Operation: Köln (Cologne), Germany

Date: 30th/31st July 1941 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 142 Squadron

Type: Wellington II

Serial: W5364

Code: QT:H

Base: RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire

Location: Heath land near. Ashdown Forest, Nutley, England

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Henry Alexander Vincent Vidler 740176 RAF Age 27. KiA

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Victor Ronald Sutton 528254 RAF Age 24. KiA

Obs: Sgt. Wilfred Stanley Brooks 581201 RAF Age? KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Arthur Ernest Cave 615262 RAF Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Thomas Stanley Hathaway 990190 RAVR Age 24. KiA (1)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Leonard Saunders 754479 RAFVR Age 21.KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on an operation to bomb Cologne, Germany at 00:01 hrs RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire. It is understood that the aircraft was hit by flak over the target area.

Struggling to reach a suitable landing area on return with just the starboard engine in operation and in the throws of terrible weather conditions, the aircraft crashed on the south slopes of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

The mother of Sgt. Hathaway placed a simple white cross as a memorial on the spot that the crash occurred shortly afterwards. In 1954 a stone cross was placed. Then as time moved on the Forest Rangers built a stone wall around the crass to keep the sheep and other livestock away. I understand that the people who built this wall also scribed their initials on the right hand hand of the wall when they completed it in 1971. A.J. and P.J. In time the Rangers planted trees and flowers at the spot and it has become a Remembrance Day visitors spot for literally hundreds of people. (see photo below)

A gentleman named Frank Wilson (ex RAF) erected a plaque to all the crew in 1992 on the wall surrounding the memorial and all the relatives of the crew have visited the memorial at one time or another we understand.

(1) Sgt Hathaway was not one of the usual crew members. He was taking the place of a Sgt. Morton B. Cohen - reason not established. Martin Bolden Cohen became an Australian Politician. He died in 1968.

Burial details:

Flt Sgt. Henry Alexander Vincent Vidler. Hull Crematorium. Screen Wall. Panel 5. Son of Henry James Vidler and Rose Vidler, of Hessle; husband of Mary Kathleen Vidler, of Hessle, Humberside, England.

Sgt. Victor Ronald Sutton. Brockley Cemetery. Sec Y. Grave 676. Son of Frederick A. and Elsie B Sutton (Nee Martin), wife of Lily Porter, who he married in East Glamorgan, Wales in April 1940. Born 26th July 1917 in Sidcup, Kent, England. From Lewisham, London, England.

Sgt. Wilfred Stanley Brooks. Ramsgate and St. Lawrence Cemetery. Ramsgate Div. Sec G.A. Grave 311. Son of Oliver and G. L. Brooks, of Ramsgate, Kent, England.

His brother, Sapper Alfred John of the 5th Company Royal Engineers died fighting the Japanese at Kohim, India. the site of one of the most fierce battles against a huge enemy division.

Above Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Cave with his father gravestone behind (Grave photo courtesy Mike McQuaid)

Flt Sgt. Arthur Ernest Cave. Wallesey (Rake Lane) Cemetery Sec 19C. Grave 362A. Son of Harold and Elizabeth Cave, of Wallasey, Liverpool, England.

Sgt. Thomas Stanley Hathaway. Preston-On-Tess Cemetery. Sec A. Row P. Grave 1. Son of Thomas and Ethel Margaret Hathaway, of Eaglescliffe, Stockton-On-Tees, England.

Flt Sgt. Leonard Saunders. Whitstable Cemetery. Sec. 4L. Grave 15. Son of Frederick Charles and Julia Maud Saunders, of Whitstable, Kent, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Also to Martyn Critchlow for information on Sgt. Victor Sutton. Thanks to Richard Maddox for the corrections to the map and location of the crash (Jun 2023)

Other sources listed below:

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: 18 June 2023, 15:44