Charles William Fry was from Whipton, Exeter. He was married to Florence Maud Fry. He was a Observer (Navigator) on a Blenheim with 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron.

On 13 March 1941 his crew took off from their base Horsham St. Faith in Blenheim IV R2278. Their target was Hamburg. The crew consisted of pilot F/L Dickinson, Navigator Sgt Charles Fry and wireless operator / air gunner Sgt Robert Mower.

Over the Dutch province of Groningen, the Blenheim was caught by German radar and a night fighter, flown by Ofw. Gildner, was sent to intercept it. Gildner did so and attacked the Blenheim while flying over the town of Zevenhuizen.

110 (Hyderabad) Sqn RAF

Sgt Fry's plane was hit and crashed near Tolbert at 22.48. None of the crew managed to bail out of the stricken plane and all perished.

Shortly after shooting down the Blenheim, Ofw. Gildner engaged the Wellington from 214 squadron flown by Sgt Elder and his crew over the town of Jispinghuizen. Machinegun fire was heard among the roaring engines of the planes. The Wellington was hit and started to burn. Soon after the Wellington crashed on the eastside of the main road running from Vlagtwedde to Ter Apel, just east of the city of Groningen. Only one of this crew survives.

Both crews are  buried at the Esserveld cemetery in Groningen.

Sgt Fry is buried at Plot RP. Row Class 2. Coll. grave 26.

(picture by Wim Bastiaanse)

Groningen, The Netherlands

See also:
Sgt George Daniel
Sgt John Tomkinson
Sgt Victor Bagley
Sgt Alexander Elder

F/L John Dickinson DFC
Sgt Robert Mower
 

Sources:
Ab A. Jansen, Wespennest Leeuwarden, deel I, Hollandia, Baarn 1976

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
 

Directions to Groningen (Esserveld) 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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