22 SQUADRON - Bomber (Coastal Command), Bristol Beaufort
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In 1934, No. 22 Squadron was reformed as a torpedo unit at Donibristle with Vickers Vildebeests. At the start of World War II, the Vildebeests flew anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea until replaced by Bristol Beauforts. 22 Squadron brought the Beaufort into operational service; receiving the first aircraft in November 1939 and, after an intense work up at North Coates in Lincolnshire, the Squadron resumed operations in April 1940, beginning with mine-laying sorties.
The Bristol Beaufort was the only monoplane produced for the Royal Air Force that was designed from the start to satisfy the dual role of general reconnaissance and torpedo bomber.
The first aircraft flew its first operation on 15/16 April 1940, but in May was grounded for a month while a problem with the engines was fixed.
It moved to RAF Thorney Island where torpedo operations were
resumed in August.
During 1940 and into the summer of 1941 only two squadrons, No. 22 and No. 42, were equipped with the Beaufort. As the best land based torpedo bomber available, the two Beaufort squadrons were in constant demand, frequently operation in small detachments from points all around the coast. The Beaufort was used in many of the dangerous attacks on the main elements of the German surface fleet, prominent amongst them the Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen. During one attack on the Gneisenau Flight Officer Kenneth Campbell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross after making a very low level attack against the enemy ship.
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Missions and losses 15/04/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all missions are listed; those with fatal losses are
15/04/1940: Gardening. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 2 MIA
07/05/1940: Shipping strike, Germany. 2 Planes lost; 1 KIA, 3 MIA, 1 WIA
07/05/1940: Training. 1 Plane lost, 1 KIA
09/05/1940: Gardening. 1 Plane lost; 4 MIA
12/05/1940: Waalhaven, NL
22/05/1940: Training, UK. 1 Plane lost, 1 WIA
25-26/05/1940: Gardening. 1 Plane lost, 4 MIA
31/05/1940: mistake
05-06/06/1940: Ghent, Belgium. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA (3 UK civilians died in crash)
0: Training, UK. 1 Plane lost
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Fatalities 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (in progress)
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4475, OA-L
Operation: Training
Lost: 08/03/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Jack A. Woollen, RAF 41238, 22 Sqdn., age 23, 08/03/1940, West Thorney (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, UK
Leading Aircraftman Brynmor Rees, RAF 611643, 22 Sqdn., age unknown, 08/03/1940, missing
Took off from Thorney Island at 17.00 hrs. Stalled in the slipstream of another Beaufort while in formation and spun into the sea off Chichester Harbour, Sussex. Despite an extensive search by the Selsey lifeboat, only slicks of oil could be found. The body of P/O Woollen was later recovered.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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15/04/1940: Gardening
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4465, OA-G
Operation: Gardening (mine laying)
Lost: 15/04/1940
Flying Officer Arthur R. Fordham, RAF 70220, 22 Sqdn., age 27, 15/04/1940, missing
Sergeant Gerald Greenwood, RAF 566263, 22 Sqdn., age 23, 15/04/1940, Donisthorpe Cemetery, UK
Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph Wells, RAF 617573, 22 Sqdn., age unknown, 15/04/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman (Air Gnr.) Edmund W.J. Picot, RAF 364162, 22 Sqdn., age 32, 15/04/1940, Easton-on-the-Hill (All Saints) Churchyard, UK
Took off from North Coates at 19.39 hrs. Ditched into the North Sea off Spurn Head with engine failure while on a mining operation off the river Elbe (Germany). The two missing men are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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07/05/1940: Shipping strike
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4472, OA-G
Operation: Shipping strike
Lost: 07/05/1940
Flying Officer [Pilot] Stuart P. Woollatt, RAF 39451, 22 Sqdn., age 27, 07/05/1940, missing
Flying Officer (Nav.) David J.T. Lusk, RAF 70413, 22 Sqdn., age 24, 07/05/1940, Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, NL
Aircraftman 1st Class Sidney W. Mills, RAF 623774, 22 Sqdn., age 21, 07/05/1940, missing
Aircraftman 2nd Class Myles J. Delahunty, RAF 636904, 22 Sqdn., age unknown, 07/05/1940, missing (Runnymede Memorial)
Took off 14.52 hrs from North Coates. Formated with other squadron aircraft to bomb an enemy cruiser of the Nuremberg class which had been reported between the German isles Norderney and Juist. Claimed shot down by Uffz Kaiser of II(J)/TrGr 186 into the North Sea off Norderney but may have been shot down by flak north of the Dutch Frisian isles.
The body of F/O Lusk was washed ashore 06/08/1940 on the isle of Ameland and was initially buried in the Nes Cemetery.
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Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4464, OA-C
Operation: Shipping strike
Lost: 07/05/1940
W/C H.M. Mellor, 16097, safe
P/O I.N.M. MacDonald, safe
AC1 A.D. MacKenzie, 623407, safe
AC Traynor, wounded.
Took off 15.07 hrs from North Coates. Formated with other squadron aircraft to bomb an enemy cruiser of the Nuremberg class which had been reported between the German isles Norderney and Juist. The plane was damaged by flak and by ltn Schopper of II(J)/TrGr 186 in the engagement.; AC Traynor was wounded. The Beaufort was eventually crash-landed by W/C Mellor back at base at 19.20 hrs.
Both W/C Mellor and AC1 MacKenzie were to lose their lives in the night 25-26/05/1940.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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07/05/1940: Training
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4466, OA-U
Operation: Training
Lost: 07/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John T. Berryman, RAF 33506 (Canada), 22 Sqdn., age 20, 07/05/1940, Cranwell (St Andrew) Churchyard, UK
Took off 15.00 hrs from North Coates.
