Traces of World War 2 
RAF - 15 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

15 SQUADRON - Bomber Command, Bristol Blenheim IV

History | Operations and losses | Sources | Links | Books | Questions and/or remarks


At the start of World War II, XV Squadron deployed to France, but within months re-deployed to the UK. From December 1939 to January 1942 the Squadron flew from Wyton with Bristol Blenheims.

On 14th April 1940, the squadron left Wyton for the satellite airfield at Alconbury and from there, in the afternoon of 10th May, the day that the Germans invaded Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg, it flew its first wartime bombing mission: eight Blenheims bombed Waalhaven airport near Rotterdam, which had been captured by German paratroops. From this attack all the Blenheims returned safely, although some were seriously damaged. When the squadron flew its next mission, a raid on the Albert Canal at Maastricht, on 12 May, it took a severe knock: only six aircraft and crews (half the total force) returned - and those aircraft that did come back were badly damaged.

The squadron lost heavily on its tactical raids and after five days had only three aircraft left; these it took to the Sedan gap, and after that there were none serviceable.

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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with losses are.

10/05/1940: Waalhaven, NL
12/05/1940: Maastricht, NL - 7 Planes lost; 14 KIA, 4 POW
15/05/1940: Dinant-Celles, B - 1 Plane lost
18/05/1940: Le Cateau, F. 4 Planes lost; 8 KIA, 1 POW
21/05/1940: Boulogne, F - 1 Plane lost
23/05/1940: Arras, F - 1 Plane lost; 3 KIA
24/05/1940, Aa Canal, B - 1 plane lost; 2 KIA, 1 DOW
25/05/1940: Battle area, B/F - 1 plane lost; 3 KIA
08/06/1940: ?, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
11/06/1940: Battle Area, F. 3 Planes lost, 4 KIA
12/06/1940: Le Bourget, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA

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Losses 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (incomplete)

Sergeant (Obs.) Albert G.H. Prior, RAF 562834, 15 Sqdn., age 28, 13/04/1940, Bridgwater (Quantock Road) Cemetery, UK

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Type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim 1/1V
serial number: L8849, LS-?
Operation: Maastricht
lost: 12/05/1940 (2 KIA, 1 POW)
Flying Officer (Pilot) Peter N. Douglass, RAF 39933, 15 Sqdn., age unknown, 12/05/1940, Heverlee War Cemetery, B
Sergeant (Obs.) Wilfred O. Shortland, RAF 562875, 15 Sqdn., age 28, 12/05/1940, Heverlee War Cemetery, B
L8849 was one of seven No.15 Sqdn Blenheims lost on this operation. Airborne from Alconbury briefed to destroy the strategic bridges on the Albert Kanaal at Maastricht. Sergeant W.E.M. Davies was taken prisoner of war. He was interned in Camps L1/L3. Served as an interpreter.

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Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: P6911, LS-?
Operation: Maastricht
lost: 12/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Sergeant (Obs.) Douglas J. Avent, RAF 566960, 15 Sqdn., age unknown, 12/05/1940, Munsterbilzen Communal Cemetery, B
Flying Officer (Pilot) Albert E. Oakley, RAF 36132, 15 Sqdn., age 25, 12/05/1940, Munsterbilzen Communal Cemetery, B
Leading Aircraftman (Obs.) Denis V. Woods, RAF 551566, 15 Sqdn., age 19, 12/05/1940, Munsterbilzen Communal Cemetery, B
Airborne from Alconbury briefed to destroy the strategic bridges over the Albert Kanaal, Maastricht. Crashed near Munsterbilzen, (Limburg), 8 km SSE of Genk, Belgium. Cause not established.

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Type: Bristol Type 142/L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: P6912, LS-?
operation: Maastricht
lost: 12/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Claude R. Frankish, RAFVR 40616, 15 Sqdn., age 25, 12/05/1940, Leopoldsburg War Cemetery (B).
Sergeant Edwin G. Roberts, RAF 563483, 15 Sqdn., age 26, 12/05/1940, Leopoldsburg War Cemetery (B).
Leading Aircraftman Ernest W.L. Cooper, RAF 539921, 15 Sqdn., age 20, 12/05/1940, Leopoldsburg War Cemetery (B).
P6912 was one of seven 15 Sqdn Blenheims lost on this operation. Airborne from Alconbury, briefed to destroy the strategic bridges over the Albert Kanaal at Maastricht. Crashed near Genk, Belgium, cause not established.

