HE501 a Wellington bomber took off from RAF Leconfield Bomber Command near Beverley East Riding of Yorkshire at 2117 hours on the night of 16/17th April 1943, its mission was to bomb Mannheim, in Germany.
Nothing was heard from the aircraft following take off, unfortunately neither did it return to base. Ten aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid. Only HE 501 failed to return.
The Crew,
RAAF 406585 PO Tozer CF Captain Pilot
RCAF Flt Sgt G K Young Navigator
RAF Sgt H E Jones Bomb Aimer
RAF Sgt R K White Wireless Operator /Air Gunner
RAF Sgt G Errington Rear Gunner
Operation Order No 56 issued by RAF Station Leconfield Bomb Loads; Aircraft to carry 6 x 500lb MC Overload Tanks are to be carried on each aircraft
Route ; Goole-Colne point-Whitatable-Dungeness-50.10N 01.30E- 49.37N-02.05E-49.200N07.OOE-49,2008.35E – Target –Turn left – 49.37N 02.05E –St Valery – Ford – Advanced Base
It was established that the aircraft crashed at Seraincourt [Ardennes,] 16kms north west of Rethel, France, all crew were killed. They are buried in the Seraincourt Churchyard, Ardennes, France.
HE 501 was intercepted and shot down at 23.56hrs by a German night fighter flown by Lieutenant Helmut Bergman piloting 111/NJG4
George and his brother Sydney were residents of ‘The Glebe,’ Dalton le Dale. Mr and Mrs Blenkinsop formerly Errington [George and Sydney’s sister], purchased the hymn board as a memoriam to her brothers.