During the approach P/O Berryman decided to make another circuit and started to make a turn without retracting the flaps. The Beaufort stalled a wing and crashed onto the beach at 15.30 hrs just off the aerodrome.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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09/05/1940: Gardening
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4453, OA-B
Operation: Gardening (mine laying)
Lost: 09/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant Charles M. Lester, RAF 37109, 22 Sqdn., age unknown, 09/05/1940, missing
Sergeant William Southward, RAF 565970, 22 Sqdn., age 24, 09/05/1940 , missing
Leading Aircraftman Kenneth P. Turrell, RAF 531188, 22 Sqdn., age 24, 09/05/1940 - missing
Corporal John W. Maxey, 22 Sqdn., RAF 506611, 22 Sqdn., age unknown, 09/05/1940 , missing
Took off 19.40 hrs from North Coates. Set course for the river Elbe, but contact was lost after the Beaufort was fixed by D/F as 69 miles east of base. Aircraft of the squadron, an RAF High Speed Launch rescue boat and trawlers all took part in an unsuccesful search.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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12/05/1940: Waalhaven, NL
At the 12th yet another bombing mission against Waalhaven was executed, this time by Coastal Command. After the Dutch had begged the British for RAF ground-support at Waalhaven, a raid was scheduled incorporating 15 strike planes; six Bristol Beaufort Mk. I light bombers [no. 22 squadron] and nine Fairey Swordfish Mk. I bi-plane navy-bombers [no. 815 squadron], carrying a payload of two 500 lbs bombs each. The planes took off from Bircham at 19.50 hours [Dutch time] and returned at 22.50 hours. One of the Swordfishes was lost by flak.
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22/05/1940: Training, UK
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4518, OA-S
Operation: Training
Lost: 22/05/1940
P/O W.D.G. McCaw, 41397, wounded
Names other crew members unknown
Took of from North Coates. Crashed at base in a night forced landing after engine failure.
Source: Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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25-26/05/1940: Gardening (mine laying)
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4450, OA-F
Operation: Gardening
Lost: 26/05/1940
Wing Commander Harry M. Mellor, RAF 16097, 22 Sqdn., age 37, 26/05/1940, missing
Flying Officer Frederick R. Jamieson, RAF 37855, 22 Sqdn., age 27, 26/05/1940, missing
Leading Aircraftman Alan D. MacKenzie, RAF 623407, 22 Sqdn., age 24, 26/05/1940, missing
Pilot Officer Horace J. Cook, RAFVR, 22 Sqdn., age 22, 26/05/1940, missing
Took off 25/05/1940 23.00 hrs from North Coates. Lost without trace into the North Sea, off Heligoland, Germany. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Sources: CWGC and Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1941
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31/05/1940: wrong squadron
Pilot Officer John E.M. Collins, RAF 41830, 22 Sqdn. [=229 Sqdn.], age unknown, 31/05/1940, missing - In the case of P/O Collins a mistake was made by the CWGC; he belonged to 229 Squadron.
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05-06/06/1940: Ghent, Belgium
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L9797, OA-F
Operation: Ghent
Lost: 06/06/1940
P/O (Pilot) Westlake - safe
Sgt (Observer) S.G. Twitchen, 590984 - safe
Sergeant (W.Op.) Llewellyn E.T. Harris, RAF 623844, 22 Sqdn., age 20, 06/06/1940, Portsmouth (Kingston) Cemetery, UK
Sergeant (Air Gnr) Patrick O'Flaherty, RAF 637032, 22 Sqdn., age 23, 06/06/1940, Chevington Cemetery, UK
Took off 21.45 hrs on 05/06/1940 for bombing raid on ghent. Returning to North Coates after a bombing run to Ghent. Searchlights dazzled the pilot and in trying to evade the glare, the aircraft, possibly also affected by flak damage, began to vibrate so much that he ordered the crew to bale out. He and the observer baled out safely but the wireless operator and air gunner, failed to get out and died in the crash. the plane crashed into houses at Fifth Row. One house, (No 77) was completely demolished and two others damaged. Three civilians were killed. All lived in the same house.
The civilians were:
Eleanor Cox, age 49, 06/06/1940, Ashington, Urban District Cemetery, UK. Wife of Henry Cox. Died at 77 Fifth Row.
Gladys A. Cox, age 18,
06/06/1940, Ashington, Urban District Cemetery, UK. Daughter of Henry and Eleanor Cox. Injured at 77 Fifth Row; died same day at Ashington Hospital.
Henry Cox, age 52,
06/06/1940, Ashington, Urban District Cemetery, UK. Husband of Eleanor Cox. Died at 77 Fifth Row.
Sources: North East Diary 1939-1945, CWGC, Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses and RAF Commands Forum
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11/06/1940: Training, UK
Type: Bristol Beaufort I
Serial number: L4451, OA-J
Operation: Training
Lost:11/06/1940
P/O Barrett, safe
P/O Peters, safe
Took off 12.00 hrs from North Coates. Crashed after engine failure on take-off.
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Sources
22 Squadron Association
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Rickard, J (19 April 2007), Bristol Type 152 Beaufort
Royal Air Force - 22 Squadron
RAF Museum - Bristol Beaufort
War over Holland
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Books
Peter D. Cornwell, The Battle of France, Then and Now, 2008
Ross McNeill, Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 1 (1939-1941), Midland publishing, 2003. ISBN: 1 85780 128 8
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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
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Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF 1940-1945
Danish WW2 Pilots
Dutch Pilots in RAF Squadrons
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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
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Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
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De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Warbird Alley
War over Holland
World War II Aircraft wrecksites in Norway
www.bomber-command.de
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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
Links
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Battle-of-Britain.com
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
RAF Battle of Britain
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This page is dedicated to the men of 22 Squadron.
© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2007-2008. 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
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