Son of William and Ethel Adams of Marten, Wiltshire.
Military Number 759300.
Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Died at Age 21.
Reginald Thomas Adams was killed on June 30th, 1942
Aircraft Halifax W1113, LQ-G.
The aircraft Took off 2301 29 June 1942 from Pocklington. The Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter (Sigmund) and all the crew were lost.
Shot down by a night fighter Oblt Rudolf Sigmund 11. A German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In 150 missions Rudolf Sigmund claimed 28 aerial victories, 26 of them at night. He was shot down by 'friendly' Flak over Kassel, crashing near Gottingen, on 3rd October 1943
The crew and aircraft failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942.
The location of the plane was found at: Noordwolde (Fr.).
The unit of crew and plane is: 405 Squadron.
First flyer rank: F/Sergeant, name: W.J. Harrell.
The plane belonged to the Allied forces.
Crew: Halifax Mk.II - W1113 - LQ-G - 30 Jun 1942 - Mission: Bremen
402223 - Pilot Officer - Pilot - Henry Adolphus Echin - RAAF - Age 22 - KIA
R/83419 - Flight Sergeant - Co-Pilot - William Jessup Harrell - RCAF - Age 21 - KIA
759300 - Flight Sergeant - Air Gunner - Reginald Thomas Adams - RAFVR - Age 21 - KIA
1284966 - Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Walter Percy Beare - RAFVR - Age 27 - KIA
R/64880 - Warrant Officer - Air Observer - James William "Sammy" Bell - RCAF - Age 28 - KIA
R/84563 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Winston James Dickinson - RCAF - Age 25 - KIA
R/56246 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Paul Patrick Augustus Oneson - RCAF - Age 26 - KIA
571779 - Sergeant - Flight Engineer - Alexander Simpson - RAF - Age 21 - KIA
___________
Reginald Thomas Adams, from Marten, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was born in December 1920 in Hungerford and joined the RAFVR on 29th August 1939 at Southampton.
He went to 3 EFTS Hamble on a wireless operators course. Eventually he was called up and sent to 4 ITW Bexhill.
After a posting to Debden, Adams went on an air gunnery course at No.1 AAS Manby. He passed out on 10th August 1940, was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 5 OTU Aston Down.
Adams joined 264 Squadron, operating Defiants, at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7th September.
He was posted away from the squadron on 16th December 1940 and joined 256 Squadron, then reforming at Catterick with Defiants. Adams crewed up with F/O DR West, who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and appointed 'A' Flight Commander.
Just before midnight on 7th April 1941 West and Adams intercepted and shot down a Ju88 of III/KG54. It crashed at Banks Marsh, Southport, 256 Squadron's first confirmed victory. In the early hours of 8th May West and Adams shot down a He111 that was raiding Liverpool. It crashed at Wrexham. During this action three of Adams' four guns jammed.
On 15th September 1941 'A' Flight of 256 Squadron was moved to Ballyhalbert to form the nucleus of 153 Squadron. When the squadron converted to Beaufighters, the air gunners were posted away.
Adams, then a Flight Sergeant, went to Bomber Command, joining 405 (RCAF) Squadron at Pocklington, equipped with Halifaxes.
Adams failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942. His Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter and all the crew were lost. Adams was 21 years old and he is buried in the churchyard at Noordwolde, Weststellingwerf, Netherlands.
___________
At around 23:30 hours Klemm's Ju 88 was one of around 40 raiders, all individually approaching their designated secondary objective of Liverpool and presumably the crew had begun looking out for their target – the docks area. They were flying in a moonlit, clear sky at approx 10,000 feet, with a cloud layer below at approx 5000 – 6000 feet and found themselves heading towards an anti-aircraft barrage on the outskirts of the city.
Unknown to the crew, but probably not unexpected, a number of RAF night fighters – Defiants from No. 256 Squadron, based at RAF Squires Gate near Blackpool – were also on patrol over the city, providing defensive cover in anticipation of an expected attack.
At 23:43 hours Flt. Lt. Donald Rock West (pilot) and Sgt. Reginald Thomas Adams (air gunner), both aged 20 with their Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 N3445, coded "JT – F" were ordered to take off and patrol at 10,000 feet over the north west coastal area.
They were both relatively experienced on Defiants – West having flown his first sortie in August 1940 with No. 141 Squadron and Adams, with 264 Squadron in September.
