Missing Airman, we have no details. Can you help?

Sgt Hopper (?) 3rd Oct 1942 Wellington W5377 shot down en route Gibraltar to Bathurst, Sierra Leone.

We know 3 survived

Captain P/O D M Struthers

Air Gunner/Wireless Op Sgt W E Morton

Air Gunner Sgt W S Shewell RCAF

We know 3 were lost

Air Gunner/Wireless Op Sgt Roderick MacIntyre (1381478) Aged 19

Co-Pilot Sgt Alan S H Powell(1333187) Aged 19

Sgt Hopper (no details known)

I cannot find any information regarding Sgt Hopper. Not listed on CWGC website. No person who died on that day fits this chap's details. Is he lost? Or is he forgotten? Many thanks.

 

Hello,

His name was Sgt. L. Cooper. He was interned according to the entry for W5377 in David Gunby and Pelham Temple's "RAF Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean - Vol 1 1939 - 1942"

The narrative varies from yours. It states they ditched off Cape Ghir, near Agadir and were rescued by a Spanish fishing boat which was then intercepted by a French patrol boat and the four were interned until Dec 1942.

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks very much. Your narrative is correct, I was being brief. At least I am now happy in the knowledge we now have the correct name. We did not know that he was Cooper I shall now check the CWGC website. I am researching this as he was on the same aircraft as Sgt MacIntyre, my friend's (RAF PIlot) father's cousin. Once again, thanks. This website never lets me down.

 

Sorry, You say he was 'interned' So therefore he is not on CWGC (doh!). My mistake, that will teach me to read it more carefully. Many thanks.

 

I was going to suggest seeking out the RCAF service file of R92237 Wesley Stuart Shewell as it would likely contain a copy of the accident report.

But as he passed in Los Angeles, Ca in 2003 the file is embargoed until 2023.

 

Unsure if Shewell was a successful evader
Sgt W S Shewell RCAF. 1 OADU Wellington W5377 Ditched near Agadir Oct 42 - hospitalised at Rabat until Dec 42
He's the only one of the crew of W5377 mentioned here http://www.conscript-heroes.com/MI9-03.html
and photo 142sqn photos on Flickr

 

Definitely not. The TNA file number on the conscript-heroes site takes you to Sergeant W S Shewell (service number R 92237). Service: RCAF [Royal Canadian Air... | The National Archives

Gunby says the same thing as does Shewell.

 

Thanks for this everyone. Excellent stuff. I shall pass it on to my friend. I found the picture of the actual aircraft. NOTE. There was a W S Shewell RCAF who flew Spitfires in Malta...I followed that rabbit hole for a while but their dates overlap. Cheers

 

Shewell’s report

 

Excellent. This will answer a lot of questions for my friend.