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While it is the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk, I'd like to share a smaller, more personal, commemoration from the same time, 80 years ago. [THREAD]Permalink On twitter.com
Mood +2 🙂
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Edwin Holbrow Alexander was the younger son of Herbert George Alexander (my great grandfather), a renowned horticulturalist and orchid grower at Westonbirt in the Cotswolds. [2/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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Edwin was 19 years old, and a newly qualified Pilot Officer. He was posted to 254 Squadron at RAF Sumburgh in the Shetlands early in May 1940. [3/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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RAF Sumburgh had ony just become operational - in fact, they were sleeping under canvas at this point; and the mess was a large marquee with a bar constructed from the wooden crates used to transport petrol canisters. [4/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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Conditions were harsh. According to the account of a contemporary of Edwin's: "There also seemed to be a perpetual wind at Sumburgh. You were always aware of the sound of empty petrol tins being blown round the airfield." [5/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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At 05:30 on May 27 1940, six Bristol Blenheim IVF were sent from Sumburgh in two sections of three to sweep the Norwegian SW coast from 62N to Lister, mainly in search of enemy airfields, but also to locate the auxiliary naval vessel Königsberg. [6/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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Edwin flew R3624, QY-M with Sergeant Basil Henrick (also 19) and Sergeant Thomas Hammond (23). Their group of three aircraft first attacked the Sola airbase, then fuel tanks on the island Steinsoey near Stavanger. Unfortunately the bombs missed and fell into the water. [7/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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Edwin's Blenheim was shot down by Staffelkapitaen, Hauptmann Lang from II/JG77. The aircraft ditched west of the island Kvitsoey (northwest of Stavanger). The Germans sent a sea rescue plane to look for survivors, but did not find any. [8/11]On twitter.com
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The crew was listed as missing, and no wreckage or remains were ever found. Edwin is listed on the roll of honour at the RAF Memorial at Runnymede. [9/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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Edwin's father was hit hard by the loss, even more so when, later in the war, he lost his other son, Stanley George Alexander, killed in action in the Netherlands. [10/11]Permalink On twitter.com
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After the war, his grieving father erected this memorial window in the church at Westonbirt, in memory of both Edwin and his older brother Stanley, which can still be seen there. [11/11]Permalink On twitter.com
