Personnel Index - Detail

Name
HOSKINS
First Names
S R
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1290303
Crew Position
Air Gunner
PoW Date
24/11/1940
Aircraft
Hampden X3052
Target
Hamburg
PoW Camp(s)
PoW Number
32906

 

24/25 November, 1940; HAMBURG:

Three of the squadron's aircraft bombed AA concentrations in Hamburg, whilst a fourth bombed Rensberg and Sylt. A fifth aircraft failed to return from the Hamburg raid: The fate of this aircraft is recounted by crewmember Des Dunphy, in Harry Moyle's excellent book 'The Hampden File'. From the book, we learn that Aircraftman Second Class Hoskins was in fact a member of the Scampton airfield defence guard. On the very morning of the fateful raid, he had enquired of the Flight Commander about going on an Air Gunners course... the Commander, short of gunners for the night foray needed no further prompting. AC2 Hoskins on his very first flight was destined to become a prisoner for the rest of the war. His aircraft, X3052, had the misfortune of still being over enemy territory as dawn was breaking. Three Bf109s from III/JG54 pounced and Lt Wubke was credited with shooting the Hampden down. Des Dunphy gives great credit to his pilot Sgt Philips for making a successful crash landing of their blazing Hampden:
"The fact that we were not all killed is due entirely to the skill and coolness under fire of Sgt Philips, to whom we all owe our lives. The Hampden was completely burned out; the only fatal casualties were our pigeons."
Their aircraft had come down near Den Helder in Holland.

Sgt F. Philips Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt D.C. Dunphy P/NAV (P.o.W.)
AC2 S.R. Hoskins A/G (P.o.W.)
Sgt E. Torpey W/OP (P.o.W.)