AG), 568534 F/Sgt. G.F. GurrR.A.F.
S/Ldr. Keddy was the very able leader of “B” Flight, 405 Squadron, and was popular throughout the Squadron. He was posted to command “B” Flight on 30th May 1941, and on 8th August 1941 became the first officer to win the Distinguished Flying Cross with 405 Squadron. His loss to the Squadron and the R.C.A.F. in these critical days is severe, and regretted by all.
ADDENDUM – Wellington II Z8339 LQ-L. Of those who died three, Sgt. Masse, Sgt. Gale, and Sgt Gurr. Were never recovered. S/Ldr. Keddy was recovered and taken to Hull for cremation.
As for the attack on Bremen, 83 aircraft; only 8 claimed to have bombed the primary target. Some of the aircraft attacking alternative targets reached Hamburg, which reports 11 fires and casualties of 5 dead and 12 injured. 3 Wellingtons were lost and 1 Stirling crashed in England after being fired at and damaged by a British Convoy.
Hmmm, do you think it might have been that destroyer?
Base Changes
59 Sqn (Hudson III/V/VI) moved to North Coates
152 Sqn (Spitfire IIA) moved to Eglington
First and Last Operational Missions
30 Sqn (LG.05) flew its last OM in the Hurricane I
39 Sqn (LG.86) flew its last OM in the Maryland I
97 Sqn (Coningsby) flew its last OM’s in the Manchester I & IA
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