ww2talk.com Post 3 November 2010


17-18 July 1941

149 Squadron
Wellington IC N2853 OJ-R
Op. Cologne

The aircraft took off from Mildenhall at 2341 hrs and was hit by flak, on the return the pilot decided to make an emergency landing. While doing so he was blinded by a searchlight team stationed at Cockfield, 9 miles north north east of Sudbury, Suffolk. With night vision lost the aircraft crashed at 0105 hrs through a line of trees busting into flames on impact.

Bomber Command Losses Vol.2 - W R. Chorley

Sadly, out of the crew of six, Sgt. Gibbins was the only crew member to lose his life, the other five being injured.


Later posts on this thread indicate that Peter's sister married someone called Harding and had at least two children, one of whom is called Peter Harding

Source: ww2talk.com