Dutch archaeologists want to trace British pilot's daughters

The_Historian · #1 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2006, 06:09 PM

Stevin · #2 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2006, 09:52 PM

8/9 November, 1941; ESSEN/INTRUDER: At 10.00hrs, 5 of the squadron's aircraft were
detailed for operations against Essen; 3 on bombing sorties and 2 for searchlight-suppression
and intruder attacks. The two intruders took off just after 17.14hrs, followed by just one
bomber, piloted by Sgt Freeman (L4125) and crew.
Bomber Command had dispatched 54 aircraft on the bombing raid assisted by 8 Hampden
intruders. Large fires were started in the target area but the cost was high with 3 Wellingtons,
2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden reported missing.
One Hampden failed to return from the intruder operations and it unfortunately came from
49 Squadron: W/O Christopher Saunders DFM (P1206) and crew were shot down by a
German night fighter flown by Ofw Ney of II/NJG 2. The aircraft was hit over the Dutch
coast and set on fire; it was seen to circle before crashing at Berkhout, south west of Hoorn in
Holland. The wreckage sank deep into the marshy ground and the bodies of Sgt John Kehoe
(of Eire) and Sgt Stanley Mullenger have never been recovered. The pilot and navigator, Sgt
James D'arcy are both buried in Bergen General Cemetery.
FTR P1206 W/O C.A. Saunders DFM Pilot (Killed)
(EA-Z) Sgt J.M. D'arcy NAV (Killed)
Sgt J.E. Kehoe W/AG (Missing)
Sgt S.G. Mullenger W/AG (Missing)

leggoman · #3 (**permalink**) November 13th, 2008, 12:53 AM

As an update to this thread. I have just returned from Holland. I visited Bergen General Cemetery to pay my respects to a member of my family who is buried there with his crew and noticed by the central monument 2 new graves. they are the graves of the 2 missing airmen and are buried back to back with the rest of the crew.
The thing i noticed and really made me think was, if the graves of the crew members that were found and buried during the war were in any other position in the cemetery it would have been almost impossible to put them all together when they found the other 2........

The_Historian · #4 (**permalink**) November 13th, 2008, 01:50 PM

Thanks for that, Leggoman.

macrusk · #5 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2008, 02:54 AM

Thanks, leggoman.

Gordon, the original story is no longer available. Do you recall who or why they were looking for the pilot's daughters? And do you know if there was ever any update on the results?

Thanks!

The_Historian · #6 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2008, 01:34 PM

'Chelle,
I can't remember much about the story, sorry. I think the airman's remains had been found, and the archaeologists wanted to invite his daughters to the official burial service.
I'll see if I can find any updates though.