Base: Bircham Newton (on detachment from Thorney Island)
Take off time: 1018 hrs.
Op: Strike.
Shot down by flak-ship at 1220 hrs during a convoy attack off Hoek van Holland. P/O. Badland rests in Zeeweg General Cemetery, Rockanje; Sgt Henderson in Hoek van Holland General cemetery, Holland; While Sgt. Hazell is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
On this day 59 lost four aircraft: TR-E: TR-F: TR-H: TR-A
From a letter written by P/O Morton (pilot of TR-H) - the only survivor on this day: "The circumstances of that unfortunate operation were breifly this. From Bircham Newton, Norfolk, in the morning of April 28th 1941, Tony led our formation of Blenheims into a low level attack on a German convoy off the Hook of Holland. The attack was carried home at mast height and the ship's heavy AA defences succeeded in bringing down all four aircraft. My own was the only one able to turn for home but it was on fire and I was forced to crashland. My own difficulties prevented me from seeing what happened to the other three aircraft but I was advised afterwards by the Germans that they had all been shot down into the sea, with no survivors..."
 | Crew awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp - Although entitlement was revoked by the Air Ministry in 1960 (read more) |
All lost:
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No crew images available at this time.
During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)
Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:
PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950