Halibag3 (Brussels, Belgium) posted this in the Guest Book of the website:
Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and look for information about an airman buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery. He is
Sgt (Air Gunner) Alfred Stanley WHEELER 1215716 of 295 Squadron.
He died on 19 Sept 1944 aged 23 and rests in Plot 6 Row E Grave 10.
I understand 295 flew Stirling IV from Harwell, Oxon at time of death.
Is his death related in some way to airdrop operations at Arnhem (Market)? And did the rest of the crew manage to fly back to Blighty?
What happened ?
Any snippet would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Halibag3
Yes, Sgt Wheeler was related to airdrop operations at Arnhem (Market):
Sgt Wheeler was onboard Stirling IV LK170 of 295 Squadron.
Stirling LK170 was hit by flak when flying to Arnhem, and crashed in German held territory near the house of Mr F.B. van Rie, Eede, Aardenburg municipality; the area was inundated. Eye witnesses of the recovery in 1945 confirmed that the aircraft crashed nose first, and the fuselage, with the exception of the tail section, was completely destroyed. The remains of most of the crew members were declared unrecoverable due to the total destruction.
- 1215716, Sergeant A.S. Wheeler (air gunner), age 23, was recovered from the aircraft in 1944, and buried in the Aardenburg General Cemetery. He was later reinterred in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, grave 6.E.10. An unindentifiable soldier, probably on of the air despatchers, was also recovered and buried in grace 6.E.9.
The following have non known grave:
- 1621519, Sergeant B. Fanthorpe (wireless operator), age 20;
- 1803436, Flight Sergeant R.A. Hall (pilot), age 22;
- 1836381, Sergeant E.S. John (flight engineer), age 20;
- 950919, Flight Sergeant E.P. McDonald (air bomber), age 28;
- 1578493, Flight Sergeant A. Marston (navigator), age 22;
The two air despatchers from 253 (Airborne) Composite Company, RASC were:
- T/10679621, Driver N. Enderby, age 21;
- T/14394044, Driver F.C. Holdsworth, age 33.
Details taken from the excellent book 'The Royal Air Force at Arnhem' by Philip Renders, Luuk Buist and Geert Maassen.
