Short Stirling EE884

My father, Sergeant Wilfred Harry Perry, age 30, was based at RAF Downham Market serving in 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.

On the 18th November 1943 at 17.15 hrs Short Stirling Bomber Mk.3 number EE884 coded HA-B took off for another bombing mission.

This time the target was Mannheim, Germany.

The crew of seven were P/O A Hine (Pilot), F/O A Powell (Bomb Aimer), Sgt. D I McCallum (Nav), Sgt. J Robson (W/OP/Ag), Sgt F C White (AG), Sgt K Walshaw (F/Eng) & My Father Sgt W H Perry (AG)

Wilf Perry

Wilf Perry

After taking off from Downham Market at 17:15, the aircraft travelled south and crossed the English Channel near Dover, before moving across to a position just south of Frankfurt, where they were picked up by searchlights. They then travelled south and appear to have dropped their bombs on Mannheim.

Short Stirling III EE884 HA-B of 218 Squadron

Short Stirling III EE884 HA-B of 218 Squadron and crew

My father, rear gunner, picked out 5 German fighters on their tail and relayed the message to the rest of crew. Then, a German fighter attacked from below and in front, partially shielded by the glare of a searchlight, and caused sufficient damage to the Stirling to prevent it continuing its return journey.

The pilot looked for a landing point and spotted a field at Bobstadt, about 6 miles north of Mannheim.

He ordered the crew to abandon, and my father shouted "okay skipper"..

The Bomb Aimer, Alwynne Powell, parachuted from the aircraft, but alas it was too late for the rest of the crew to prepare for jumping. The aircraft as it tried to force land, caught a wheel on electric cables hanging from pylons. The wheel was ripped off and landed in a ditch 500 yards away.

EE884 Crash-site at Bobstadt

The aircraft hit a roadway, and slithered along the field on fire.

Crash-site of Stirling EE884 at Bobstadt

The remaining six crew were killed. at 8.15PM (UK time) including my father.

Airmen from Biblis Airbase rushed to the scene and guarded the aircraft until first light on the 19th November. The bodies were recovered and laid at the roadside, and were then buried in the local cemetery at Bobstadt.

A simple wooden cross was erected with the inscription "Here lies six English Fliers". The ladies of the village came and placed flowers on the graves on behalf of the loved ones the crew had left behind.

Bobstadt Cemetery Entrance

In 1948 the remains were removed and finally laid to rest in Durnbach War Cemetery, Bavaria.

Alwynne Powell, the Bomb Aimer, managed to travel about 40 miles before he was picked up by the Germans and was interred until released in 1945. He wrote a letter on his release to my mother, which I still have, giving all of the above details of how the aircraft was terminally hit.

I have tried unsuccessfully since to locate Alwynne

Graves of crew of EE884 at Durnbach War Cemetery

The graves of 6 of the crew of EE884

My husband, ex RAF (3 years) was determined to find what happened on the ground and by the magic of the internet found a witness to the crash. He was sixteen at the time and should have been in a shelter, but his youthful curiosity got the better of him, and he watched the aircraft come down and was able to give me some of the above information.

Christine Smith Nee Perry at the fathers grave

The witness took some photographs of the crash site and the local cemetery entrance and passed them to me.

He published an article in a German Newspaper on the 60th anniversary of the event and also passed a copy to me

This witness is now nearly 79 years old and was very, very helpful and sympathetic.

My mother Elma, was pregnant with me at the time, and I was born 5 months after my father lost his life. She never remarried and devoted her whole life to raising me.

Sadly she passed away at the age of 90, nearly 3 years ago.

Christine Smith (Nee Perry) at her fathers grave

Christine Smith (nee Perry)

Dedicated to the memory of the crew of EE884

May they Rest in Peace

Pilot: P/O Alan Hine 159051 age 21 from Kendall, Westmorland.

F/Engr: Sgt Kenneth Walshaw 1527573 from Dewsbury, Yorkshire.

Nav: Sgt Douglas Izett McCallum 1497332 Age 22 from Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

W/Op/Ag Sgt: Joseph Robson 1079549 Age 26 from Felling Gateshead.

AG: Sgt Frederick Charles White 1852320 from Portsmouth, Hampshire.

AG: Sgt W H Perry 1578961 Aged 30 from Lye, Stourbridge (MY FATHER)

Survivor B/Aim: F/O Alwynne Powell from Llynpia, Glamorgan. POW