Short Stirling BF346 lost 28/29 April 1943
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:59 am
I am looking for help in understanding the circumstances around the loss of Short Stirling Mk III BF346 on the night of 28-29 April 1943.
The aircraft, from XC(90) Squadron, took off at 20:19 from RAF Ridgewell in Essex to take part in a “Gardening” operation in the ‘Quince’ region of the Baltic. She was lost with all crew, presumed to have come down in the sea. One body only was recovered – that of F/Sgt William Greenhalgh Monk (95140), which washed ashore one month later on 31 May at Ekckenforde in Germany. He was buried at Kiel War Cemetery.
Dr Theo Boiten suggests that BF346 was brought down by light flak of 1.Lei.Fl.Abt 985, and crashed in the Langelands Baelt near Korsor at 00.07 (Nachtjagd Combat Archive Part 1). He also believes that this aircraft was mis-identified as a Liberator.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone clarify why Dr Boiten has identified this particular loss as BF346 when several other Stirlings were lost on the same operation?
2. Are the Liberator and Stirling Mark III similar? Other Stirlings lost at the same time were clearly identified as such, so is it usual that this one might have been misidentified?
3. Is it possible to work out approximate flight time to the target area? I would like to know whether the aircraft was inbound and fully laden with mines or was returning to base at the time it was lost.
4. Can I find out the location of Flak station 1.Lei.Fl.Abt 985?
The pilot of BF346 was S/Ldr Robert ‘Bob’ Seayears May, who appears to have been a very experienced pilot, having served successfully in Iraq and as an Instructor at a training base in Rhodesia, before being posted back to an operational squadron.
5. Is it possible to find out more about his RAF career, particularly dates of deployment? As I am neither next of kin nor family I presume I cannot access this information?
I am very grateful for any guidance or information that can be put my way.
Thanks
Lyn
The aircraft, from XC(90) Squadron, took off at 20:19 from RAF Ridgewell in Essex to take part in a “Gardening” operation in the ‘Quince’ region of the Baltic. She was lost with all crew, presumed to have come down in the sea. One body only was recovered – that of F/Sgt William Greenhalgh Monk (95140), which washed ashore one month later on 31 May at Ekckenforde in Germany. He was buried at Kiel War Cemetery.
Dr Theo Boiten suggests that BF346 was brought down by light flak of 1.Lei.Fl.Abt 985, and crashed in the Langelands Baelt near Korsor at 00.07 (Nachtjagd Combat Archive Part 1). He also believes that this aircraft was mis-identified as a Liberator.
So my questions are:
1. Can anyone clarify why Dr Boiten has identified this particular loss as BF346 when several other Stirlings were lost on the same operation?
2. Are the Liberator and Stirling Mark III similar? Other Stirlings lost at the same time were clearly identified as such, so is it usual that this one might have been misidentified?
3. Is it possible to work out approximate flight time to the target area? I would like to know whether the aircraft was inbound and fully laden with mines or was returning to base at the time it was lost.
4. Can I find out the location of Flak station 1.Lei.Fl.Abt 985?
The pilot of BF346 was S/Ldr Robert ‘Bob’ Seayears May, who appears to have been a very experienced pilot, having served successfully in Iraq and as an Instructor at a training base in Rhodesia, before being posted back to an operational squadron.
5. Is it possible to find out more about his RAF career, particularly dates of deployment? As I am neither next of kin nor family I presume I cannot access this information?
I am very grateful for any guidance or information that can be put my way.
Thanks
Lyn