Both had joined No. 256 Squadron in December that year, being paired up as a crew together and with West becoming 'A' Flight Commander. At 23:45 the Defiant climbed above the cloud layer, which was by then 10/10ths at 3000 feet and climbed to 10,000 ft, where they began to circle slowly, but saw nothing.
With no orders, or information on activity in their vicinity, received by radio from operations, Flt. Lt. West decided to head towards the Anti-Aircraft Barrage which he could see was active over Liverpool. As the shell bursts appeared to be at around 10,000 ft, he increased height to 11,000 ft and then followed a course of 180° for several minutes.
Suddenly Sgt. Adams reported an aircraft at '9 o'clock below' silhouetted in the moonlight against the lower cloud layer. West immediately looked in the direction indicated and saw what he described as an "ugly looking silhouette" approximately 100 feet below them and to their port side.
With the other aircraft positively identified as a Ju88 by Sgt. Adams, Flt. Lt. West now decided to carry out Fighter Command attack 'A' and began by diving below and away from the target aircraft. This put his Defiant some 3000 yards in front and 1000 feet below the enemy raider and from this position West manoeuvred his aircraft by gently pulling the nose up and using right rudder until he was about 150 yards below and 200 yards to the starboard side of the raider.
As the Ju 88 overtook the Defiant slightly, apparently unaware of the night fighter's presence, Flt. Lt. West ordered his gunner to open fire and Sgt. Adams fired a two second burst, accurately targeting the starboard engine, which immediately burst into flames.
The crew of the Ju88, clearly now alerted to the presence of the Defiant, returned fire from the upper rear gun position, firing several short bursts, all of which passed well above the Defiant, leading Flt. Lt. West to conclude that the enemy gunner could not depress his gun enough to fire accurately.
He then closed to 100 yards from the enemy aircraft and Sgt Adams fired a one and half second burst, again targeting the starboard engine, which became even more engulfed in flames and the Ju 88 began to lose speed and height.
At this point Flt. Lt. West maneuvered the Defiant ahead of and slightly below the Ju 88 to give his gunner a better chance of firing into the cockpit and proceeded cross from side to side across the Ju 88's nose.
Again the night fighter came under return fire, this time from the upper front gun position, but again the enemy's tracer bullets showed that the line of fire was too high and passed harmlessly above them.
Sgt. Adams responded with two one and a half second bursts of fire towards the gun positions and into the cockpit, noting the explosive "de Wilde" bullets (almost certainly actually British B Mark VI incendiary bullets – often termed "de Wilde" at the time) bursting inside the glazed nose of the enemy aircraft and the return fire immediately ceased.
By this point the Ju-88's fate was undoubtedly sealed and Flt. Lt. West was forced to break away to port as the crippled enemy aircraft began a shallow dive above him.
He then executed a steep 360 degree turn in order the position his Defiant to the enemy aircraft's port side for another attack, but no such coup de grace was needed, as suddenly the Ju 88 went into a steep dive and entered the cloud layer below.
On board the stricken bomber the situation must have been chaos – the aircraft was by now well alight and described by some witnesses on the ground as resembling "a flaming streak" as it dived out of the base of the cloud layer.
Read More: https://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/aviation-archaeology-the-junkers-ju-88-a5-werke-no-8138-shot-down-on-the-night-of-78th-april-1941/
Military Number 759300.
Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Died at Age 21.
Reginald Thomas Adams was killed on June 30th, 1942
Aircraft Halifax W1113, LQ-G.
The aircraft Took off 2301 29 June 1942 from Pocklington. The Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter (Sigmund) and all the crew were lost.
Shot down by a night fighter Oblt Rudolf Sigmund 11. A German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In 150 missions Rudolf Sigmund claimed 28 aerial victories, 26 of them at night. He was shot down by 'friendly' Flak over Kassel, crashing near Gottingen, on 3rd October 1943
The crew and aircraft failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942.
The location of the plane was found at: Noordwolde (Fr.).
The unit of crew and plane is: 405 Squadron.
First flyer rank: F/Sergeant, name: W.J. Harrell.
The plane belonged to the Allied forces.
