Sgt Conlon's crew consisted of:
Sqn Ldr
Osborn, R B DSO, DFC, (Pilot)
FO S U C Longworth, (Navigator)
Sgt J V Conlon, (Bomb Aimer)
Sgt P A Martin, (Wireless Operator Air
Gunner)
PO S C Methven, (Air Gunner)
Sgt R A Brown, (Air Gunner)
All were
from the RAAF, except the pilot S/L
Osborn, who was RAF.
This was to be P/O Methven's 14th
operation.
They took off from their base at
Binbrook at 17.14 on 23 January 1943.
They reached the target and bomded it.
S/L Osborn later reported that on the
way back they were attacked by a night
fighter. They were just over the Dutch
coast when the attack happened. The Bf
110 was flown by
Oblt
Wolfgang Kuthe, of 1V./NJG1.
Wounded by cannon fire, S/L Osborn
decided to crash land the plane. At
20.54, the plane crash lands near Warns.
P/O Methven died in the plane. Sgt Brown
was badly injured in his leg. Sgt Colon
decided to bail out, but he probably
drowned in the sea and his parachute
failed to open.
S/L Osborn spent three months in a
Leeuwarden hospital and then some time
in PoW camps 9C andL3,as PoW No.19634.
On 16 September 1944 he was repatriated
to England.
Sgt I.H.S.Hayes was interned in Camps 8B
and 344, PoW No.27379. F/O
H.E.L.Longworth in Camps 21B and L3, PoW
No.117. Sgt P.H.Martin in Camps 8B and
344. He was commissioned during
captivity and transferred to Camp L3,
PoW No.27381.
Sgt John Conlon is buried at Bakhuizen
Roman Catholic Cemetery, Row 24. Grave
12.
"Sweet Jesus
Have Mercy On His Soul
May He Rest In Peace
Amen"