Date: 23/24th March 1940
Unit: No. 37 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Vickers Wellington Mk. IA.
Serial: P2515.
Code: LF-H
Location: Delmenhorst, near Bremen, Germany.
Pilot: F/O. Philip Francis Templeman 39767 R.A.F. Age 22. Died of injuries
Pilot (2nd): Sgt. Douglas Warren Wilson 566477 R.A.F. Age 23. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. K.R. Say P.O.W. No: 194. Camp: Stalag Kopernikus (357)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: L.A.C. E. Lawson P.O.W. No: 13072 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria (L3)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: A.C.1 J.A. Burke P.O.W. No: 13111 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus (357)
Air/Gnr: L.A.C. J.R. Clark P.O.W. No: 13070 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria (L3)
REASON FOR LOSS
Took-off at 22.51hrs. from RAF Feltwell. Shot down by flak and crashed in flames near Delmenhorst, 02.00 (German time) Sgt. Wilson died in the crash.
F/O Templeman died from his dreadful burns seven days later on the 31st March 1940. The four other crew members Sgt. Say, L.A.C Lawson, A.C1 Burke, and L.A.C Clark all became POWs. (Brief details shown above)
Local residents to the crash site have arranged a memorial plaque placed at the crash site and also a memorial stone placed at the graves of the two airman where they rest side by side in November 2010.
The article regarding this can be viewed "LINK"
F/O. Templeman and Sgt. Wilson (Courtesy of Philip Jay Templeman)
These photos of the remains of P2515 were taken the next day at crash site, by one of a number of high ranking German Officers, who along with a large number of civilians visited the crash.
The memorial stone and plaque to be used at the ceremony (Courtesy Peter Schmidt)
The memorial service (Courtesy Karl Heinz Knief via Peter Schmidt)
The brother of Sgt. Douglas Wilson at the crash site November 2010 (Courtesy Karl Heinz Knief via Peter Schmidt)
Crash site 2010 (Courtesy Karl Heinz Knief via Peter Schmidt)
Piece of the aircraft 2010 (Courtesy Karl Heinz Knief via Peter Schmidt)
Becklingen War Cemetery at Soltau.
Burial details:
F/O. Philip Francis Templeman. Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave/Ref: Plot 27, Row J, Grave 9.
Son of Edgar and Ethel Emma Templeman, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
Sgt. Douglas Warren Wilson. Becklingen War Cemetery. Grave/Ref: Plot 27, Row J, Grave 10.
Son of Herbert William and Ethel Alice Wilson, of Coventry.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", The superb work of the C.W.G.C.
