LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 455 Squadron Hampden I aircraft AD783), Lincolnshire, 13 February 1942
Hampden AD783 took off from RAF Wigsley at 2345 hours on the night of 12/13th February 1942 to lay mines in the Wangerooge area off Emden, Germany. Three aircraft from the Squadron were on the mission but AD783 returned to base early when it experienced engine trouble. On its last circuit of the aerodrome while preparing to land AD783 crashed and caught fire at 0155 hours at Eagle village some 7 miles south west of Lincoln. The mine was thrown clear but all the crew members were killed.
The crew members of AD783 were:
Sergeant Verner James Hopwood (778346) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant William Leonard Kelly (1000480) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Bernard Kennedy (402874) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant George Arthur Metcalfe (1375863) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Bibliography:
Gordon, I. (Ian) Strike and Strike Again: 455 Squadron 1944-5, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1995
Lawson, John Horwood Wightman (251634) The Story of No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Wilke and Company, Melbourne VIC, 1951