Date: 19/20th July 1940 (Friday/Saturday)
Unit: No.44 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Hampden I
Serial: L4087.
Coded: KM-C
Location: In the sea off Jutland.
Pilot: Sgt. E.L. Farrands. R.A.F. P.O.W.
Observer: Sgt. Percy Dryden Nixon. R.A.F. 580671 Age ? Killed.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Reginald Talbot Miller. R.A.F. 551536 Age 20. Killed.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O B. Green M.C. R.A.F. P.O.W.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took-off from Waddington for a minelaying operation off Frederikshaven, hit by flak and crashed into the sea at Tannis Bay off Kandestedern, the rear gunner P/O B. Green together with the pilot Sgt. E.L.Farrands swam to shore, both becoming p.o.w.
Sgt. Green and Sgt. Farrands were sent to Dulag Luft at Oberursel in Germany for interrogation and arrived on 21 July 1940.
After interrogation Sgt. Farrands was sent on the 23rd July to Stalag Luft I Barth and other Stalags throughout the rest of the war. Sgt.Green was also moved to Stalag Luft I Barth and eventually ended up at Stalag Luft III, Sagan. He was one of the 75 who took part in the “Great Escape” on the 24th/25th March 1944. However his freedom didn’t last long, he was recaptured in Oberöhrsdorf later that day and returned to the camp.
He was liberated on the 24th April 1945 and died on the 2nd November 1971.
On the 21st July the body of W/Op/Air/Gnr. Sgt Reginald T.Miller was found on the beach with the body of Observer Sgt Percy D. Nixon being discovered on the 24th July, both were laid to rest in Skagen cemetery.
Members of the Kriegsmarine investigating the wreck of L4087 (origin unknown)
Crew graves (origin unknown)
Burial Details:
Sgt. Percy Dryden Nixon. Skagen Cemetery, Denmark. Coll. grave M. 2.
No further information available as yet.
Sgt. Reginald Talbot Miller. Skagen Cemetery, Denmark. Coll. grave M. 2.
Son of Talbot William and Lily Miller, of Winsley, Wiltshire.
With thanks to the following: Terry McSweeney, Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 1", Commonwealth Graves Commission.