Pilot: Fl/Lt. John Leslie Wilson (Courtesy of his son John Wilson)

The aircraft was only a month old. During the outward flight, one of the motors caught fire. The hydraulic systems also failed, forcing manual operation of many functions.

The extra efforts necessary were unpleasant as the sweat then froze! The pilot was permanently using the rudders to effect any effective control over the aircraft. Nonetheless Berlin was reached, and bombed, after which the return flight to England was commenced. This should have taken the aeroplane nearer to Cologne, but it strayed off track, lost height and was caught by the flak over Datteln.

Hopkins recalls that prior to the mission the undercarriage had been fully overhauled, but subsequent re-calibration of the compass was possibly not executed – which would explain why the aircraft was on a heading too far north. After being hit by flak, the pilot ordered the crew to jump, but remained at his post so that they could do so – thus sacrificing himself.

(1) Sgt Edward Joseph Wilson died of his injuries on the 4th September.

   
The recovery of the aircraft (Courtesy of of Karl Gatzmanga and Rainer Raffalski West German Allegmeine Zeitung)

In April 2005 evidence was found during excavation for the construction of a new sports hall and a training pool at the site next to the Comenius Gymnasium the wreckage of an aircraft.

  
Above left: John Wilson with Hugo Bresser - the man who shot down JD413 - with the port inner propeller hub, still in the feathered position and right: John Wilson at his fathers grave. (Courtesy of John Wilson)

Further examination and research carried out by Andreas Wachtel confirmed that it was the Halifax II JD413 from 77 Squadron. The bomb disposal service together with the authorities recovered the pieces of the aircraft together with human remains.

RAF personnel prepare to lower the casket containing the remains into the grave.
Surviving crew member, Mr Jim Hopkins, can be seen at the rear, right, of the photograph
(Courtesy R.A.F. © Crown Copyright/MOD 2009)


Jim Hopkins received the Union flag which was used to drape the casket.
(Courtesy R.A.F. © Crown Copyright/MOD 2009)


Jim Hopkins stands for a moment in silent tribute after laying a wreath in memory of his fallen comrades of 66 years ago
(Courtesy R.A.F. © Crown Copyright/MOD 2009)

  
Left: John Wilson with Hugo Bresser at the exact spot of the crash. Right: The identity tags of Fl/Lt. John Leslie Wilson - now on display at the Yorkshire Air Museum (Courtesy of John Wilson)

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. John Leslie Wilson. Grave 18. A. 16. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Son of Hugh Charles and Grace Louise Wilson; husband of Mary Wilson, of Hazelbrook, New South Wales, Australia

Fl/Sgt. Raymond William Barlow. Grave 18. A. 15. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Son of William Henry and Hilda Barlow, of Romford, Essex.

Sgt. Robert Alfred Sims. Grave 18. A. 13. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Son of Alfred Jesse and Charlotte Sims, of Verwood, Dorsetshire.

Sgt. Jack Alexander Baxter. Grave 18. A. 12. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
No further details.

P/O. Kenneth George Sheward. Grave 18. A. 14. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Son of Harold and Edith Sheward, of Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire.

Sgt. Edward Joseph Wilson. Grave XI. C.4 Hotton War Cemetery Hotton War Cemetery
Son of George and Isabel Lydia Wilson, of Garston, Liverpool.

Further information on the discovery can be found "HERE".
Researched by Mike Harrison (For the A.R. Society) With thanks to Andreas Wachtel for his tremendous research into this loss (as well as many others) John Wilson son of the pilot Fl/Lt. John Leslie Wilson also to Benjamin Wilson, grandson of Sgt. Edward Wilson. To the R.A.F. for photographs, Karl Gatzmanga and Rainer Raffalski for excavation photographs and to Bill Chorley Bomber Command Losses Vol. 3

Please support our work and visit our Archive section