Date: 6th February 1942
Unit: No. 455 Squadron (R.A.A.F.)
Type: Hampden I
Serial: AE308
Code: UB-L
Base: Swinderby, Lincolnshire
Location: North Sea
Pilot: Sgt. Bernard Edward Brown 1281447 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Observer: Sgt. Robert Anthony Bilington 1169761 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Michael Pickersgill 1356057 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Eric Bland 1051834 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 12.05 hrs from Swinderby to lay mines off the Frisian Islands in broad daylight! 46 aircraft took part in this operation made up with 33 Hampden's and 13 Manchester's.
The only aircraft lost on this raid was 455 Squadron Hampden AE308. Under his own initiative Hptm. Helmut Lent (Already an ace with 30 kills at this time) took off from Terschelling Island and under radar guidance closed in with three other Bf110's. The flight spotted the minelaying operation and Hptm Lent of Stab II./NJG2 attacked AE308 over the North Sea, 70 kilometres West of Terschelling and shot him down at 15.10 hrs. All crew were lost and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Oberst (Posth) Helmut Lent went on to claim 102 night fighter kills and a further 8 kills before on the 7th October 1944 he died after suffering injuries sustained during a crash landing on the 5th October 1944 during a crash landing in his Ju 88 G-6 at Paderborn Airfield following engine failure and subsequent collision with a high tension cable. His crew were rescued - injured from the crash. Walter Kubisch (radio operator) and Hermann Klöss (2nd radio operator) died the same day, Werner Kark (War correspondent and Air/Gnr) died the next morning.
455 Squadron Hampden
Hptm Lent Stab II./NJG2
Burial details:
Sgt. Bernard Edward Brown. Runnymede Memorial Panel 79
No further details as yet.
Sgt. Robert Anthony Bilington. Runnymede Memorial Panel 78
Son of Robert and Dorothy Theresa Billington, of Beckenham, Kent.
Sgt. David Michael Pickersgill. Runnymede Memorial Panel 91
No further details as yet.
Sgt. Eric Bland. Runnymede Memorial Panel 78
Son of John and Annie Evelyn Bland, of Halifax, Yorkshire.
For Graham Turner relative of Sgt. Eric Bland