Crew: Halifax Mk.II - W1113 - LQ-G - 30 Jun 1942 - Mission: Bremen
402223 - Pilot Officer - Pilot - Henry Adolphus Echin - RAAF - Age 22 - KIA
R/83419 - Flight Sergeant - Co-Pilot - William Jessup Harrell - RCAF - Age 21 - KIA
759300 - Flight Sergeant - Air Gunner - Reginald Thomas Adams - RAFVR - Age 21 - KIA
1284966 - Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Walter Percy Beare - RAFVR - Age 27 - KIA
R/64880 - Warrant Officer - Air Observer - James William "Sammy" Bell - RCAF - Age 28 - KIA
R/84563 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Winston James Dickinson - RCAF - Age 25 - KIA
R/56246 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Paul Patrick Augustus Oneson - RCAF - Age 26 - KIA
571779 - Sergeant - Flight Engineer - Alexander Simpson - RAF - Age 21 - KIA
___________
Reginald Thomas Adams, from Marten, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was born in December 1920 in Hungerford and joined the RAFVR on 29th August 1939 at Southampton.
He went to 3 EFTS Hamble on a wireless operators course. Eventually he was called up and sent to 4 ITW Bexhill.
After a posting to Debden, Adams went on an air gunnery course at No.1 AAS Manby. He passed out on 10th August 1940, was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 5 OTU Aston Down.
Adams joined 264 Squadron, operating Defiants, at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7th September.
He was posted away from the squadron on 16th December 1940 and joined 256 Squadron, then reforming at Catterick with Defiants. Adams crewed up with F/O DR West, who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and appointed 'A' Flight Commander.
Just before midnight on 7th April 1941 West and Adams intercepted and shot down a Ju88 of III/KG54. It crashed at Banks Marsh, Southport, 256 Squadron's first confirmed victory. In the early hours of 8th May West and Adams shot down a He111 that was raiding Liverpool. It crashed at Wrexham. During this action three of Adams' four guns jammed.
On 15th September 1941 'A' Flight of 256 Squadron was moved to Ballyhalbert to form the nucleus of 153 Squadron. When the squadron converted to Beaufighters, the air gunners were posted away.
Adams, then a Flight Sergeant, went to Bomber Command, joining 405 (RCAF) Squadron at Pocklington, equipped with Halifaxes.
Adams failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942. His Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter and all the crew were lost. Adams was 21 years old and he is buried in the churchyard at Noordwolde, Weststellingwerf, Netherlands.
___________
At around 23:30 hours Klemm's Ju 88 was one of around 40 raiders, all individually approaching their designated secondary objective of Liverpool and presumably the crew had begun looking out for their target – the docks area. They were flying in a moonlit, clear sky at approx 10,000 feet, with a cloud layer below at approx 5000 – 6000 feet and found themselves heading towards an anti-aircraft barrage on the outskirts of the city.
Unknown to the crew, but probably not unexpected, a number of RAF night fighters – Defiants from No. 256 Squadron, based at RAF Squires Gate near Blackpool – were also on patrol over the city, providing defensive cover in anticipation of an expected attack.
At 23:43 hours Flt. Lt. Donald Rock West (pilot) and Sgt. Reginald Thomas Adams (air gunner), both aged 20 with their Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 N3445, coded "JT – F" were ordered to take off and patrol at 10,000 feet over the north west coastal area.
They were both relatively experienced on Defiants – West having flown his first sortie in August 1940 with No. 141 Squadron and Adams, with 264 Squadron in September.
Both had joined No. 256 Squadron in December that year, being paired up as a crew together and with West becoming 'A' Flight Commander. At 23:45 the Defiant climbed above the cloud layer, which was by then 10/10ths at 3000 feet and climbed to 10,000 ft, where they began to circle slowly, but saw nothing.
With no orders, or information on activity in their vicinity, received by radio from operations, Flt. Lt. West decided to head towards the Anti-Aircraft Barrage which he could see was active over Liverpool. As the shell bursts appeared to be at around 10,000 ft, he increased height to 11,000 ft and then followed a course of 180° for several minutes.
Suddenly Sgt. Adams reported an aircraft at '9 o'clock below' silhouetted in the moonlight against the lower cloud layer. West immediately looked in the direction indicated and saw what he described as an "ugly looking silhouette" approximately 100 feet below them and to their port side.
With the other aircraft positively identified as a Ju88 by Sgt. Adams, Flt. Lt. West now decided to carry out Fighter Command attack 'A' and began by diving below and away from the target aircraft. This put his Defiant some 3000 yards in front and 1000 feet below the enemy raider and from this position West manoeuvred his aircraft by gently pulling the nose up and using right rudder until he was about 150 yards below and 200 yards to the starboard side of the raider.
