Hello!

I search Crew Members from the Halifax III crash in Dehnsen on 16.1.1945.
The Halifax has the Number 188.

Greeting

Matthias
webmaster www.crashplace.de

Hi Matthias,

Are you trying to trace the two crew members who survived this crash or are you looking for a complete list of the crew who were onboard?

Bomber Command Losses 1945 by W R Chorley has the following information regarding this loss:

420 Sqdn Halifax III NA188 PT-E on op to Magdeburg took off 1839 Tholthorpe. Believed to have fallen victim to a night fighter, crashing 2230 in the vicinity of Alfeld (Leine) some 20 km SSW from the centre of Hildnsheim. Those who died rest in Hannover War Cemetery.

F/O R A Ireland RCAF +
Sgt R Hutchinson +
F/O W L Dennis RCAF +
F/O W Webb RCAF +
F/Sgt L J Penny RCAF +
F/Sgt F W Poole RCAF POW
F/Sgt F/S Cameron RCAF POW

Regards
Linzee

According to S. Cameron they were hit by a direct burst of flak near Hannover almost tearing the starboard wing off. They caught fire and were told to bail out. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the assistance!
How do I get at the fastest out whether the
two crew members still live?

Phone Book, or has this Squadron a Website?
Matthias

Hi Matthias,

You could try the 420 Squadron Association.  I found these contact details for them on a website:

 420 'Snowy Owl' (City of London) Squadron Association Robbie Robson, 7 Camberley Close, Hucclecote, Gloucester, England, GL3 3PQ

http://www.411.ca/ is an online phone book for Canada which you could try although it may be like looking for a needle in a haystack without some idea of which area of Canada to look in.

Another option is to try the Canadian press.  If you can find out which area the men originated from in Canada you could try contacting the local newspaper in that area and asking them to run a story for you which may locate either the airmen, information about them or relatives.

Good luck & please pop back to let us know how you progress with this.

Regards

Linzee

Hello!

Thanks for the Tips Linzee!

Greeting

Matthias

Linzee,

The details you have for the loss of this Aircraft are very similar to that of my Grandfathers plane NA237 which apparently crashed on the same day at same time, in a similar loctaion and was also shot down by a night fighter.

Does you book shed any new light on the fate of my Grandfathers Aircraft? Regards,

Regards

Jon Hill

www.na237.net

Hi Jon,

I doubt that Bomber Command Losses can add much to the already extensive information that you have gathered regarding the loss of your grandfathers Halifax.  However, I'll type the entry below just in case:

Halifax III NA237 ZA-C took off Melbourne 1831 on op to Magdeburg.  Shot down by nightfighter and crashed 2230 at Hörsum, 20 km SSW from the centre of Hildesheim.  Those who died rest in Hannover War Cemetery.

F/O A J Marshall +
Sgt A H Griffiths +
Sgt W F Paxton POW
F/Sgt K D Lawrence POW
F/Sgt D H Elsome POW
Sgt J Thornley +
Sgt R C Tuck POW

Presumably you have been in contact with 10 Sqdn Association and the Ex POW Association for further details about the POW's who survived?

Kind Regards
Linzee

Linzee,

Thanks for the info. It would seem that both aircraft were shot down around the same time and place so there could be confusion as to who was responsible. I think I have some scope for further research anyway.

Regards,

Jon.

Linzee, sorry!

Yes I am in touch with one of (as far as I know) two surviving Crew members.

Jon.

No apology necessary Jon,

Have you tried checking through the Luftwaffe claims on Tony Woods website? You may glean some further clues http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm

Good luck
Linzee

Thanks,

I'll take a look.

Jon

Hey, I don't know if anyone is going to notice my post, as the original message on this thread is a few years old. My uncle Bob was the pilot of this crew, so I have a bit of information regarding them. Please get back to me if you read this post!