Target Berlin 7 Nov 1941

Target Berlin 7 Nov 1941

Brian Walley's ditching in the North Sea and the loss of his crew members. He describes his return to Norderney in 1995. Later he made contact wit the families of his crew.

One printed sheet

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MWalleyBS1062112-180127-11

TARGET BERLIN 7 NOV 1941 – 51 SQN WHITLEY ‘F’ FREDDIE – 2ND PILOT BRIAN WALLEY
YET ANOTHER MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL AND HIS 1995 VISIT TO GERMAN RESCUER

The July issue article on Jack Heckendorf stirred poignant memories for Brian Walley, whose story of his November 1941 time in the bitterly cold water of the North Sea was briefly summated in an earlier issue, based on his story in his excellent book, ‘Silk and Barbed Wire’. That summary recorded how the five-man crew of ‘Freddie’ made a remarkable ditching in mountainous seas at night in winter and they all made it into the dinghy. The Skipper, in a very humble voice, suggested we pray to God for succour. We did so most fervently, each quietly in his own way. The next day, the dinghy capsized. The R/G & WOP vanished beneath those great grey ugly breakers. Herculean efforts saw the Nav roll back into the dinghy & help the other two thoroughly soaked and frozen survivors back into it. But during the next night & day, first the Nav and then the Skipper died. Brian Walley, as the then sole survivor, was reconciled to not seeing the next morning when the seas abated, a German float plane landed beside him and took him to a German hospital to see out the rest of the war as a PoW. Bonus? This year, Brian celebrated his 64th wedding anniversary living in the Bull Creek (W.A.) RAAF development with Mair, the girl he left behind in Vale of Clwyd, North Wales when he went down in the North Sea in 1941. Miracles do happen!

Brian wishes he had written a letter to the relatives of his deceased crew as Arthur Hope did to the Heckendorfs. But Brian has since shown very commendable Christian spirit and action as this quote from his recent email shows:-

“However, as the sole survivor of my crew, I did return to Germany in 1995, this time as a guest of Karl Tubessing, Uber Feltwebel of their ‘Seenot retungstdienst’ (Air Sea Rescue unit), responsible for my rescue. He took me back to the Island of Nordeney where I and the bodies of my Skipper and Navigator had been brought ashore after two days adrift in the North Sea. We later visited the War Graves Cemetery at Sage near Oldenberg where I was able to pay my respects to my Skipper … and Navigator …, leaving with a very heartfelt RIP. After all, I owed my life to both of them. The Skipper went back into the sinking wreck of the Whitley to cut the umbilical cord tethering us to the now- submerged plane, and the navigator, who managed to climb back in to the dinghy after it capsized the following morning – something none of the other four of us had been able to accomplish.

“After my return to Australia in 1995, I thought that relatives of my crew, even after so many years, might like to hear first hand of what happened over those terrible two days. It was Berlin or bust and we bust with a vengeance.

“My search hit a brick wall until, out of the blue in January 2010, I heard from Neil Smith of the 51 Sqn History Association listing names and addresses of my entire crew. Since then I have followed them all up successfully and have located SQNLDR Dickenson’s son and daughter, now living in NZ; PLOFF Simpson’s relatives, three sisters in Canada; SGT Chambers also has three sisters in Canada and the nephew and niece of SGT Carpenter in the UK, all of whom now have a copy of my book…

“I started this venture with much trepidation, not knowing how the relatives would feel about being reminded of their tragic loss. I need not have had any qualms as, without exception, all have been touched and truly grateful, particularly those of SGTs Chambers (RCAF) and Carpenter (RAF), who had only been told they had been lost without trace, even though I had, on two occasions, given the full story to the Red Cross representatives while a PoW. They are now remembered on the walls of Runnymede.”

One of the real pluses, emphasized by Brian Walley’s account is the fraternal feeling exhibited by both his rescuer and him, fifty years after the ditching experience – enemies no longer, now friends, and, no doubt, Brian has always been extremely grateful to that Air Sea Rescue pilot. Another plus is that, if any of our members are in doubt about passing on information to relatives of colleagues lost on operations, take the risk and act.