Wellington T2736 near Ryhill, Wakefield.
On 18th March 1941 this 75 Squadron aircraft had taken off from Feltwell (on this night) at 19.50hrs for an operational flight to bomb Kiel. In the early hours of the 19th March the crew were returning to base but they became lost and flew over the coast too high up the country after encountering bad weather and with their wireless out of action. Eventually the aircraft ran out of fuel and being unable to obtain searchlight assistance because of an enemy air-raid at the time the crew baled out over the Ryhill area to the south of Wakefield. The aircraft crashed soon afterwards at 03.50hrs. The parachute of one of the crew sadly failed to deploy and he was killed. The other five are believed to have landed safely.
Wellington T2736 was built to contract B.38600/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge. It was initially allotted to 9 MU on 6th August 1940 and was received by them on 10th August 1940. It was taken on charge by 75 Squadron at Mildenhall on 17th September 1940. On 26th February 1941 it was received by 22 MU. It's AM Form 78 states that on 2nd March 1941 it was taken on charge by 57 Squadron but I believe that this is an error and should state 75 Squadron. Suggesting it went to 22 MU for some form of service or modification and was returned to 75 Squadron a few days later once complete. Following the incident near Ryhill on 18th March 1941 Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off.
Pilot - F/O John Kenneth Collins RAF (40082).
Second Pilot - Sgt Alexander Coutts Mee RNZAF (40656), of Brighton, Otago, New Zealand.
Observer - P/O C W Evans.
Wirelsss Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Daniel Gilmore RAF(Aux) (818024), aged 25. Buried Cardiff Western Cemetery, Wales.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Thomas Cole RAFVR (908710).
Air Gunner - Sgt J T Peters (A/401230).
Alexander Mee was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in November 1917 and was employed as a clerk when he enlisted in February 1940. Sgt Mee returned to operational
flying after the incident detailed above but with sadly killed on 7th May 1941 when his Wellington was again forced north and crashed onto Trinity Sands in the
River Humber after striking a barrage balloon. Five of the crew of six in this incident being killed. Sgt Mee was 23 years old and is buried in Grimsby Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Collins and Cole were soon posted to 7 Squadron. They were killed on 28th June 1941 flying Stirling N6009 when it crashed into the North sea off Flamborough with the loss of all on board. They are commemorated the Runnymede Memorial.