Date: 4/5th April 1943
Unit: No. 10 Squadron
Type: Handley Page Halifax II
Serial: HR699
Coded: ZA-J
Location: North Sea
Pilot: F/O John Alistair Wann J/9543 R.C.A.F. Age; 26, Killed (1)
Fl/Eng: P/O. David Colin Tansley Jagger 51701 R.A.F. Killed
Nav: P/O. Norman Bertram 144198 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 32, Killed
B/Aimer: Sgt. William Ernest Scanlon 1089365 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 23, Killed
W/Op: P/O. Henry Wheen 144260 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 28, Killed
M/U/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Malcolm Maisenbacher R/137144 R.C.A.F. Age; 27, Killed
R/Gnr: P/O. Eric Vernon Frankland 144261 R.A.F.V.R. Age; 20, Killed
(1) Wann Lake in Manitoba is named after F/O. Wann
REASON FOR LOSS:
Halifax HR699 was one of fourteen aircraft despatched by 10 Squadron that formed part of a force of 577 aircraft detailed to attack the port of Kiel. The aircraft took off from Melbourne, Yorkshire at 20.58 hrs, 4th April, 1943, and nothing more was heard from the crew. This was the only aircraft lost from the Squadron, although another was damaged and later forced landed. I came across details of the aircraft and crew when researching the fate of the rear gunner P/O Frankland. Research revealed that he had carried out at least thirteen ops at the time of his death. On his final op he was actually flying as a replacement, as one of the regular gunners on Wann's crew was sick. Frankland's normal crew did not fly on this op. It has been reported that this gunner had a boil and unable to "take his position" correctly.
Further research suggests that this aircraft was followed by German night fighters for over 50 miles on the return leg and was shot down and that is is possible that Oblt Walter Borchers claimed a Wellington by mistake. This occurred 70 kms West of Terschelling over the North Sea. Further research continues ......
The mid-upper gunner, Maisenbacher, was a member of the RCAF, but in actual fact was a US citizen from Columbus, Ohio. Post war his mother corresponded with the RCAF authorities regarding the fate of her son. At one point it was thought that a body washed ashore at Wilhelmshaven shortly after the raid could have been that of her son, but the identity could not be proved.
The Aircrew Remembrance Society would like to thank Mr. Bill Bethell for carrying out this research. Also to David Mole and some of the relatives of this crew for further detailed information.
P/O. Norman Bertram the navigator on this flight - taken a few months prior to his death whilst on a day trip to Llandudno (Courtesy of his son Tony Bertram)
A little history on Norman Bertram (As written by his son for the Aircrew Remembrance Society):
"Norman was the eldest of three boys whose father ran the Red Lion pub in Cheadle, Cheshire. The family had lived in the south Manchester area for at least five generations. When he was 11 years old, he won an open scholarship to Stockport Grammar school where he became a keen cricketer and lacrosse player. He liked fly fishing and travelled to Scotland whenever he could.
He volunteered in 1938 and was soon followed by his younger brother, Sydney, who also became a navigator flying Beauforts in Fighter Command. Sydney survived the war and took part in the Berlin airlift in the 1950s and didn’t retire from the RAF until the 1970s.
At the time of his death, Norman had only just gained his commission having volunteered for a second tour of duty. He died in his Sergeant’s uniform.
He was married to Betty who lived in Blackpool and they had two young children, Anne born in 1938 and Tony born in 1941. Norman and Betty ran a small millenary business based in markets in Blackpool and Bolton in Lancashire.
Norman’s name is carved in stone in the Stockport Municipal Memorial, is on the memorial panels in Stockport Grammar school, is written in the Remembrance Books of both York Minster and St Clement in the Strand, and is also on the walls at Runnymede."
Oblt Walter Borchers (Courtesy Mike Harrison)
Burial Details:
John Alistair Wann Runnymede War Memorial Panel 175
Son of Alexander and Isabella Wann, Winnipeg, Canada. (His father, born in Scotland and a farmer, had died prior to this loss and even though his mother (who at the time of the loss was 65) was his official N.O.K he requested that his commissioning scroll be sent to a Miss Goatcher in Winnipeg, so it can be assumed that she was a serious girlfriend. Prior to joining the R.C.A.F. on the 22-04-1941 in Winipeg he was a bookeeper by profession
David Colin Tansley Jagger Runnymede War Memorial Panel 132
No further details as yet.
Norman Bertram Runnymede War Memorial Panel 130
Son of Harry Douglas Bertram and Annie Bertram; husband of Elizabeth Bertram, of Blackpool, Lancashire.
William Ernest Scanlon Runnymede War Memorial Panel 164
Son of the Revd. Thomas Henry Scanlon, M.A., and Ada Mary Scanlon, of Batterstown Rectory, Co. Meath, Republic of Ireland.
Henry Wheen Runnymede War Memorial Panel 134
Son of Arnold Wheen, and of Florence Wheen, of Chellaston, Derbyshire.
William Malcolm Maisenbacher Runnymede War Memorial Panel 185
Son of Charles F. and Ethel B. Maisenbacher, of Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. William's natural father was a Edward Collier and it would appear that he was adopted later by Charles Maisenbacher after the death of Edward Collier. William worked in his father's watchmaking/repair business prior to joining the R.C.A.F. as a prospective Pilot/Observer on the 17-10-1941 but was trained as a gunner following poor school training. He graduated from Bombing and Gunnery school, Fingal, Ontario in April 1942.
Eric Vernon Frankland Runnymede War Memorial Panel 131
Son of Percy & Emma Priscilla (Nee Bourne), of Southcoates, Kingston-upon-Hull.
With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 3", Theo Boiten - "German Nightfighter War Diaries Vol 2", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries". The C.W.G.C.