As the Ju 88 overtook the Defiant slightly, apparently unaware of the night fighter's presence, Flt. Lt. West ordered his gunner to open fire and Sgt. Adams fired a two second burst, accurately targeting the starboard engine, which immediately burst into flames.
The crew of the Ju88, clearly now alerted to the presence of the Defiant, returned fire from the upper rear gun position, firing several short bursts, all of which passed well above the Defiant, leading Flt. Lt. West to conclude that the enemy gunner could not depress his gun enough to fire accurately.
He then closed to 100 yards from the enemy aircraft and Sgt Adams fired a one and half second burst, again targeting the starboard engine, which became even more engulfed in flames and the Ju 88 began to lose speed and height.
At this point Flt. Lt. West maneuvered the Defiant ahead of and slightly below the Ju 88 to give his gunner a better chance of firing into the cockpit and proceeded cross from side to side across the Ju 88's nose.
Again the night fighter came under return fire, this time from the upper front gun position, but again the enemy's tracer bullets showed that the line of fire was too high and passed harmlessly above them.
Sgt. Adams responded with two one and a half second bursts of fire towards the gun positions and into the cockpit, noting the explosive "de Wilde" bullets (almost certainly actually British B Mark VI incendiary bullets – often termed "de Wilde" at the time) bursting inside the glazed nose of the enemy aircraft and the return fire immediately ceased.
By this point the Ju-88's fate was undoubtedly sealed and Flt. Lt. West was forced to break away to port as the crippled enemy aircraft began a shallow dive above him.
He then executed a steep 360 degree turn in order the position his Defiant to the enemy aircraft's port side for another attack, but no such coup de grace was needed, as suddenly the Ju 88 went into a steep dive and entered the cloud layer below.
On board the stricken bomber the situation must have been chaos – the aircraft was by now well alight and described by some witnesses on the ground as resembling "a flaming streak" as it dived out of the base of the cloud layer.
Read More: https://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/aviation-archaeology-the-junkers-ju-88-a5-werke-no-8138-shot-down-on-the-night-of-78th-april-1941/
Son of William and Ethel Adams of Marten, Wiltshire.
Military Number 759300.
Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Died at Age 21.
Reginald Thomas Adams was killed on June 30th, 1942
Aircraft Halifax W1113, LQ-G.
The aircraft Took off 2301 29 June 1942 from Pocklington. The Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter (Sigmund) and all the crew were lost.
Shot down by a night fighter Oblt Rudolf Sigmund 11. A German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In 150 missions Rudolf Sigmund claimed 28 aerial victories, 26 of them at night. He was shot down by 'friendly' Flak over Kassel, crashing near Gottingen, on 3rd October 1943
The crew and aircraft failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942.
The location of the plane was found at: Noordwolde (Fr.).
The unit of crew and plane is: 405 Squadron.
First flyer rank: F/Sergeant, name: W.J. Harrell.
The plane belonged to the Allied forces.
Crew: Halifax Mk.II - W1113 - LQ-G - 30 Jun 1942 - Mission: Bremen
402223 - Pilot Officer - Pilot - Henry Adolphus Echin - RAAF - Age 22 - KIA
R/83419 - Flight Sergeant - Co-Pilot - William Jessup Harrell - RCAF - Age 21 - KIA
759300 - Flight Sergeant - Air Gunner - Reginald Thomas Adams - RAFVR - Age 21 - KIA
1284966 - Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Walter Percy Beare - RAFVR - Age 27 - KIA
R/64880 - Warrant Officer - Air Observer - James William "Sammy" Bell - RCAF - Age 28 - KIA
R/84563 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Winston James Dickinson - RCAF - Age 25 - KIA
R/56246 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Paul Patrick Augustus Oneson - RCAF - Age 26 - KIA
571779 - Sergeant - Flight Engineer - Alexander Simpson - RAF - Age 21 - KIA
___________
Reginald Thomas Adams, from Marten, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was born in December 1920 in Hungerford and joined the RAFVR on 29th August 1939 at Southampton.
He went to 3 EFTS Hamble on a wireless operators course. Eventually he was called up and sent to 4 ITW Bexhill.
After a posting to Debden, Adams went on an air gunnery course at No.1 AAS Manby. He passed out on 10th August 1940, was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 5 OTU Aston Down.
Adams joined 264 Squadron, operating Defiants, at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7th September.
