Dedicated to the crew of Wellington X HE164 from 466 Squadron.

HE164 Wellington X HD-B
14th February 1943

home	Pilot	Bomb Aimer	Navigator	Wireless Operator	Air Gunner	2nd Pilot

	F/L W J R Kirk	Sgt R E Bentley	F/S W E Smith	Sgt N A Leonard	Sgt T W Reynolds	P/O J E Mason
		P.o.W.		P.o.W.	P.o.W.





	Take Off :- 18:32		Base :- RAF Leconfield		Mission :- Cologne

	Details :- HE164 crashed at 20:30 after being shot down by a night-fighter, 2km South East of Meerhout (Antwerpen). F/S Smith died during the attack. F/L Kirk and P/O Mason died whilst trying to crash-land the aircraft and avoid housing, they were unable to bale-out as their parachutes had caught fire which extended from the main wing spar to the tail.

	243 aircraft including 85 Wellington's detailed to attack, 3 Wellington's lost including HE164 and HE153 from 466 squadron. local records suggest that the target marking had only a limited success.

	Those who died are buried in Schoonselhof Churchyard at Antwerpen.

	The tail of this aircraft (minus fabric) is mounted on a stone plinth with a memorial plate inscribed with the crews names.

	Sgt Bentley - PoW number is 27559 in camps 8B/344.
	Sgt Leonard - PoW number is 27647. He spent several weeks in a Brussels Hospital then onto camps 8B/344.
	Sgt Reynolds - PoW number is 27579 in camps 8B/344.

	Photo's of F/L W J R Kirk and F/S W E Smith kindly donated by Jenny Green
	Photo of P/O J E Mason kindly donated by Gordon Lambert
	Photo of Sgt R E Bentley kindly donated by Denise Hood

	If you have anything to add or talk about concerning this crew then please contact me on the address below, halifaxlv827@yahoo.co.uk