A Hanwell woman determined to find out what happened to her uncle who went missing during WWII believes she could be on the cusp of knowing the truth.
On April 8 1942, 20-year-old pilot James Linehan took off from RAF Feltwell to Hamburg in a Wellington bomber but never returned, prompting niece Nicola Gaughan to search for more information.
Now after years of searching, she has discovered new documents from the German archive Bundesarchiv, with help from a German researcher, suggesting his plane may have crashed in the Wilhelmshaven Harbour.
The documents give clues as to which planes were flying into Hamburg, where they went missing and at which times they were lost.
Nicola said: “I’ve continued my search and believe I’ve managed to pin point more closely where the plane crashed, in the Wilhelmshaven Harbour in Germany.
“I have been in contact with a researcher and he found some files, and in these it shows the different planes that were lost so I was able to pinpoint his plane.
“The reports show the different places where planes were lost and at which times, and I have pulled one from the archive which I believe was my uncle's plane.
“It clarifies more closely where I think it went down, because in these records there is evidence of a plane being seen going down in flames.”
Since uncovering these documents, Nicola has been in touch with recovery teams in Germany and believes this is “as close I am going to get” before further potential evidence comes to light.
She also said she has not had a chance to visit the site these documents point to, and the area upon which she believes the plane crashed is a shifting mudflat.
In memory of her uncle, Nicola has put together a short 10 minute film, about a WWII veteran, and fictional friend of James Linehan, who has to unexpectedly look after his granddaughter and the pair research the life of the RAF pilot.
She said: “I wrote it, directed it and edited it and it references my uncle as the grandad’s best mate.”
The WWII film, which is also on the long-list for the Winchester Short Film Festival, will be shown at St Barnabus Church in Pitshanger Lane and, although no date has been set, you can reserve a place here .
A total of £300 has also been raised through the sale of Niocla’s charity photo book of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, released in 2013, to go towards maintaining the memorial.
