Hello from France

during WW2, an Halifax ( W1118 code PM-D , 103 th squadron ) was down near my village ( october, 24th 1942 ). Member of my family were withness of this . I'm investigating to know all thing about this plane. if someone has informations about this , please, help me

thanks by advance

Regards

This Halifax was shot down by Night fighter was on a raid to Milano
The crew was

Squadron Leader S H Fox DFM.+
Sgt H F Wood+
Sgt L Fitzsimmons+
F/O H J Spiller DFM Evaded
P/O G Wollerton pow
F/S R Maddocks pow
Sgt P C Heath+
F/S N A Mercer+

Can you tell me the time or any other information. I may be able to find the name of the night fighter pilot?

You may be able to order the file of the airman who escaped. From UK National archives.

Pouvez vous me dire le temps où l'avion a été abattu ou n'importe quelle autre information. Je peux pouvoir trouver le nom du pilote de chasseur de nuit ? Vous pouvez pouvoir commander le dossier de l'aviateur qui s'est échappé des archives nationales BRITANNIQUES.
Peter

excellent,

i m' looking for the german night fighter name and the type of the plane.

the halifax was shot down above the village of Nant le grand near Bar le duc ( country code 55 000 )

i think the nightfighter come from by german base st Dizier

the hour was 08 pm the october 24 th 1942

thanks by advance

regards

i think you might mean W1188 PM-D . (W1118 was never issued as a halifax serial number)
Full crew details including name of second pilot can be found in the Chorley 'Losses 1942' . it is noteworthy in that the pilot Squadron Leader SH Fox had been awarded the DFM .
in addition two other books mention this loss - 'Bomber Intelligence' W E Jones p 26 and 'Journeys Into Night' D Charlwood p 119 .
it would seem that this was the last time 103 Sq flew the halifax operationally - re-equipping with Lancasters .

Of course our friend is right the Halifax was W1188 PM-D

This is probably the victory of Oblt. Gerhard Freidrich but the time was given as 21:50 at 5000m (night fighter combat claims Foreman) he was in StbII/NJG4. I do not know if German time was the same as French time. I have a friend who is expert in this but is on holliday at this time. I will find out more from him.

the number to order the escape info from Archives UK is WO208 piece number 3312 report number (-)1042 you can order from the web site. Some files are now being digitised.also put the airman's name in the request.

Peter

it was Spiller, the navigator .

he was written a book about this story " Ticket to freedom"
i'm working on it but shakespear language is not easy for a frenchie ;o)

thanks for the german pilot info and let me know when your friend is back. iwould like to have more detail ....perhaps a photo of him. my uncle saw him the day after the crash to see his victory.i would like to show him this german officier to confirm

thanks a lot

regards

Hello Peter,

please, could you give me more details about german night fighter ?

thanks by advance

Regards

Squadron Leader Fox went to my school, Woking Grammar School for Boys, Surrey. His name is on the Roll of Honour.

http://www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/goldsworthparkcommunityassociation/memorialsworldwar1andtwo/wbwarmemorials/grammar

If anyone has any further details about him I would be grateful.

clivetemple@mac.com