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224027 Sgt. Raymond Thomas Stephen Royal Air Force 15 Squadron from:Ripponden, Yorkshire (d.29th July 1944) I am not related to Raymond Stephen but came across the story when his 'caterpillar club' badge was for sale at a local Antiques Centre.
On the evening of 25th April 1942, Short Stirling W7514 of 15 Squadron, took off from RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, on a mine-laying operation. The crew were: - Pilot Officer Allan B. Bateman
- Flying Officer J.E.M. Conran
- Pilot Officer Allan H.H. Young
- Sergeant Raymond Thomas Stephen
- Sergeant Ronald R. Lawson
- Sergeant Ronald A.J. Skinner
- Sergeant David J. East
- Sergeant Gordon H. Surridge
As the aircraft was outbound flying over Jylland, Denmark, it was attacked by a Messerchmidt BF110C-2 of 5./NGJ 3. Sergeant David East was killed during the attack and Sergeant Surridge was severely wounded in the abdomen and leg. A fire started in one wing and the order was given to abandon the aircraft. Shortly after the crew parachuted out, the aircraft exploded and crashed to the ground near Kravlund at 0115 hours. Sergeants Stephen and Skinner stayed at large until the 28th April. They approached a farm at 0200 hours asking for food and a place to sleep. They were given food and allowed to sleep in the stable. A short while later, the police arrived and, they were taken to Tonder, where they were handed over to the German military. The injured Sergeant Surridge landed by parachute, at a farm at Pebersmark. He was taken by ambulance to hospital at Tonder, but died the following day. Both he and Sergeant East, whose body was recovered from the wreck are buried in Aabenraa cemetery. Flying Officer Conran, who had twisted his leg upon landing, and Sergeant Lawson, who was unhurt, were found by the Danish Police, near Rens. Pilot Officer Bateman, who had been hit in the toe by a bullet, was also collected by the Danish Police and taken to Tonder. Pilot Officer Young had been hit twice in his right leg, by machine gun bullets, and was taken by ambulance to Tonder hospital. They were all sent to POW camps as follows: - Conran – Stalag Luft I Barth and later Stalg Luft III Sagan
- Bateman – Stalag IXC Muhlhausen and later Stalag Luft III Sagan
- Lason, Skinner, Young and Stephen – Stalag Luft III Sagan. Skinner and Stephen later transferred to Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug.
On 29th July 1944, whilst at Stalag Luft IV Gross Tychow, Sergeant Raymond Stephen was killed when he was struck by lightning. An account of the incident and some photographs can be found at http://www.flensted.eu.com/194211.shtml
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