Varsity - crash site Horsa BF 473?

Hi MJ,

This is a little off topic but I thought you may want to know, I have just found some photographs that are a close match for the ones from the unknown V2 site: Find an object | Imperial War Museums which appears to be at Hahnenberg known alternatively as Oehmer Feld in Leese Leese: Chemical Warfare Agents and V2 Missiles | Joint municipality of Mittelweser

BR
SH

 

Research of Flying Officer Edwin James KNOWLES.

I dont want to open a new thread, because this is related to this post, and the knowledge is in here.

At the moment i'm researching Flying Officer Edwin James KNOWLES, for the project Faces to Graves in the Netherlands.
Not a lot of information about him to find.

Born: unknown
Died: 24 March 1945
Initial buried at : Hamminkeln
Pilot of: Horsa C2 CN295 confirm by ww2talk and Glider regiment) (pegasusarchive mentioned a different name)
Unit: 1 Wing, GPR, RAF (Voluenteer)

Thats it, dont know his Birthdate, where he was born and dont have a photo of him. How he was killed... maybe someone can enlight me in my research.

UPDATE: Born on 5 februari 1923 in Kingsclere, UK. Son of Alfred James Knowles and Eliza Maria Hutchins....the search goes on.

Who was the Co-pilot of his Horsa MKII ? And a photo of him.

 

Gazette Mention
Flying Officer E J KNOWLES (163764), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) [Royal Air Force WW2 Casualty ]
---
some more info in this thread:
Shepherds Grove Operation Varsity gliders
---snip---
Following Varsity my father wrote to his old Headmaster at Lewes County School, advising of the death of FO E J ‘Blondie’ Knowles on the same operation. FO Knowles was also an old boy of Lewes County School.
---snip---

 

Thanks I just send an message to Steve, who posted in that thread.

 

Hi - Thanks. I had tracked these down to the Leese site, and the IWM pictures. I actually contacted the archivists at Peenemunde museum to ask!

Some of the pictures (there are a few) in the Pegasus Archive, that I submitted, show Airborne officers looking at the V2's ( see Pegasus arm badge), and also one in a Dennison Smock jacket.
Looking at the shoulder "pips", and poses (!) they may likely be senior staff
The Rhine Crossing

 

Yo,

Just to note another RASC Hamilcar and Bren Carrier identified:

Varsity Bren Carrier and Hamilcar wreck

Regards ...

 

About the Glider Pilots:

GRAEFE, REGINALD LIONEL, Lieutenant, The Glider Pilot Regiment A.A.C., 1st, 235913
JARVIS, ERIC LIONEL, Staff Serjeant, The Glider Pilot Regiment A.A.C., 2nd, 6462761

Both pilots were buried at UEDEM, reburied at Reichswald Cemetery
A post about the fate of Hamilcar Chalk 262 can be found here.

---

KENNARD, DOUGLAS CHARLES, Lieutenant, The Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C., 273182
was given a field burial in the North of DINGDEN re-interred to Reichswald Cemetery

The concentration report also lists three men of 12 Devons
ANGELL G.E. 5615604
LITTLEJONNS H.G. 5628457
CARPENTER S.A. 5623500



105 ... Loikum
512 ... crashed Glider at Gervershof
513 ... unidentified crash
801 ... Graves Dingden N

 

Yo,

Considering all the discussion of Varsity Hamilcars in this thread this pic may also be of interest. It was said to have been taken by Capt. Leslie Evans (5 AFPU) on March 22nd, 1945. ... Correct date? The IWM claims Evans flew in by glider:

" ... He went with the Airborne Forces on their recent operation East of the Rhine, and landed by glider."

Off the top of my head I can't recall coming across any photos attributed to Evans in the Op Varsity Airborne sectors, but could have just missed them. Note the rifle leaning against the glider and the ammo pouches.



Regards ...

 

Hey Ho,

Another of the same group by Capt. Leslie Evans. The second of tea drinkers was taken by an unnamed RAF photographer. It was grouped in with other pics taken at RAF Woodbridge during Varsity take-offs.



Regards ...

 

Curiosity

I can't see this being of much interest, but it is a bit of a curiosity with regards the so-called movements of Captain Evans and other cameramen attached to the British Airborne. Forum member Guy sent this No. 5 AFPU war diary excerpt listing Evans returning with others to Germany on April 7th. The use of the word "return" is confusing in this context.

For example, both Lawrie (jumped) and Oakes (glider) arrived with the 6th Airborne on March 24th. Why would they return to the UK only to return to Germany not soon after again. Did the same occur with Capt. Evans ...? Could be just a misuse of terminology or a misinterpretation on my part.



Regards ...