Date of birth:

(United Kingdom)

Date of death:

September 29th, 1939 (North Sea)

Buried on:

Military Cemetery Vredenhof
Plot: 1. Grave: 16.

Service number:

551660

Nationality:

British

Aircraftsman 1st Class (144 Sqdn), Alan Wilson (18 years) was the first allied aviator of the second world war who was burried in the Netherlands.

Alan served as Wireless Operator and Air Gunner on board. On September 29, his plane (Hampden I L4127 PL) with 10 other planes left Hemswell around 6.40 to bomb the German ships moored in Heligoland. During the mission, the 5 Hamdens of the 2nd wave were shot down after the 1st wave of 6 planes missed their targets. His plane crashed into the sea between Heligoland and Wangerooge. Possibly the plane was shot down by Hmptm. Dickore in his Me109 (1./ZG26).

Of the second attack wave, 16 of the 20 crew members died and the remaining 4 crew members were taken prisoner.

On board his aircraft were also: N.C. Beck, P.E.B. Sproston and R. Turner. N.C. Beck and P.E.B. Sproston are buried at the Sage War Cemetery. R. Turner has never been found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Alan's body, covered in snow, was discovered by a beachcomber near the Strandhotel on November 29, 1939.

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• - Citation AIR81/17 and AIR81/86
  - National Archives
  - RAF Commands
  

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