Short Stirling LK238 Memorial, Gording

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On the evening of 6 October 1944, Short Stirling LK238 MA-X of 161 (Special Duties) Squadron departed RAF Tempsford at 22:29 on OP TABLEJAM 26, a clandestine SOE stores drop mission to occupied Denmark. 161 Squadron was one of the two RAF squadrons dedicated to covert operations supporting resistance movements across occupied Europe, flying agents and supplies in the dark.

At 01:26 on 7 October, as the Stirling flew near Holstebro in western Denmark, it was intercepted by Hauptmann Johann Dreher of 6./NJG3. Dreher shot the aircraft down — his third confirmed Abschuss. The crew's fates diverged dramatically. Squadron Leader G.E. Abecassis DFC, the pilot, initially evaded but was eventually captured and became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft III. Flight Lieutenant Richard Gee (Navigator), Pilot Officer Lesley Flower (Flight Engineer), Pilot Officer Patrick Moloney (Air Gunner), and Flight Officer Samuel Woodham (Air Gunner) all successfully evaded and made it to neutral Sweden. Flight Officer K.H. Walker (Wireless Op) was captured and also became a POW.

Only one man was killed: P/O Ross F. Philp (RAAF), the Bombardier. He was buried locally at Gording Cemetery. His photograph is displayed in Gording church — an act of community remembrance that has kept his memory present in the village for more than 80 years.

The story of Hauptmann Dreher has a grim postscript. On 3 March 1945, during Unternehmen Gisela — the Luftwaffe's audacious retaliatory intruder operation against RAF Bomber Command airfields — Dreher was killed at Dunnington, North Yorkshire. The hunter who shot down LK238 over Denmark died less than five months later in the English night.

Searcher Søren Flensted, who documented this crash and many others across Denmark and whose photographs have preserved the memorial record, passed away in June 2025. His work underpins much of what is known about this loss.

Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.

Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.