Hello, In the next few weeks the Lancaster LM508 SP-R (Bomber Command), which crashed outside our town Werkendam in the early night of June 22nd, 1944, will be excavated. Very exciting times. Most likely the reargunner who crashed with the plane will finally get a decent grave. As a member of the local Historical Assc. and as journalist who became very involved over the years, I am currently working on school lessons for the highest grades in elementary schools. The children will visit the site. Over the years we have collected quite some info. Pictures is another matter. They are no where to be found! The only picture we have, through his family, is the one of the reargunner, sgt. Keogh. I hope someone out there can help me with the others. Either individual pictures or a picture of the whole crew. Or who can put me in contact with their families. My deadline is approaching fast, so spread the word and please help! These are their names: Pilot Officer G. (Gerry) Hingley – pilot Flight Officer T.W. Ball – navigator Flight Sergeant T.H. (Thomas) Duff –bomb aimer (severly hurt, passed away upon landing) Sergeant L.V.H. Horrigan – wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant S.D. Rogerson – flight engineer Sergeant F. Sheard – wireless operator/special duties Sergeant J. (Jeff) Gascoigne – mid upper gunner Sergeant J.E. (John) Keogh – rear gunner (crashed with plane) Thanks for your help in advance, Corine
Hello Corine, As Secretary for the RAF 100 Group under Bomber Command, I know it isn't that often that aircraft from WWII are uncovered. But when it does, it brings so many stories from out of the shadows into the light. And as Editor of our 'Confound & Destroy' magazine, I would love to cover the uncovering of this particular aircraft together with any information you have. Members around the world will be so interested, and given our veterans don't have computers, this will trigger a whole new form of debate. I would love to hear from you and to know more about this unfolding story. I realise you posted looking for pictures, which I don't have. But I do share your passion and interest, and would welcome being a part of that and sharing whatever you might find out ... about the crash, the aircraft and its crew. Best wishes, Janine
The pilot G Hingley may have completed 64 Ops (or a badly written 14) and broke his thigh on landing by hitting a bridge. No PoW or Camp info, so may have remained in hospital until Liberation. Keogh and Duff (bomb aimer) were believed killed, the other 6 in the crew were PoW's as you know. 101 Squadron flew with 2 wireless operators, with one tasked with radio jamming, usually a German speaker (Sheard). Consequently, their bomb load was lighter than the norm, being 8 x 500lb; 8 x 50lb and 2 x 500lb bombs. Special equipment included IFF; Air Borne Cigar (ABC) and API (per RAF Loss Card) 101 Squadron is still in existence and may well have an active Squadron Association who may be able to help source photos of crew or LM508 Incidentally the Squadron Code was SR and the aircraft individual code letter was "P" making it SR@P not SP@R.... Sheard was held at L7; PoW No 237 with Horrigan PoW 223 and Rogerson PoW 234; Gascoigne looks to have evaded until 24 July when he was captured in Antwerp, possibly with the traitor Prosper de Zitter; Ball held at L3 PoW No 6385; I have to ask, but have all the necessary permits been confirmed, as human remains are possibly likely to be found? No help with photo, but the Aircrew Association website is here http://101squadronassociation.org/ and may be able to help. Contacts page info: http://101squadronassociation.org/contact.html (SR@P would probably have been allocated to several aircraft as they replaced the previous one after loss or damage, so LM508 is the unique serial number for your aircraft). Hope it gets you closer to your goal and also for a final resting place for John Keogh. Good luck!
Hi Corine, I noticed there were a couple of sons (Horrigan and Rogerson) and an acquaintance (Gascoigne) of crew members on the following thread. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/15226-info-wanted-101-squadron-lm508-22-6-1944/ Have you tried contacting them by PM with regards photos? Private messages from here go through to their email address. Regards ...
Thank you Kevin, for all your info, we have dug up most of this. I have emailed so many including 101 Squadron. Unfortunately, they didn't have any pics. As for your questions about the sgt.'s remains: the municipality and the Dutch Ministry of Defense are leading this project, so I'm sure they have got all permits they need. Still no pics, but I'll just keep on asking. I wish I could get in contact with the families but that is all restricted because of privacy.
