I am 75 years old and the half-brother of Kenneth Norman Joseph Croft (seen right). He was a Wireless Operator and Gunner. I vaguely remember him during the last years of war when I attended (with all the family) Ken’s wedding to Irene Benton on 7 December 1944 in Birmingham. He visited us all when on Leave, which I remember especially because he would divide all his chocolate issue between me and my three siblings – a rare wartime treat. Ken was one of six children. We had the same father, widowed in 1938. Then my mother came along and bore another brood of four (after remarriage).
I have spent several years creating a Family History Tree, and despite there being much anecdotal information overheard as a child regarding the cause of Ken’s loss over the years; I discovered much of it was speculation. I don’t want to widen the background too much, it’s too easy to drift away; but we were told his loss was due to AA guns, Night Fighter, Rocket and/or Jet plane. No-one mentioned collision, a later discovery, but until recently, this was the official cause. Prior to this, read the attached letter file. It’s brief, but to the point. I’m convinced of its authority:
‘… whilst doing some further research, I found out a little bit more about the crashes. After running a general Mandrel screen over the North Frisian Islands to cover the Mosquitoes of 8 Group, the 199 Squadron aircraft delivered a three-pronged Window screen as a spoof to divert attention from the real target, which was Kiel.
A number of Ju88 night fighters took off to try to intercept the bombers. They assembled near Eggebek. Oblt Fritz Brandt of Stab IV/NJG3 found and attacked Halifax RG375. The Rear Gunner, F/Sgt Hunter, and Pilot P/O Currell, were the only crew who managed to bail out. Hunter reported later that the fighter attack had damaged the flying controls and the aircraft went out of control and as a result, collided with Halifax RG 373.
This was the last Luftwaffe night fighter Report from the war, according to the Dutch Researcher Dr. Theo Boiten.’
I attach other images which I hope you find of interest, although clearly it’s the letter from the relation of another crew member, Keith Gavin, seen below; who did further investigating, not only visiting Meirmesdorf (he previously lived in that area of Germany, sending me pics of AA sights, etc.) and surrounding countryside.
I am certain that ‘Jon’ is also connected to the RAF in some way, because he was reluctant to give his details, and there is other evidence on official letterheads. We had made contact via a RAF website forum, and it transpired Keith was his Mom’s uncle.
Recently, another contact via You Tube and I got talking. Small world online, isn’t it? Her father, who sadly died a year before, was also at North Creake with 199 Squadron, and was very good friends with another crew member on board Halifax RG 373: Douglas Wilson, who died. She said he would almost certainly have known Ken and both crews. Shame, I’d love to have spoken with him. Time is running out to uncover truths …
Regarding your reference to the Halifax disaster and the name ‘Bradley’, an Arthur Andrew Bradley (Flt/Sgt, Navigator 16230077 – RAF, VR, age 23, son of Daniel and Beatrice Alice Bradley); was abroad Halifax RG 375. It is very sad at this late stage in time, that so many who had information of this event have died and their often first-hand knowledge lost with them. I guess it places even more importance on who and what we know and recording it asap. Time is of the essence.
The above information relating to Flt/Sgt Bradley is part of a handwritten listing of all crew members aboard both RG 373 and RG 375, together with those who survived or became PoWs. I heard there were only two survivors, but it was actually three. This information and reams of other material was all handwritten in pencil, and sent to me by a true gent and enthusiast who, I hope, you will have heard of. His name is Val Grimble, who was in his mid-80s back in 2004. He is (was?) the Head Archivist/Librarian of the Air Museum at Flixton, Suffolk. I first started my investigation into Ken’s death twelve years ago, and researched what I could about North Creake first, as we knew Ken was stationed there. But it was Flixton where all the history of that Base seemed to be kept.
As I mentioned, Ken married Irene Benton, only five months before his death. Irene joined the WAAFs to express her support for Ken. In 1948, Irene married Ken’s elder brother Stanley, who had joined the RAF one year before Ken and been shot down in August 1940 while on patrol surveying the Nazi build-up for our invasion taking place along the Dutch coast. His plane, a Hanson, was shot down by AA defences. He and another bailed out and survived. The other two crew members were killed. He belonged to 500 Squadron, based at Detling, Kent. He spent the rest of his time as a PoW, being extremely busy annoying the Germans and getting an MBE for it! His is another heroic story. Irene is still alive. She is 90, and living in Canada. We still talk and write to each other.
Ken Croft, second right
I ordered your book, and it has just arrived. I look forward to reading it. I already have John Reid’s ‘Let Tyrants Tremble’, and another called ‘The Last Fling’ in which, over Kiel, a Mosquito Pilot reported seeing an explosion up ahead which, in my opinion, was not flak. I can’t help but ask the question: what if?
Photo recently recovered showing group of 199 Squadron, including Douglas Wilson
by Philip Croft
This article is from the Spring 2017 issue of Confound and Destroy
