Vickers Wellington

Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1972-019-88, Beuteflugzeug, Vickers Wellington

[Dave Smith]

Wow, thanks for finding that one! It's the best shot I've ever seen of that Welllington L7842. It was built about ten miles from where I live in a factory that now produces wings for the Airbus. Flown by a Czech crew from 311 Sqdn, it went missing on the night of 6-7 Feb 1941 during an attack on Boulogne. Severe damage caused a forced-landing in a French field, all crew becoming PoW. One of them, Sgt G Kopal, was murdered by the Gestapo after "The Great Escape" from Sagan in March 44.

Airborne 1806 6Feb41 for mission to Boulogne. Force-landed, & captured intact, location not established. The Wellington was later flown by the Luftwaffe at it its Experimental & test Facility at Rechlin.

Crew:

P/O 82541 F. Cigos RAF PoW No.402.

Sgt 787198 P. Uraba RAF PoW No.450.

P/O 82588 E. Busina PAF PoW No.401.

Flt/Lt 82532 Ernst Valenta RAF PoW No 415, murdered by Gestapo late Mar44, following mass escape from Sagen. Reported he was amongst early pairs of escapers from tunnel 24Mar44. Recaptured in Gorlitz area & last seen alive 31Mar44 amongst group of ten RAF officers in the charge of Oberreigierungsrat Scharpwinkel.

Sgt 787232 G. Kopal RAF PoW No.441.

P/O 82903 K. Krizek RAF PoW No.407.

Sources:

Air Britain RAF Aircraft L1000 - N99999 &

http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=11310

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=21586