| TITLE | REQUIEM FOR A WREN | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Published: | 1955 Heineman | |
| Setting: | 1944, preparing for Overlord, just before D-Day | |
| Story: |
A young WREN armament artificer reacts against an intruding German bomber by shooting it down. To her dismay instead of a crew of four there are seven bodies recovered from the wreckage; it is assumed that they are Czechs or Poles trying to escape from France in a captured aircraft and were trying to land when she shot them down. The WREN's commando boyfriend is killed in action. Without revealing the relationship, she later obtains work in his former home in Australia. Still full of remorse she takes her own life just prior to the homecoming of her boyfriend's brother who had met them both in England. |
|
| Locations: |
The Hamble River in Hampshire Over Northern France Over the English Channel The Australian homestead |
|
| Main Characters: |
Leading Wren Janet Prentice Lt Craigie, RN. Bill Duncan, Janet's commando boyfriend Wg. Cdr Alan Duncan (Bill's brother)(narrator) |
|
| Flying Episodes: | Shooting down of the JU 188 is critical to the Story. | |
| Aircraft: |
JU 188 Typhoon; FW Ta 152; Me 262 Swordfish |
Dakotas Fortresses Spitfires |
| Flying Characters: |
7 crew/passengers on JU 188. Sqn Ldr Alan Duncan, Typhoon pilot. Ldg Wren Janet Prentice (Ordnance maintenance rating) |
|
| Aviation Location(s): |
Beaulieu aerodrome The Hamble River RNAS Ford; RAF Aston Down |
|
| Aviation Activities |
German intrusion over Hamble river/shot down Typhoon operations over France Wren testing guns of Swordfish |
|
| Additional Comments: | Actual shooting down of JU188, with 7 bodies, was believed to have been witnessed by Lt Cdr Norway RNR at Exbury just before D-Day. |