He was posted away from the squadron on 16th December 1940 and joined 256 Squadron, then reforming at Catterick with Defiants. Adams crewed up with F/O DR West, who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and appointed 'A' Flight Commander.
Just before midnight on 7th April 1941 West and Adams intercepted and shot down a Ju88 of III/KG54. It crashed at Banks Marsh, Southport, 256 Squadron's first confirmed victory. In the early hours of 8th May West and Adams shot down a He111 that was raiding Liverpool. It crashed at Wrexham. During this action three of Adams' four guns jammed.
On 15th September 1941 'A' Flight of 256 Squadron was moved to Ballyhalbert to form the nucleus of 153 Squadron. When the squadron converted to Beaufighters, the air gunners were posted away.
Adams, then a Flight Sergeant, went to Bomber Command, joining 405 (RCAF) Squadron at Pocklington, equipped with Halifaxes.
Adams failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942. His Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter and all the crew were lost. Adams was 21 years old and he is buried in the churchyard at Noordwolde, Weststellingwerf, Netherlands.
___________
At around 23:30 hours Klemm's Ju 88 was one of around 40 raiders, all individually approaching their designated secondary objective of Liverpool and presumably the crew had begun looking out for their target – the docks area. They were flying in a moonlit, clear sky at approx 10,000 feet, with a cloud layer below at approx 5000 – 6000 feet and found themselves heading towards an anti-aircraft barrage on the outskirts of the city.
Unknown to the crew, but probably not unexpected, a number of RAF night fighters – Defiants from No. 256 Squadron, based at RAF Squires Gate near Blackpool – were also on patrol over the city, providing defensive cover in anticipation of an expected attack.
At 23:43 hours Flt. Lt. Donald Rock West (pilot) and Sgt. Reginald Thomas Adams (air gunner), both aged 20 with their Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 N3445, coded "JT – F" were ordered to take off and patrol at 10,000 feet over the north west coastal area.
They were both relatively experienced on Defiants – West having flown his first sortie in August 1940 with No. 141 Squadron and Adams, with 264 Squadron in September.
Both had joined No. 256 Squadron in December that year, being paired up as a crew together and with West becoming 'A' Flight Commander. At 23:45 the Defiant climbed above the cloud layer, which was by then 10/10ths at 3000 feet and climbed to 10,000 ft, where they began to circle slowly, but saw nothing.
With no orders, or information on activity in their vicinity, received by radio from operations, Flt. Lt. West decided to head towards the Anti-Aircraft Barrage which he could see was active over Liverpool. As the shell bursts appeared to be at around 10,000 ft, he increased height to 11,000 ft and then followed a course of 180° for several minutes.
Suddenly Sgt. Adams reported an aircraft at '9 o'clock below' silhouetted in the moonlight against the lower cloud layer. West immediately looked in the direction indicated and saw what he described as an "ugly looking silhouette" approximately 100 feet below them and to their port side.
With the other aircraft positively identified as a Ju88 by Sgt. Adams, Flt. Lt. West now decided to carry out Fighter Command attack 'A' and began by diving below and away from the target aircraft. This put his Defiant some 3000 yards in front and 1000 feet below the enemy raider and from this position West manoeuvred his aircraft by gently pulling the nose up and using right rudder until he was about 150 yards below and 200 yards to the starboard side of the raider.
As the Ju 88 overtook the Defiant slightly, apparently unaware of the night fighter's presence, Flt. Lt. West ordered his gunner to open fire and Sgt. Adams fired a two second burst, accurately targeting the starboard engine, which immediately burst into flames.
The crew of the Ju88, clearly now alerted to the presence of the Defiant, returned fire from the upper rear gun position, firing several short bursts, all of which passed well above the Defiant, leading Flt. Lt. West to conclude that the enemy gunner could not depress his gun enough to fire accurately.
He then closed to 100 yards from the enemy aircraft and Sgt Adams fired a one and half second burst, again targeting the starboard engine, which became even more engulfed in flames and the Ju 88 began to lose speed and height.
At this point Flt. Lt. West maneuvered the Defiant ahead of and slightly below the Ju 88 to give his gunner a better chance of firing into the cockpit and proceeded cross from side to side across the Ju 88's nose.
Again the night fighter came under return fire, this time from the upper front gun position, but again the enemy's tracer bullets showed that the line of fire was too high and passed harmlessly above them.
