LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 466 Wellington aircraft HE410), Netherlands, 21 January 1943
Wellington HE410 took off from RAF Leconfield at 1640 hours on the night of 21/22nd January 1943 to carry out mining operation off the Terschelling Island lying off the northern coast of Holland. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. Six aircraft from the Squadron took part in the mission and of these HE410 failed to return. It was later established that the aircraft was hit by flak in the starboard wing which affected the performance of the engine. The aircraft strayed from track and flying at low level clipped a telegraph pole near Mantgum before finally crashing at 1820 hours north of Wirdum (Friesland) and 5kms south south east from the centre of Leeuwarden, Holland. Five of the crew became Prisoners of War and Sergeant Fisher was killed. He is buried in the Leeuwarden (Wirdum) Protestant Churchyard, Netherlands.
The crew members of HE410 were:
Flight Sergeant George Emerson (402174) (RNZAF) (Pilot) PoW
Sergeant William Robert Fisher (517185) (RAF) (Second Pilot, a member of No. 196 Squadron (RAF))
Sergeant Harold Hughes (412334) (RNZAF) (Air Gunner) PoW
Sergeant Richard George Prior (1309479) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer) PoW
Sergeant William David Denzil Watts (1379311) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant Gordon George Whitla (404559) (RNZAF) (Navigator) PoW
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
RAF Commands Website