In the Aviation Museum, Bamburgh Castle, are relics of several air crashes which occurred in Northumberland in the 1939-45 war.
Included in these is a photograph of LAC J.H. Sinton, who was killed aged 18 during the battle of Heligoland Bight on 18th December 1939. He was credited with a half share of shooting down a Me.109D.
Contact the Museum by e-mail address:
administrator@bamburghcastle.com
Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999; Derek Walton; Norav Publications; 1999. P30 has the story with photograph.
Simon Glancey has provided the following:
Wellington 1a N2962 OJ-B, shot down by a Messerschmitt Me-110 at 14.10 whilst on a reconnaissance mission to search for shipping off Wilhelmshaven, with the loss of all five crew members. It was the first of the 13 Wellington out of a force of 24 lost on that disastrous operation.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1939-1940; W.R. Chorley; 1992; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 85 7, page 29
The shared Bf-109D mentioned by Derek Walton in his Northumberland Aviation Diary is that of Oblt. Johann Fuhrmann, of 10 (Nacht)/JG26, who was shot down by cross-fire from the Wellingtons' tail gunners during the air battle. He ditched his aircraft, but apparently drowned before he was able to be rescued.
