Blenheim - 60 Sqn - 8/9-12-1941

[Henk Welting]

I've an unconfirmed source that Blenheim IV L4913 of 60 Sqn (Mingaladon, India) went missing over Malaya 8/9-12-1941. The crew survived but were murdered by the Japanese.
F/Lt (Pilot) Joseph A.B. DOBSON - 39597 - beheaded - Kranji Mem. Column 409;
Sgt Ernest F.W. FOWLER - 537770 - executed - Kranji Mem. - Column 410, and
F/Sgt George R. SMITH - 562896 - executed - Kranji Mem. - Column 409.
Their names are listed in "Unsung Heroes of the RAF (The Far East Prisoners of War)" - as held and died at Thailand 9-12-1941.
Who may confirm that these airmen were on L4913 ?
Also have unaccounted for on 8-12-1941:
F/Sgt (Obs) Robert J.H. PYLE - 580701 - from Canada - 60 Sqn - Kranji Mem. Column 409.
His name is not listed in the above-mentioned Far East PoW-book.
Can't believe that L4913 had a crew of four.
Who may help me to solve this black spot in my files.
Regards,
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
You might check the source of this one. According to Warner's "Blenheim",L4913 was a Mk1,(in Bloody Shambles, the a/c is recorded as a Mk IV with Bowden as the only survivor, but with no other crew names) and was shot down whilst attacking landing craft off Kota Bharu, N E Malaya. The pilot F/Lt W Bowden was taken POW, his crew, P/O W Logan RAAF, and Sgt T Clarke were KIA. Warner gives the date as 8/12/41.
Edit- Logan's Australian Casualty File has his a/c as a Mk I ,L4829, and this is also in Warner as piloted by S/Ldr G P Westropp-Bennett who was killed with his (unnamed) crew crashing onto a beach in Thailand(also in Bloody Shambles). There is clearly some confusion about these a/c.
Edit 2-I have looked at Logan's Casualty File and it confirms that he was on Bowden's crew although it still gives the a/c as L4829
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dick. This will take some further digging; put on hold for later (Europe first !!).
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Forgot to mention what was in "Unsung Heroes of the RAF" for F/Lt W. BOWDEN:
William Ellis BOWDEN - 40502 - 60 Sqn - held probably Honshu, Shikoku (Zentsuji), Honshu (Tokyo Area) having been shot down in Gulf of Siam.

Henk.

[COL BRUGGY]

G'Day Dick,

In Logan's A705 there are two aircraft serials mentioned on p.80 of 80, namely; L4829 and L4913, in that order. There are six casualties mentioned.

The general rule in casualty signals at the time was, crews listed in order of serials ie, L4829, first three named, L4913, Last three named.

In some casualty signals this was actually spelt out.

The compilers of Logan's A705 Title page do not understand this fact, hence they have quoted the first serial sighted, ie L4829.

Disturbingly, Logan's Grave Registration Form (A8234 122 pp.248-9 of 418), also quotes L4829, for much the same reason.

The system used early in the war (in the Far East), led to a lot of confusion, and was later altered.

Col.

[Dick]

Hi Col
Thanks for that. If I remember the A705, the first a/c was that of Westropp-Bennett and Bowden, was the 2nd. This ties in with both Warner's Blenheim and Chris Shores and Brian Cull's Bloody Shambles Vol 1. Of the 6 men involved only Bowden survived although there is mention in the A705 of a Japanese Radio broadcast that seemed to suggest W-Bennett as a POW. I think he is mentioned (but I don't think named)as the pilot of an a/c and there seems to have been some allied confusion as to which a/c.
It still leaves Henk with 4 names . The 1st 3 are in Warner on 9/12/41 as the crew of Blenheim IV,V5589, damaged in a raid on Singora airfield and crashing in the jungle. Dobson survived intact but was beheaded, F/Sgt G Smith and Sgt F Fowler were injured, captured and shot. Bloody Shambles suggest that both Smith and Fowler died in the crash
Regards
Dick

[Dick]

Hi Henk
I added this to a reply to Colin Bruggy(Post 5) this is to avoid you missing it as it deals with 3 of the 4 names in your original post
"It still leaves Henk with 4 names . The 1st 3 are in Warner on 9/12/41 as the crew of Blenheim IV,V5589, damaged in a raid on Singora airfield and crashing in the jungle. Dobson survived intact but was beheaded, F/Sgt G Smith and Sgt F Fowler were injured, captured and shot. Bloody Shambles suggests that both Smith and Fowler actually died in the crash"
Regards
Dick

[COL BRUGGY]

Henk/Dick,

Henk, you mention that 580701 R.J.H.PYLE is not in 'Unsung Heroes'. Pyle was not a PoW. He was killed along with Westropp-Bennett and 639130 T/ Sgt.R.A.Webb, in Blenheim I L4829, on 8/12/41.

Pyle is mentioned in Logan's A705 (p.80 of 80), as 508701 Temporary Flight Sergeant R.J.H.Pygg !

Col.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks friends for this worthwhile discussion. I think now have them all for 8-12-1941:
L4913:
F/Lt W.E. BOWDEN - 40502 - PoW;
P/O W.A.B. LOGAN - RAAF 405077 (Bowden: survived crash but died by drowning),
F/Sgt T.L. CLARKE - 544010.
L4829:
F/Lt G.P. WESTROP-BENNETT - 37950 (from Irish Republic);
F/Sgt R.J.H. PYLE - 580701 (from Canada),
Sgt R.A. WEBB - 639130.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Hi Henk
I added this to a reply to Colin Bruggy(Post 5) this is to avoid you missing it as it deals with 3 of the 4 names in your original post
"It still leaves Henk with 4 names . The 1st 3 are in Warner on 9/12/41 as the crew of Blenheim IV,V5589, damaged in a raid on Singora airfield and crashing in the jungle. Dobson survived intact but was beheaded, F/Sgt G Smith and Sgt F Fowler were injured, captured and shot. Bloody Shambles suggests that both Smith and Fowler actually died in the crash"
Regards
Dick

Air Britain T1000-V9999 (latest edition) for V5589: 113 Sqn - lost 9-9-1942 !
Regards,
Henk.