Personnel Index - Detail

Name
HORDERN
First Names
Alfred Peter Burdett
Rank
P/O
Service
RAF (but an Australian)
Service Number
41418
Crew Position
Pilot
Age
22
Date of Death
25/04/1940
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke
From the panel at Runnymede
 

The Runnymede image was created by artist Paul Reid using photographs taken by Jo Cockburn and Malcolm Brooke
 

Image courtesy of Knox Grammar School Archive and Museum

Image kindly provided by: Knox Grammar School Archive and Museum, Series 12 – Non-commissioned photographs.
The 49Sqn Association would also like to thank Geoff Swallow for his assistance.

25/26 April, 1940; MINELAYING - BALTIC:

This would prove to be the squadron's most costly and saddest nights of the war so far; 8 Hampdens fought their way through terrible weather to the now familiar gardening areas in Kiel Bay. Only one aircraft dropped vegetables successfully, the remainder failed due to the bad conditions. Returning home the squadron was diverted to Montrose where 4 aircraft landed and a fifth landed at Leuchars. 3 aircraft and crews were missing. The reason why two of the aircraft failed to return will never be known, but the third gained the unenviable distinction of being the first bomber to be shot down by a German night fighter.

Hampden P1319, flown by P/O Arthur Benson fell victim to Fw Förster, a member of IV[N]/JG.2, the very first German night fighter unit. This unit operated Messerschmitt Bf 109D's which had the cockpit hoods removed. The Hampden came down in the North Sea off Sylt. The body of Sgt Robert Mackenzie was washed ashore on 30 May near Rantum, and now rests in the Kiel War Cemetery; the rest of the crew were never recovered.

Hampden P1319
P/O A.H. Benson (Missing)
P/O A.P.B. Hordern (Missing)
LAC J.D. Openshaw (Missing)
Sgt R.I.L. MacKenzie (Killed)