My Family research Journey
In carrying out my Family research I have discovered the husband of my Aunt, JOSEPH STEWART of Belfast, Northern Ireland served in the Royal Air Force during World War two. JOSEPH was a Flight Sergeant performing the duties of Wireless Operator and Gunner on Vickers/Wellington R1334 with number 11 Operational Training Unit. (OTU)
On the 21st JULY 1941 he along with his other seven colleagues took off in the Vickers/Wellington from RAF STEEPLE MORDEN, Hertfordshire on a night time cross country training exercise. At approximately 01.19 on the 22nd JULY their aircraft was intercepted by a Luftwaffe Junkers JU-88C and on opening fire the Wellington sustained damage causing the Aircraft to lose control and in the attempts to land the Wellington and Junker JU-88C collided with both Aircraft crashing to the ground in flames near ASHWELL, Hertfordshire. There were no survivors from either craft.
Wellington Crew:-RAF
Hannah. Walter Anthony. Sergeant Pilot. 22 yrs.
Hibbert. Reginald Ernest. Sergeant W/A/Gunner 20yrs.
Houston. Frederick Slade Sergeant Pilot 22Yrs.
Lewis. Claude Mortimer Spratt. Sergeant. Obs: ??
Manning. Percival Theodore Sergeant. W/A/Gnr. 20yrs
McAllister. Robert Andrew Sergeant. A/Gnr. 26yrs.
Stewart Joseph F/Sergeant W/A/Gnr. 26yrs
Thompson. Bruce Cathcart Sergaent. Pilot 24yrs.
Junker JU-88C Crew: Luftwaffe.
Lieutenant Heinz Volker Pilot ??
Herbert Indenbirken. Radio Operator/Gnr; ??
Feldwebel Andreas Wurstl. Flight Mechanic. ??
My Uncle JOSEPH STEWART is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.
Should anyone with knowledge of this incident or reference points to the crash site I would be extremely grateful to learn of such information.
Mr Richard MEEKE.
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Joseph was my father’s brother. My brother is named after him. I was born in 1960 but my father told me many times about my Uncle who died in the war.
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