Sgt. Adams responded with two one and a half second bursts of fire towards the gun positions and into the cockpit, noting the explosive "de Wilde" bullets (almost certainly actually British B Mark VI incendiary bullets – often termed "de Wilde" at the time) bursting inside the glazed nose of the enemy aircraft and the return fire immediately ceased.
By this point the Ju-88's fate was undoubtedly sealed and Flt. Lt. West was forced to break away to port as the crippled enemy aircraft began a shallow dive above him.
He then executed a steep 360 degree turn in order the position his Defiant to the enemy aircraft's port side for another attack, but no such coup de grace was needed, as suddenly the Ju 88 went into a steep dive and entered the cloud layer below.
On board the stricken bomber the situation must have been chaos – the aircraft was by now well alight and described by some witnesses on the ground as resembling "a flaming streak" as it dived out of the base of the cloud layer.
Read More: https://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/aviation-archaeology-the-junkers-ju-88-a5-werke-no-8138-shot-down-on-the-night-of-78th-april-1941/
Military Number 759300.
Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Died at Age 21.
Reginald Thomas Adams was killed on June 30th, 1942
Aircraft Halifax W1113, LQ-G.
The aircraft Took off 2301 29 June 1942 from Pocklington. The Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter (Sigmund) and all the crew were lost.
Shot down by a night fighter Oblt Rudolf Sigmund 11. A German Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In 150 missions Rudolf Sigmund claimed 28 aerial victories, 26 of them at night. He was shot down by 'friendly' Flak over Kassel, crashing near Gottingen, on 3rd October 1943
The crew and aircraft failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942.
The location of the plane was found at: Noordwolde (Fr.).
The unit of crew and plane is: 405 Squadron.
First flyer rank: F/Sergeant, name: W.J. Harrell.
The plane belonged to the Allied forces.
Crew: Halifax Mk.II - W1113 - LQ-G - 30 Jun 1942 - Mission: Bremen
402223 - Pilot Officer - Pilot - Henry Adolphus Echin - RAAF - Age 22 - KIA
R/83419 - Flight Sergeant - Co-Pilot - William Jessup Harrell - RCAF - Age 21 - KIA
759300 - Flight Sergeant - Air Gunner - Reginald Thomas Adams - RAFVR - Age 21 - KIA
1284966 - Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Walter Percy Beare - RAFVR - Age 27 - KIA
R/64880 - Warrant Officer - Air Observer - James William "Sammy" Bell - RCAF - Age 28 - KIA
R/84563 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Winston James Dickinson - RCAF - Age 25 - KIA
R/56246 - Flight Sergeant - W.Operator / Air Gunner - Paul Patrick Augustus Oneson - RCAF - Age 26 - KIA
571779 - Sergeant - Flight Engineer - Alexander Simpson - RAF - Age 21 - KIA
___________
Reginald Thomas Adams, from Marten, near Marlborough in Wiltshire, was born in December 1920 in Hungerford and joined the RAFVR on 29th August 1939 at Southampton.
He went to 3 EFTS Hamble on a wireless operators course. Eventually he was called up and sent to 4 ITW Bexhill.
After a posting to Debden, Adams went on an air gunnery course at No.1 AAS Manby. He passed out on 10th August 1940, was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 5 OTU Aston Down.
Adams joined 264 Squadron, operating Defiants, at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 7th September.
He was posted away from the squadron on 16th December 1940 and joined 256 Squadron, then reforming at Catterick with Defiants. Adams crewed up with F/O DR West, who was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and appointed 'A' Flight Commander.
Just before midnight on 7th April 1941 West and Adams intercepted and shot down a Ju88 of III/KG54. It crashed at Banks Marsh, Southport, 256 Squadron's first confirmed victory. In the early hours of 8th May West and Adams shot down a He111 that was raiding Liverpool. It crashed at Wrexham. During this action three of Adams' four guns jammed.
On 15th September 1941 'A' Flight of 256 Squadron was moved to Ballyhalbert to form the nucleus of 153 Squadron. When the squadron converted to Beaufighters, the air gunners were posted away.
Adams, then a Flight Sergeant, went to Bomber Command, joining 405 (RCAF) Squadron at Pocklington, equipped with Halifaxes.
Adams failed to return from a raid on Bremen on 30th June 1942. His Halifax, LQ-G W1113, was shot down by a night fighter and all the crew were lost. Adams was 21 years old and he is buried in the churchyard at Noordwolde, Weststellingwerf, Netherlands.