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Type: Bristol Type 142/L Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: P6914, LS-?
operation: Maastricht
lost: 12/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Sergeant Hubert R. Hall, RAF 564340, 15 Sqdn., age 27, 12/05/1940, Hotton War Cemetery (B)
Sergeant (Obs) Edward R. Perrin, RAF 581058, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 12/05/1940, Hotton War Cemetery (B)
Leading Aircrafman (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Patrick J. McDonnell, RAF 538044, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 12/05/1940, Hotton War Cemetery (B)
P6914 was one of seven 15 sqdn Blenheims lost on this operation. Airborne from Alconbury, briefed to destroy the strategic bridges over the Albert Kanaal at Maastricht. Crashed at Gellick (Limburg), 12 km SE of Genk, Belgium. Cause not established. All are buried in the Hotton War Cemetery.

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Type: Bristol Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: N6151, LS-?
operation: Maastricht
Lost: 12/05/1940 (3 POW)
N6151 was one of seven No.15 Sqdn Blenheims lost on this operation. See: L8847; L8849; L8851; P6911; P6912; P6914. Airborne from Alconbury, briefed to destroy the strategic bridges across the Albert Kanaal at Maastricht. Shot down in the target area.
Sergeant F.R. Pepper PoW
Sgt R.Booth PoW
LAC J.Scott PoW
Sgt R.Booth was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357 PoW No.13061 with Sgt F.R.Pepper, PoW No.13039 and LAC J.Scott, PoW No.13076.

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Type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1/1V
serial number: L8851, LS-?
Operation: Maastricht
Lost: 12/05/1940 (1 WIA)
L8851 was one of seven 15 Sqdn Blenheims lost on this operation. Airborne from Alconbury to destroy the strategic bridges across the Albert Kanaal, Maastricht. Returned to base severely battle damaged. Declared beyond economical repair.
Crew: F/O P.F. Webster - injured
Sgt R.A.M. Stone
LAC R.E.Hunter.

See also R3706, Operation Boulogne, 21/05/1940.
Sergeant Raymond A.M. Stone died on 21/12/1940, serving with 210 Sqdn.


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15/05/1940: Dinant-Celles, B

On 15 May Squadron Leader Lance Smith (Hurricane P2870) of 607 Squadron led five Hurricanes of 607 Squadron's B Flight and six Hurricanes of 615 Squadron's A Flight in a escort of a dozen Blenheims (three of 15 Squadron and nine of 40 Squadron), which were to bomb the bridges over the Meuse in the Dinant-Celles area.

Before reaching the target they encountered Bf110Cs plus Bf109s from Stab III/JG 53 at 11,000 feet. In the ensuing combat Squadron Leader J. R. Kayall of 615 Squadron claimed two Bf110s while Flying Officer H. N. Fowler (Hurricane P2622) from the same squadron claimed a probable Bf109 before being shot down himself (he parachuted safely but was later taken PoW). 607 Squadron claimed two Bf109s shot down, one by Whitty, who reported seeing the pilot bale out of the aircraft he attacked, and the other by newly attached Pilot Officer Bob Grassick of 242 Squadron's B Flight. Squadron Leader Smith was shot down and killed in this combat.

Three Hurricanes were claimed by III/JG 53 and were credited to Hauptmann Werner Mölders, Oberleutnant Heinz Wittenberg and Leutnant Georg Claus, while two of the Blenheims were shot down by Bf109s of 1/JG 3 encountered when north-west of Charleroi.

Type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1/1V
serial number: L8856, LS-?
Operation: Dinant Celles
lost: 15/05/1940 (1 WIA)
Airborne from Wyton. While homebound, and over the Belgian coast, the starboard propellor fell off. The pilot successfully force landed in an area known as the Grote Boom-Polder near sint-Kruis (Zeeuws-Vlaanderen), 4 km E of Aardenburg, Holland.
P/O D.S.R.Harriman
Sgt J.R.Stanford Inj
LAC Moorhouse


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18/05/1940: Le Cateau, F

type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: P6917, LS-?
operation: Le Cateau
lost: 18/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Paul G. Chapman, RAF 37718, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Cecil E. Colbourn, RAF 580435, 15 Sqdn., age 26, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op.) Ernest J. Fagg, RAF 540232, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F

Airborne 1230 from Wyton to position to Abbeville for this operation. shot down near Landrecies (Nord), France.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1/1V
serial number: L8852, LS-S
operation: le Cateau
lost: 18/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Sergeant (Obs.) William Baxter, RAF 524225, 15 Sqdn., age 22, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F
Flying Officer Francis D. Dawson Jones, RAF 37741, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op. /Air) Cyril G. Watts, RAF 569073, 15 Sqdn., age 21, 18/05/1940, Landrecies Communal Cemetery, F

