Short Stirling III EE 893 - 75 Sqn - crashed 5./6.

[heltersberg]

Hello,

my name is Uwe Benkel and I am a new member.

Since 1989 me and my partners are doing research on missing crewmembers of WW II.

During this time we recovered the remains of more than 100 aircraft including more than 30 missing crewmembers.

More infomrmation you will find on our homepage www.flugzeugabstuerze-saarland.de

A few months ago we located the crashsite of the above Stirling. Here are some more details about the crew of the Short Stirling:

Airborne from Mepal 1959 5Sep43. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Schwanheim. Those killed were buried at Schwanheim. They are now interred in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. P/O E.S.Wilkinson RNZAF KIA Sgt T.Whatley KIA F/S G.N.Simes RNZAF PoW F/S N.G.R.Treacher RNZAF PoW Sgt J.J.Waterman KIA Sgt E.S.Robson PoW F/S G.S.Wilkinson KIA Sgt E.S.Robson was interned in Camp 4B, PoW No.222770 with F/S N.G.R.Teacher, PoW No.222848. F/S G.N.Simes in Camp 357, PoW No.43282.


We would like to get in contact with familymembers of the crew.

This spring we will start excavation of the remains of the aircraft.

Best wishes from Heltersberg/Germany

Uwe Benkel

ARBEITSGRUPPE VERMISSTENFORSCHUNG
Mail: [e-mail]
Homepage: www.flugzeugabstuerze-saarland.de

Attachments:

[heltersberg]

The recovery of the Stirling remains will start April 16., 2011.

Pictures of the recovery will be on our homepage www.flugzeugabstuerze-saarland.de.

Uwe Benkel
ARBEITSGRUPPE VERMISSTENFORSCHUNG

Attachments:

[strikemaster]

Good going mate and good luck to you.

[thomarse]

Gordon Simes is my great-uncle and is still with us and living in Nelson. Sadly, he lost his wife just yesterday.

I'll forward the request to his family.

[oggie2620]

Sorry to hear about your great aunt. Thats two forum friends (the other is on cfww2) who has lost a rellie in the last few days.

[thomarse]

Uwe has emailed me and is in contact with the family already.

Small World!

[Dave Homewood]

Good stuff!! Well done Uwe and team.

[heltersberg]

Hello,

when I sent the photograph showing the mapcase Gordon said with a smile on his face: "This is mine."

I agreed with my friends in Schwanheim. If this is his mapcase we wolud like to give it back to him. First we have to talk to the person who found it. We will see if the case makes it back to Gordon.

Uwe Benkel

[robtreacher]

My father was a crew member on board that aircraft!
I discovered this article today on Anzac Day! as I was searching up some info about Dad to post on twitter.
A few years ago I flew down to Nelson to meet Gordon Simes, the other surviving NZ crewmember and I have photos of that reunion.
Sadly my father passed away in 1968.
I will look forward to following your progress with a great deal of interest.
Thank you - thank you so much.

[oggie2620]

Rob are you in contact with Glen about the Assn? If so I will maybe get to meet you next year at the reunion. Welcome to the forum and we would love to hear any stories that your dad told you.

[thomarse]

I regret to advise that Gordon passed away peacefully yesterday.

Well covered under Obituaries courtesy of Glen T.

Thanks Glen

[Luther Moore]

Great work Uwe! What your doing is great,keep it up!

[oggie2620]

Uwe now has a Facebook page too!