My Family research Journey

In carrying out my Family research I have discovered the husband of my Aunt, JOSEPH STEWART of Belfast, Northern Ireland served in the Royal Air Force during World War two.  JOSEPH was a Flight Sergeant performing the duties of Wireless Operator and Gunner on Vickers/Wellington R1334 with number 11 Operational Training Unit. (OTU)

On the 21st JULY 1941 he along with his other seven colleagues took off in the Vickers/Wellington from RAF STEEPLE MORDEN, Hertfordshire on a night time cross country training exercise.  At approximately 01.19 on the 22nd JULY their aircraft was intercepted by a Luftwaffe Junkers JU-88C and on opening fire the Wellington sustained damage causing the Aircraft to lose control and in the attempts to land the Wellington and Junker JU-88C collided with both Aircraft crashing to the ground in flames near ASHWELL, Hertfordshire.   There were no survivors from either craft.

Wellington Crew:-RAF                                   

Hannah. Walter Anthony.  Sergeant Pilot.           22 yrs.

Hibbert. Reginald Ernest.  Sergeant W/A/Gunner 20yrs.

Houston. Frederick Slade Sergeant Pilot              22Yrs.

Lewis. Claude Mortimer Spratt.  Sergeant. Obs:   ??

Manning. Percival Theodore  Sergeant. W/A/Gnr.  20yrs

McAllister. Robert Andrew Sergeant. A/Gnr.          26yrs.

Stewart Joseph F/Sergeant W/A/Gnr.                   26yrs

Thompson. Bruce Cathcart Sergaent. Pilot             24yrs.

Junker JU-88C Crew: Luftwaffe.

Lieutenant Heinz Volker Pilot                                 ??

Herbert Indenbirken.       Radio Operator/Gnr;        ??

Feldwebel Andreas Wurstl. Flight Mechanic.             ??  

My Uncle JOSEPH STEWART is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.        

Should anyone with knowledge of this incident or reference points to the crash site I would be extremely grateful to learn of such information.

Mr Richard MEEKE.