Airborne 1230 from Wyton to position to Abbeville for this operation. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Landrecies (Nord), a small town on the southern edge of the Forêt de Mormal, France.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1/1V
serial number: L8853, LS-?
operation: le Cateau
lost: 18/05/1940 (2 KIA, 1 POW)
Sergeant (Obs.) Reginald G. Hopkins, RAF 561177, 15 Sqdn., age 29, 18/05/1940, Preux-au-Bois Communal Cemetery, F
Squadron Leader (Pilot) Hector Y. Lawrence, RAF 37549, 15 Sqdn., age 26, 18/05/1940, Preux-au-Bois Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1230 from Wyton, to position to Abbeville for this operation. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Preux-au- Bois (Nord), 5 km NW of Landrecies, France. LAC E.L.H.Thomas PoW. LAC E.L.H.Thomas was interned in Camp L3, PoW No.5209.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L. Blenheim 1/1V
serial number: L9030, LS-?
operation: le Cateau
lost: 18/05/1940 (crew survived)
Airborne 1230 from Wyton, to position to Abbeville for this operation. Returned battle damaged to Wyton at 2030 but was declared beyond repair and SOC.
P/O Robinson
Sgt Readhead
LAC Horton

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21/05/1940: Boulogne, F (2 WIA)

Type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: R3706, LS-?
Operation: Boulogne
lost: 21/05/1940 (2 WIA)
Airborne 1400 from Wyton to attack enemy armour on the Boulogne- Etaples-Hesdin-Montreuil road. Badly damaged by small armes ground fire near Montreuil (Pas-de-Calais) and turned back towards the Channel. Crash landed in a field between Etaples and Boulogne. Although two of the crew were injured they returned safely to their Squadron.
F/L P.F.Webster Inj
Sgt R.A.M.Stone
LAC R.E.Hunter Inj

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23/05/1940: Arras, F

Type: Bristol Type 142M/L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: L9403, LS-?
Operation: Arras
lost: 23/05/1940 (3 KIA)
Airborne 1300 from Wyton. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Morval (Pas-de-Calais), 7 km SSE of Bapaume, France. No survivors. Pilot Officer (Pilot) James G. Masters, RAF 42249, 15 Sqdn., age 19, 23/05/1940, Morval Communal Cemetery, F
Flight Sergeant (Obs.) Eugene Tucker, RAF 581420, 15 Sqdn., age 24, 23/05/1940, Morval Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Clifford W. Thompson, RAF 551783, 15 Sqdn., age 19, 23/05/1940, London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, F


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24/05/1940, Aa Canal, B

type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim 1V
serial number: R3614, LS-?
operation: Aa Canal
lost: 24/05/1940 (2 KIA, 1 DOW)
Airborne 1745 from Alconbury. On return to base at 2100 the port engine seized when low on final approach and the Blenheim spun in, killing the entire crew.
Leading Aircraftman (Air Gnr.) Ronald W. Austin, RAF 615205, 15 Sqdn., age 21, 25/05/1940, East Sheen Cemetery, UK
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Duncan Henderson, RAF 76460, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 24/05/1940, New Kilpatrick (or Hillfoot) Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Obs.) Arthur N. Holmes, RAF 581222, 15 Sqdn., age 20, 24/05/1940, Navenby Cemetery, UK

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25/05/1940: Battle area

type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk.1V
serial number: P6913, LS-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 25/05/1940
Airborne 1027 from Wyton. Shot down near St-Inglevert (Pas-de- Calais), midway on the main road between Calais and Marquise, France.
Sergeant (Obs.) Peter Bloomer, RAF 580567, 15 Sqdn., age 22, 25/05/1940, St. Inglevert Churchyard, F
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) James H. Gordon, RAF 43157, 15 Sqdn., age 30, 25/05/1940, St. Inglevert Churchyard, F
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Douglas S.R. Harriman, RAF 41846, 15 Sqdn., age 20, 25/05/1940, St. Inglevert Churchyard, F

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11/06/1940: Battle Area, F

type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
serial number: N3588, LS-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 11/06/1940
P/O Myland
Sgt Pirks
Sgt P.J. Petrie
Badly shot about and force landed near Cherbourg (Manche), France. The crew were able to return to their Squadron, but the Blenheim was left to its fate. P/O Myland Sgt Pirks Sgt P.J.Petrie

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L. Blenheim Mk. I/IV
serial number: L8851, LS-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 11/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Raymond H. Werner, RAF 42289, 15 Sqdn., age 27, 11/06/1940, Pont-Audemer Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Maurice G. Jones, RAF 581185, 15 Sqdn., age 23, 11/06/1940, Pont-Audemer Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (W. Op. Air) Ronald Spencer, RAF 627782, 15 Sqdn., age 19, 11/06/1940, Pont-Audemer Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne 1130 from Wyton. While flying through cloud, P/O Werner unknowingly overtook the formation leader, F/O Clark. While turning to port P/O Werner collided with F/O Clark (L9024), shedding a wing as his aircraft struck. Out of control, the Blenheim crashed in the vicinity of Pont-Audemer (Eure) on the S bank of the River Risle, 28 km SE of le Havre, France.