___________
At around 23:30 hours Klemm's Ju 88 was one of around 40 raiders, all individually approaching their designated secondary objective of Liverpool and presumably the crew had begun looking out for their target – the docks area. They were flying in a moonlit, clear sky at approx 10,000 feet, with a cloud layer below at approx 5000 – 6000 feet and found themselves heading towards an anti-aircraft barrage on the outskirts of the city.
Unknown to the crew, but probably not unexpected, a number of RAF night fighters – Defiants from No. 256 Squadron, based at RAF Squires Gate near Blackpool – were also on patrol over the city, providing defensive cover in anticipation of an expected attack.
At 23:43 hours Flt. Lt. Donald Rock West (pilot) and Sgt. Reginald Thomas Adams (air gunner), both aged 20 with their Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1 N3445, coded "JT – F" were ordered to take off and patrol at 10,000 feet over the north west coastal area.
They were both relatively experienced on Defiants – West having flown his first sortie in August 1940 with No. 141 Squadron and Adams, with 264 Squadron in September.
Both had joined No. 256 Squadron in December that year, being paired up as a crew together and with West becoming 'A' Flight Commander. At 23:45 the Defiant climbed above the cloud layer, which was by then 10/10ths at 3000 feet and climbed to 10,000 ft, where they began to circle slowly, but saw nothing.
With no orders, or information on activity in their vicinity, received by radio from operations, Flt. Lt. West decided to head towards the Anti-Aircraft Barrage which he could see was active over Liverpool. As the shell bursts appeared to be at around 10,000 ft, he increased height to 11,000 ft and then followed a course of 180° for several minutes.
Suddenly Sgt. Adams reported an aircraft at '9 o'clock below' silhouetted in the moonlight against the lower cloud layer. West immediately looked in the direction indicated and saw what he described as an "ugly looking silhouette" approximately 100 feet below them and to their port side.
With the other aircraft positively identified as a Ju88 by Sgt. Adams, Flt. Lt. West now decided to carry out Fighter Command attack 'A' and began by diving below and away from the target aircraft. This put his Defiant some 3000 yards in front and 1000 feet below the enemy raider and from this position West manoeuvred his aircraft by gently pulling the nose up and using right rudder until he was about 150 yards below and 200 yards to the starboard side of the raider.
As the Ju 88 overtook the Defiant slightly, apparently unaware of the night fighter's presence, Flt. Lt. West ordered his gunner to open fire and Sgt. Adams fired a two second burst, accurately targeting the starboard engine, which immediately burst into flames.
The crew of the Ju88, clearly now alerted to the presence of the Defiant, returned fire from the upper rear gun position, firing several short bursts, all of which passed well above the Defiant, leading Flt. Lt. West to conclude that the enemy gunner could not depress his gun enough to fire accurately.
He then closed to 100 yards from the enemy aircraft and Sgt Adams fired a one and half second burst, again targeting the starboard engine, which became even more engulfed in flames and the Ju 88 began to lose speed and height.
At this point Flt. Lt. West maneuvered the Defiant ahead of and slightly below the Ju 88 to give his gunner a better chance of firing into the cockpit and proceeded cross from side to side across the Ju 88's nose.
Again the night fighter came under return fire, this time from the upper front gun position, but again the enemy's tracer bullets showed that the line of fire was too high and passed harmlessly above them.
Sgt. Adams responded with two one and a half second bursts of fire towards the gun positions and into the cockpit, noting the explosive "de Wilde" bullets (almost certainly actually British B Mark VI incendiary bullets – often termed "de Wilde" at the time) bursting inside the glazed nose of the enemy aircraft and the return fire immediately ceased.
By this point the Ju-88's fate was undoubtedly sealed and Flt. Lt. West was forced to break away to port as the crippled enemy aircraft began a shallow dive above him.
He then executed a steep 360 degree turn in order the position his Defiant to the enemy aircraft's port side for another attack, but no such coup de grace was needed, as suddenly the Ju 88 went into a steep dive and entered the cloud layer below.
On board the stricken bomber the situation must have been chaos – the aircraft was by now well alight and described by some witnesses on the ground as resembling "a flaming streak" as it dived out of the base of the cloud layer.
Read More: https://www.ww2wrecks.com/portfolio/aviation-archaeology-the-junkers-ju-88-a5-werke-no-8138-shot-down-on-the-night-of-78th-april-1941/
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