Leeuwarden / The Netherlands, 30h January 2010
Re: Peter Clement Vellacott Joslin, (RAF, Servicenumber 131479).
Since the early seventies our foundation, the “Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation” has taken an interest in the history of the air war over the Northern part of the Netherlands during World War II. In co-operation with the and the local “Resistance Museum” we aim to gather as much information as possible about the aircraft-crashes and their aftermath, in order to make a historically correct reconstruction of the events. Over the years, our research brought us in contact with many former airmen, pilot-helpers and other researchers all over the world. In some cases we have been able to clear up the fate of pilots who were reported missing in action. On a few occasions we also succeeded in returning recovered personal items from the flyers to their families.
In the evening of 4th September 1942 Lancaster R5682 of No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force took off from Syerston to bomb the German town of Bremen. In the early morning hours of the 5th the bomber was intercepted by the German nightfighter. The aircraft was shot down and eventually crashed near Wartena, a small village about 10 miles South of the town of Leeuwarden. Three men were killed and four managed to bail out. They were taken prisoner by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in a POW (prisoner of war) camp.
In the spring the "Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation" will organize, in co-operation with the local museum at the village of Grou, an exhibition about the air war over the community of Boarnsterhim / The Netherlands. This is the reason, that we are looking for information about Peter Clement Vellacott Joslin. He was born 8th June 1912 at Hornchurch and was the son of John Henry Joslin and Mary Ruth Vellacott. His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1912 in Romford. His wife was Mildred Helen Knowles. The couple married in the first quarter of 1938. Their marriage was registered in Halstead. The last know address was in Black Notley, Essex. After the war she married Ernest E. Jebbett. As we do not know much about them, we will be very pleased if you could assist us tracing relatives. Any other help also will be very much appreciated.
Please note, that this is a rewritten version.