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type: Bristol Type 142M/L. Blenheim Mk. I/IV
serial number: L9024, LS-?
operation: Battle Area
lost: 11/06/1940
Flying Officer (Pilot) Ronald B.G.E. Clark, RAF 39968, 15 Sqdn., age 20, 11/06/1940, Bayeux War Cemetery, F
Sgt T.J.W. Maloney
Sgt B.S.J. Piff
Airborne 1130 from Wyton. Involved in a mid-air collision with P/O Werner's Blenheim (L8851). F/O Clark retained sufficient control of his Blenheim to enable his crew to bale out but was unable to leave the aircraft himself before it crashed at Freneuse-sur-Risle (Eure), 15 km SE of Pont-Audemer. His crew were eventually able to return to Wyton.

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12/06/1940: Le Bourget, F

type: Bristol Type 142L, Blenheim Mk. IV
serial number: R3747, LS-?
operation: Le Bourget
lost: 12/06/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Alexander Takideli, RAF 42368, 15 Sqdn., age 20, 12/06/1940, Malleville-les-Gres Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Frank V. Gunning, RAF 580613, 15 Sqdn., age 19, 12/06/1940, Malleville-les-Gres Churchyard, F
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) David H. Peuleve, RAF 614230, 15 Sqdn., age 21, 12/06/1940, Malleville-les-Gres Churchyard, F
Airborne 1130 from wyton. Shot down at Malleville-le-Gres (Seine- Maritime), 7 km WSW of St-Valéry-en-Caux, France.

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Sources

15 Squadron RAF
Air Force POWs 1939-1945
Bob Baxter's Bomber Command Info
Bristol Blenheim IV
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Lost Bombers
Royal Air Force - 15 Squadron
Royal Air Force Squadron page
RAF Bombercommand - 15 Squadron
RAF Lossiemouth - XV (R) Squadron History
Ross McNeill - Bomber Command

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Books

W.R. Chorley, Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1, 1939/40, Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0 904597 85 7
Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
Ford-Jones 'Bomber Squadron: Men who flew with XV Squadron' (Kimber 1987)
Ford-Jones 'Oxfords Own: 15 Squadron' (Schiffer 1999)
T Jones 'Aim Sure: 75 years of 15 Squadron RAF' (Jones 1990)
Robertson 'History of 15/XV Squadron RFC-RAF' (Robertson 1975)
Chris Ward '15 Squadron' (Bomber Command Profile no. 5)
Graham Warner, Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. 2nd Edition. (Manchester, U.K.: Crecy Publishing, 2005)

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Links

Discussion Groups
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
RAF Commands Forum

Other
Abbreviations used in the Royal Air Force
Code Names & RAF Vocabulary

Air Aces
Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Armée de l'Air - Order of Battle, 10th May 1940
Australian Wargraves
Axis History Factbook
Battle-of-Britain.com
De Belgen in Engeland 1940-1945 (in Dutch)
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
British Aircraft Directory
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
Canada's Air Force History
HMS Cavalier
Ciel de Gloire (in French) RAF Squadrons
CWGC Cemeteries Germany
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
Eagles Squadrons (American pilots in the RAF)
Foreign Aircraft Landings in Ireland 1939-1946
Håkans aviation page (from Sweden, in English)
'High flight', poem by John Gillespie Magee
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death, poem by W.B. Yeats
Jagdgeschwader 27 (in German)
Luchtoorlog ('Arial War', in Dutch, with many photos)
Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
The Luftwaffe, 1933-1945
Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Naval History.net
Nordic Aviation during WW2
Order of Liberation (in French/English/Spanish)
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
RAF Upwood
RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de

Aircraft crashes on the North Yorkshire Moors, England
Bills-Bunker.de
The Lancastershire Aircraft Investigation Team
Luftfahrt-Archäologie in Schleswig Holstein (in German)
North East Diary 1939-1945
Wartime Leicester and Leicestershire

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1
WW1 Cemeteries


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These pages are dedicated to the men of 15 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2007. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html