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Stanley Etherington Stanley Etherington obituary
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My dad, Stanley Etherington, who has died aged 92, was one of the few surviving members of the squadron that undertook the daring low-level bombing raid on Gestapo headquarters in Aarhus in Denmark on 31 October 1944, which has been described as the most successful mission of its kind.My dad, Stanley Etherington, who has died aged 92, was one of the few surviving members of the squadron that undertook the daring low-level bombing raid on Gestapo headquarters in Aarhus in Denmark on 31 October 1944, which has been described as the most successful mission of its kind.
Stan was born in Middleton, Manchester, the eldest of three children. He attempted to join the RAF at the outbreak of the second world war but was initially turned down because his job as an apprentice draughtsman was seen as important to the war effort. He instead assisted the air-raid wardens as a fire spotter. Stan finally joined the RAF in 1942 and before long was flying Mosquito fighter bombers.Stan was born in Middleton, Manchester, the eldest of three children. He attempted to join the RAF at the outbreak of the second world war but was initially turned down because his job as an apprentice draughtsman was seen as important to the war effort. He instead assisted the air-raid wardens as a fire spotter. Stan finally joined the RAF in 1942 and before long was flying Mosquito fighter bombers.
The attack on the Gestapo headquarters followed the arrest of the leader of the Danish resistance and 145 of his men. The Gestapo had captured records and the destruction of these was imperative, in order to save the lives of other fighters. Twenty-six Mosquitos from the RAF's 2 Group undertook low-level precision bombing of the two college buildings of the University of Aarhus which housed the Gestapo and their records.The attack on the Gestapo headquarters followed the arrest of the leader of the Danish resistance and 145 of his men. The Gestapo had captured records and the destruction of these was imperative, in order to save the lives of other fighters. Twenty-six Mosquitos from the RAF's 2 Group undertook low-level precision bombing of the two college buildings of the University of Aarhus which housed the Gestapo and their records.
The entire operation was to be flown at "zero" feet, to avoid being detected by radar, and most of the journey was over the sea. In his memoirs Stan observed: "Whilst I was refuelling [back in England], I was asked to take a passenger back to base. Their aircraft was damaged and unserviceable. They had flown so low that their tail had hit the roof of the building and had left their tail wheel back in a street in Aarhus."The entire operation was to be flown at "zero" feet, to avoid being detected by radar, and most of the journey was over the sea. In his memoirs Stan observed: "Whilst I was refuelling [back in England], I was asked to take a passenger back to base. Their aircraft was damaged and unserviceable. They had flown so low that their tail had hit the roof of the building and had left their tail wheel back in a street in Aarhus."
The Danish resistance organisations were vital as they prevented German reinforcements and supplies in Norway being transported to the European front. Many Danish resistance members were to play an important role in the formation of the postwar government. In May 1945 all the crew members who had taken part in the raid received a letter of thanks, accompanied by a pair of silver cufflinks embossed with the Danish royal crest.The Danish resistance organisations were vital as they prevented German reinforcements and supplies in Norway being transported to the European front. Many Danish resistance members were to play an important role in the formation of the postwar government. In May 1945 all the crew members who had taken part in the raid received a letter of thanks, accompanied by a pair of silver cufflinks embossed with the Danish royal crest.
After the war, Stan remained in the RAF for a while. One of his missions was to transport the former German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to his trial and subsequent execution at Nuremberg. Stan was eventually discharged and found work in the engineering industry, in time joining the Central Electricity Generating Board and working on the design of the UK's first wave of nuclear power stations. His passion for flying never waned and he continued to fly gliders well into his late 80s.After the war, Stan remained in the RAF for a while. One of his missions was to transport the former German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to his trial and subsequent execution at Nuremberg. Stan was eventually discharged and found work in the engineering industry, in time joining the Central Electricity Generating Board and working on the design of the UK's first wave of nuclear power stations. His passion for flying never waned and he continued to fly gliders well into his late 80s.
My mother, Christine, whom Stan married in 1945, died in April 2012. He is survived by his siblings Jessie and Norman; his three children, Peter, John and me; and seven grandchildren.My mother, Christine, whom Stan married in 1945, died in April 2012. He is survived by his siblings Jessie and Norman; his three children, Peter, John and me; and seven grandchildren.