Hebblethwaite, Edwin Charles Long, son of Bernard Robinson Hebblethwaite FRIBA, of Kingston Lyle, Berks, and Margaret Austin, d. of George Austin-Hyslop of Glasgow; b. 19 Sept. 1915; adm. Sept. 1929 (B); left Apr. 1934; a journalist; RAFVR 1941-2 (FO), killed in action in a bombing raid over Hamburg May 1942.
Edwin Charles Long “Peter” Hebblethwaite was born at Dublin, Ireland on the 19th of September 1915 the only child of Bernard Robinson Hebblethwaite FRIBA, an architect, and Margaret Austin (nee Hyslop) Hebblethwaite, of Gaston Manor, Tisbury near Salisbury in Wiltshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1929 to April 1934. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI in 1930 and 1931 and was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932. He was a member of the Football XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934 where he played at outside left. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932/33 season: - “A clever dribbler and good at the short passing game, but his left foot is not yet strong enough, and he is very weak with his head. Position play good, but often fails to make the most of an opening through hesitation.”
He was appointed as a member of the Monitorial Council in 1933.
On leaving school he became a journalist and a sub editor and worked in Grimsby.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an observer and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 9th of December 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer in March 1942.
On the night of the 3rd/4th of May 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 43 Wellingtons, 20 Halifaxes, 13 Stirlings and 5 Hampdens for an operation on Hamburg. When the formation arrived at Hamburg it was found that the target was completely covered by cloud and only 54 of the aircraft bombed the target by estimating its position. 113 fires were started in the city of which 57 were classified as large. A large entertainment palace in the Reeperbahn was completely destroyed, as were a cinema and a theatre. A warehouse in the dockside area which contained vehicles and other goods was also destroyed. A 4,000lb bomb landed at a road junction in the historic residential area which caused 11 blocks of flats to collapse; another 11 buildings were severely damaged and 352 were slightly damaged. 77 people were killed on the ground with 243 injured and 1,624 people were bombed out of their homes.
Edwin Hebblethwaite and his crew took off from RAF Croft at 11.05pm on the 3rd of May 1942 in Halifax Mk II R9391 EY- for the operation. While in the target area the aircraft was coned by searchlights and was shot down by a night fighter flown by Feldwebel Hans Berschwinger of 4./NJG2 and crashed into the North Sea, some twenty kilometres to the north of Juist at 2.31am with the loss of the entire crew. This was Hans Berschwinger’s third victory of an eventual twelve before he was killed in action on the 15th of February 1944.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Thomas Percy Willoughby Davis (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Gilbert Murray Edwards (Rear Gunner)
Flying Officer Edwin Charles Long Hebblethwaite (Observer)
Pilot Officer John Robert “Jack” Kennedy RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Frederick Ross Mills (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Eric Charles Smith (2nd Pilot)
Squadron Leader Albert John Drake Snow (Pilot)
Theirs was one of five aircraft lost during the raid.
His father received the following telegram dated the 31st of August 1942: - “Deeply regret to advise you that following information from the International Red Cross Committee and Germans sources that your son Flying Officer Edwin Charles Long Hebblethwaite is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 3rd May 1942. Letter confirming this telegram follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy.”
Edwin Hebblethwaite’s body was washed ashore on the Island of Sylt on the 16th of June 1942 and was buried at Buesum Cemetery, Westerland on the 18th of June 1942. His body was exhumed by No. 4 Missing and Research Unit, Royal Air Force on the 9th of July 1947 and was moved to its present location. John Kennedy’s body was washed ashore on the 10th of June 1942 and Eric Smith’s body was recovered from the sea by a boat on the 9th of May 1942.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Tisbury.
He is buried at Kiel War Cemetery Plot 3, Row E, Grave 14.
