Hempnall Mosquito Memorial

Date: 04/05th November 1943 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: 105 Squadron (motto: Fortis in Proeliis - 'Valiant in battles')

Base: RAF Marham, Norfolk

Location: Road Green Farm. Hempnall, Norfolk

Pilot: Flt.Lt. John Gordon DFC. 86721 RAFVR Age 25. Killed (3)

Nav: Fg.Off. Ralph Gamble Hayes DFC. 120087 RAFVR Age 22. Killed (3)

24 Mosquitoes detailed to attack chemical works ( see note ) at Leverkusen with DZ587 taking off at 17:29 hrs. Reports state that the operation was a success with reports of fires and a large explosion at the works.

Details are vague regarding the crash, but it seems that on return from the operation they were flying on a single engine after damage during the operation. They were trying to make a landing at Hardwick but had to abort due to a lorry on the runway. The aircraft’s wing then dropped on the dead side, hit a tree and then spun in crashing at 21:10 hrs in a field belonging to a farm owned by the father of John Ellis.

In 2013 a witness to the crash, the now 78 year old Mr. John Ellis erected a memorial to the crew at the crash site. He wrote to us in May 2015 and described the events - see below (courtesy Roger Stretton and Mr. John Ellis)

Above: 105 Squadron Mosquitoes at RAF Marham.

The letter sent to Aircrew Remembered May 2015:

(1) Mosquito DZ587 delivered to 109 Squadron on the 8th May 1943. 105 took it on strength on 3rd July 1943. Total Airframe flying hours at date of crash 132.05 hours.

(3) DFC Citation for both Flt.Lt. Gordon & Fg.Off Hayes: "On the 30th January, 1943, two forces of bombers were detailed to attack Berlin, one during the morning and the other during the afternoon. To reach the German capital necessitated a flight of more than 500 miles, mostly over heavily defended territory. Close co-ordination and precise timing were essential but, such was the skill exhibited. that the target was reached and the attacks delivered within seconds of the specified time. That complete success was achieved, despite opposition from the ground defences, is a high tribute to the calm courage, resolution and endurance displayed by the following officers and airmen who, in various capacities, acted as members of the aircraft crews." Gazetted on the 12th February 1943. These were two of seven DFCs, one DSO and three DFMs awarded for the mission.

Flt.Lt. John Gordon DFC. Kileanan Burial Ground. Near N.W. Corner. Son of Peter (Peter died on the 7th August 1961, aged 86) and Christina Gordon (née McMillan - Christina died on the 22nd December 1940, aged just 54), husband of Rachel Gordon, of Brackla, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Nav: Fg.Off. Ralph Gamble Hayes. DFC. Putney Vale Cemetery And Crematorium, London. Block U. Grave 327. Son of Harold Hayes, and of Edith Hayes, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England.

RS 10.06.2020 - Update to include DFC citation.

Original date of upload unknown

RS 10.06.2020 - Update to include DFC citation.

Local remembrance and memorial support

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

The Imperial War Museum holds photographic records of 105 Squadron Mosquito operations from Marham during 1942-1945, providing context for the unit's low-level precision bombing campaigns.

IWM holds photographic records of 105 Squadron operations