john Henry Stirk was born in 1912, son of Henry and Maude Ellis Stirk, of Baildon, Yorkshire.

He was an observer with the Royal Air Force and was stationed with 15 Operational training Unit.

[No Crest available]

15 O.T.U RAF

On the night of 16/17 September 1942, Bomber Command flew a all out mission against the German industrial city of Essen, in the Ruhr area. As many planes as possible were brought together for this mission. Also the Wellington IC X9920 of 15 O.T.U. Sgt Nobbs was to captain the plane for this mission. The other crew members were:

Sgt Thomas Fraser, second pilot
F/S Donald Miller, wireless operator
Sgt Ronald Ware, air gunner
Sgt Frederick Seals, air gunner

The crew took off from their base Harwell in Berkshire at 2002. It was picked up by the German radars and intercepted by a night fighter flown by Lt. Eberhard Gardiewski of 6/NJG2.

The Wellington was shot down and crashed at 0012 on farmland between Heiloo and Alkmaar. The whole crew perished and are buried in Bergen. Sgt Stirk was 30.
 

Bergen, The Netherlands

See also:
Sgt Frederick Seals
F/S Donald Miller
Sgt Walter Nobbs
Sgt Thomas Fraser
Sgt Ronald Ware

Sources:
Martyn Erroll, For Your Tomorrow, Vol.I, Volplane Pres, Christchurch, NZ, 1998

Acknowledgements:

Directions to Bergen War Cemetery

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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