bombing of the barn, my Dads story

Never say never!

 

I am not giving up, there are other aircrafts that could be involved. I said earlier that the Kattegat (Denmark) aircrafts were out because of the the time, but in fact they could be around (you said it was early in the morning). This narrows the search because Hannover was a day/evening mission.

 

well okay!
let's keep digging!! i'm with you!
my Father did originally say that it was in the morning but my Aunt just remembers it being very dark, so i'm not real sure. It could have been very early morning?

 

Yes , this is my point . The aircrafts that crashed near Denmark crashed around 23.30 , so one criplled one could perfectly have been over Holland an hour later and jetison a little present on the barn.

 

you crack me up skipper!

i understand, the timing is just right you're saying. maybe that's it!!

 

Possibly, but there is absolutely no evidence at this point, so let's be careful. I will need to check the cargo of these aircrcrafts (Wellingtons and Stirlings) and what the mines were made of. I know the regular bobms had TNT and Amatol, but I will need to check the weight and the amount of destructive material. A mine doesn't neceseraly make more damage than a cookie, I suppose, but again this is speculation so now I will need to work my sapper skills.
Maybe they carried some small bombs for opportunity targets too?

 

Having just realized that a Mossie could carry six 500lb bombs(or 4000lb in total), that almost certainly rules out a Mosquito dropping the bombs.

 

anyone -Stevin checked out the Danes site on the north air war at night ~ Denmark and associated areas ? maybe Gardening was well in cased in 42, as it well could of been a Stirling ? or and off track or chased and it dumped it's load slowly..........

just two cents worth of thought

 

My thoughts too Erich, Stirling or Wellington. Both were around that night.

 

this might not be what we are looking for but thought I would include ....

Mine Warfare at Sea - Google Book Search

 

another question bigfun how far inland was your parents home from the coast ? a different scenario is going through my small mind

 

Getting really close now! Here is evidence that criplled minelayers got into Dutch land and dropped mines on land in Holland and in 1942..

The story of a Kiwi crew :

"of those which did return bore marks of encounters with the enemy's defences. On some occasions it was only sheer determination on the part of the pilot which got the aircraft back safely. One night in November 1942 the Wellington captained by Sergeant Wright 1 was among the small force detailed to lay mines at a certain point off the Dutch coast. On reaching the area the bomber flew inland in order to pinpoint a landmark from which it could return to drop the mines in the correct position. While crossing the coast, the Wellington was sharply engaged by ground defences and twice attacked by a night fighter. Both Wright and his navigator, Sergeant Johnston,2 were seriously injured when a shell exploded inside the aircraft. Although wounded in five places, including his right hand, and weakened by loss of blood and shock, Wright kept the machine airborne and, after the mines had been dropped, flew it back across the sea. Eventually, held and supported by his bomb aimer, he made a good landing at an airfield near the English coast and then collapsed at the controls as the aircraft came to rest".

 

here is the link for more details CHAPTER 15 — Attacking Enemy Ships With Mine, Bomb and Torpedo | NZETC

 

ok i have to pick up my Dad at the airport tonight, so i will see if any of this jars his memory!
i suppose the mine that the painter found was a different type? supposedly to be used on the bridge.

 

We"ll be waiting for his comments, in the meantime I'll keep on looking.

 

well our conversation did not turn up anything new, except to say that he needs to call a friend in Canada who is older than my Father and might remember more!

 

I have a friend who knows a lot about mines. I will ask him and let you know whether this kind of damage would be caused by a mine.

 

between the wet riding today I was searching through the volumes today on aerial mines....................nothing, think we need something much more specialized as the way of text and photos - would they have been parachute dropped like the LW I wonder ?

E

 

that sounds good, Skipper, as soon as my Dad talks to his friend i will post the info!!
thanks again guys!!

 

Well my father talked with his Canadian friend from back home and he gave me a name of W. Wiersma who is a big Ten Post historian. So hopefully I will get his email and talk with him very soon. Also you guys were dead on about the bridge my dads friend said that it was indeed blown up by the germans on their retreat!

Stevin, do you know this man Wiersma?
btw you were right this research is addicting!! my aunts and uncles are already a little tired of me bugging them for thier input into this!
more later!