AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.
We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.
118

Operation: Circus 193

Date: 20th June 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 118 Squadron (motto: Occido redeoque - I kill and return')

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: AR449

Code: NK-?

Base: RAF Ibsley, Hampshire

Location: Near Saint Omer, France

Pilot: P/O. Paul Hendrik Stenger 108978 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:50 hrs to create a diversionary sweep for bombers that were targeting Le Havre.

Visibility was described as 50 miles. The squadron were jumped by about 50 Fw190s and 6 Me109s from JG26 and JG2.

It was a disastrous day for the RAF. 118 squadron lost four pilots with three killed and one FFAF pilot, W/O. Robert-NoÎl Noel (Nioloux) shot down and taken PoW. Further details are here.

P/O. Stenger was shot down and crashed near Saint-Omer, France, pilot was killed.

Burial details:

P/P/O. Paul Hendrik Stenger. Initially at Pihen-lès-Guînes, Pas-de-Calais. Reburied Nederlands ereveld Orry-la-Ville, Field of Honour Senlis, France grave B/R/1/6. Son of Hendrikus Arnoldus Johannes Stenger, a music shop proprietor, and Jana Adlophina (nèe van Dansik) of Haringvlietstr 47, Holland.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot thanks to the extensive research by Rob Philip and his 'Lost' archive, National Archives Kew, Air-27-907-31/32.

Other sources as quoted below:

KTY 25-05-2023

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

 Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 25 May 2023, 08:56

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor