Crash Site Short Stirling Mk I BK604 AA-S

On the eve of February 3, 1943, 263 bombers took off from various airfields in England with the joint mission to bomb Hamburg in Germany. Among these bombers was the Short Stirling BK604 AA-S which took off from Newmarket airfield at 6:23 pm. The bomber was part of the 75th R(NZ)AF Squadron and on board were 8 crew members led by officer McCullough from Christchurch (New Zealand).

The night of February 3, 1943 was a bleak cold night with storm, rain, sleet and lots of clouds. Not ideal flying weather and many aircraft returned prematurely after consultation with the home base. The "McCullough crew" kept flying and they had been flying over the Netherlands for quite some time when they suddenly ended up in very clear weather.

Meanwhile, German night fighters had taken off from Twente airport after they had received a report that a large fleet of English bombers had flown into the Netherlands. One of the German pilots who took off was the experienced Hauptman Wolfgang Thimmig. He now had 10 shot down planes to his name.

Shortly after 20:00, Thimmig's German night fighter sighted the four-engined Short Stirling over Twente and because it was flying in clear weather, the Stirling immediately caught the eye. Hauptmann Thimmig crawled slowly to starboard behind the Short Stirling. Since the Short Stirlings had no belly turret below them, this was the easiest point to attack. Thimmig attacked twice and caused death and destruction. The Short Stirling carried a load of incendiaries and regular bombs which were hit. The plane caught fire, flipped onto its side like a stricken lion and plunged into the depths. The Stirling flew on for a while and then suddenly exploded with a violent thump and fell to the ground on the Goorseweg in pieces.

Four of the eight crew members died in the crash, namely: Sergeant Gunner T.A. Murphy, Sergeant Radio Operator P.R. Trevayne, Sergeant Flight Engineer F.F. Allen and Pilot Officer J. McCullough. All crew members who died are buried to this day in the old general cemetery on the Appelhofstraat in Wierden.

The other four crew members survived the crash. Sgt. Gibbes was found soon after landing and arrested by the Germans. Sgt. After his hard landing, Smith managed to flee to a farm where the farmer wanted to help him. Unfortunately, it soon turned out that he was too seriously injured, so that the farmer saw no other option than to tell the Germans about his stay.

Officer Henderson and Sgt. Kimberley lasted a little longer and after some wanderings ended up at the Marechaussee in Bornebroek. Unfortunately, too many people now knew about these men and they had to be handed over to the Germans. All ended up in different POW (prisoner off war) camps. All four survived the camps and eventually returned safely to England and New Zealand.


In 2019, the Short Stirling memorial Enter foundation was established with the aim of erecting a monument in memory of the crew of the Short Stirling BK604 AA-S. After the crash, the four crew members who died were not buried in Enter, but in Wierden. In Enter nothing reminded of what had happened just outside Enter on the evening of February 3, 1943. By placing a monument and an information board at the crash site, the intention is to keep this story and the memory of these men alive.

The intention was to realize the monument in 2020 and to hold a memorial on location with relatives. Due to corona, the unveiling of the monument and the commemoration of the crew was eventually moved to April 30, 2022. 23 family members of the crew were present at this commemoration.

The text on the monument states:

This memorial was founded in memory of the crew of the Short Stirling BK604 AA-S, which crashed here on Goorseweg in Enter on the evening of February 3, 1943. At this drama four of the eight crew members died.
Through this monument we want to make the passerby aware of this event and to remember those who fought for our freedom.
 

P/O J. McCullough RNZAF died at crash Aged 30 at crash
P/O R.W. Henderson RNZAF survived the crash Aged 25 at crash
F/S W.E. Gibbes RNZAF survived the crash Aged 34 at crash
Sgt F.F. Allen RAF died at crash Aged 23 at crash
Sgt K.J.S. Smith RNZAF survived the crash Aged 20 at crash
Sgt T.A. Murphy RNZAF died at crash Aged 30 at crash
Sgt K.E. Kimberley RAF survived the crash Aged 20 at crash
Sgt P.R. Trevayne RAF died at crash Aged 19 at crash

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

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Source

• Text: Diederick ten Brinke
• Photos: W. Manenschijn (1, 2, 3), Diederick ten Brinke (4, 5)