is there anybody who can help me with information about the Halifax BB 214?This is what I know to this Moment:The plane crashed 28.08.1942 into Lake Lach
(Vulkaneifel next to Andernach /Koblenz)after an attack of a ME110 Nightfighter from Mendig Airfield(next to Andernach).
The plane still remains in the lake ant its number BB214 is identified.I would be very happy, if someone could help me with more Information about Crew and the plane. Are there any Photographs of the plane and its crew and what was the Code on its side- XX o X ?
Thank you for your help and
greetings from Germany.
YoursStefan
According to Bomber Command Losses 1942 by W R Chorley:
Halifax II BB214 PM-? of 103 Squadron took off 2037 from Elsham Wolds on op to Nürnberg. Shot down by a nightfighter. Of those who died two are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery and two, Sgt Platt and F/S Carey RCAF are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt MacLachlan's father, George Henry MacLachlan, won the Military Medal and later gained a First Bar to his award.
Grüss dich. I habe als kleiner junge mit meine eltern oft bei Koblenz ins Urlaub gefahren (Ley and der Mosel, ich kenne die Deutche Eck und Schloss Ehrenbreitenstein sehr gut) und oft gedacht ob es flughzeug wracks in der nähe gab. Und ich habe nie denken können dass eine Halifax im See gab.
Hi Stefan,
When I was a little boy I used to go to Koblenz on holiday with my parents and I have often wondered if there were any aircraft wrecks in the neighbourhood. Never could I have thought that a Halifax was lying in a lake nearby.
Any information about the wreck? Is it in one piece or smashed. Have you been at the site already?
I have the Operations Record Book for 103 Squadron - would you like me to compile a list of operations that this crew flew together for you?
I will also check the Loss Card for you to see if there is any additional information not posted by Linzee above, and i will chekc the aircraft's Form 78 "Movement Card" so that i can give you a potted history of the aircraft itself - it'll be tomorrow or Sunday before i get a chance to do it though Stefan, so please bear with me!!
L/O
Greg
"You can take the boy out of Wales,
But you cannot takes Wales out of the boy"
thank you to Linzee, Cees and Greg-the boy from wales for your help till now.
Meanwhile I have more informations about the plane and the way it crashed:
Divers visited the wreck a few years ago . It seemed to be in one piece, only the tail is missing. The Pilot tryed to bring down the burning plane in lake Laach, but the tail broke away and crashed in the gras next to the lake - . Like an arrow the Halifax dived into the water where she lays a few meters under water , forgotten to this day.
There are plans to recover the plane - if possible.
Thats all for this moment
greetings from Germany.
Yours
Stefan
Thanks for the response with the additional info, and i'm glad too that the information posted back here by a few of us was of use to you
I haven't forgotten the details from the Loss Card for you, but it may take a couple of extra days yet. The lamp in my microfiche / microfilm viewer failed yesterday morning, and i'm just waiting a replacement to arrive from the supplier - it should be here tomorrow apparently!!
As soon as it arrives, i'll post some extra gen for you.
Iechy da!
Greg
"You can take the boy out of Wales,
But you cannot takes Wales out of the boy"
My uncle was Bernie Hughes, the mid upper gunner on BB214. I have a detailed letter from Bernie describing how the plane was shot down and his escape. There is apparently much confusion over whether there was one or two crew left on board when the plane crashed.
Let me know how I can email the letter and some photos
To contact Stefan (the originator of this thread) go to his first posting and on the top right you will see his name and (no login) in brackets beside it or something like that. If you click on his name you should get an e-mail address for Stefan and can contact him direct.
Best of luck, please come and visit this forum again soon.
Divers have again visited the bomber Halifax bb214 some weeks ago. The government is searching for bombs in this touristic lake.
The sight is very bad, cause there is no light in a deep of 12 meter. The plants in the upper zone take the light away.
Have you some more information about the crash? I got the names of the crew.
Thanks for further informations.
Divers have again visited the bomber Halifax bb214 some weeks ago. The government is searching for bombs in this touristic lake.
The sight is very bad, cause there is no light in a deep of 12 meter. The plants in the upper zone take the light away.
Have you some more information about the crash? I got the names of the crew.
Thanks for further informations.
