Personnel Index - Detail
On the 69th anniversay flowers were laid by Ed Ijsbrandij and Dick Shilder of the Dutch Aircraft Research & Excavation group (DARE)
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. 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.
Hampden P1206 (EA-Z)
W/O C.A. Saunders DFM Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.M. D'Arcy NAV (Killed)
Sgt J.E. Kehoe W/AG (Killed)
Sgt S.G. Mullenger W/AG (Killed)
The remains of P1206 were returned to RAF Scampton and are now displayed in the Station Museum.
Sgt D'Arcy is remembered on a plaque in the Scampton Village Church.
Mavis Williams has compiled a detailed history of Sgt D'Arcy (link opens in a new window)