My late uncle was an air gunner with 78 Sqdn. and was sadly KIA on 19th July 1944, with the rest of the crew of Halifax III NA513 EY-O; whilst on a bombing raid over France. I have the details from WR Chorley's 'Bomber Command Losses' and additional information from RN Roberts 'The Halifax File'.

I also have a copy of the Form 78 for NA513 - but what I would really like is a photograph, and to know what, if any, nose art this aircraft had. The aircraft was delivered to 78 Sqdn., at Breighton, on 16th May 1944, lost on 19th July 1944 and SOC on 21st July – operational for only two months - so I’m probably looking for a needle in a haystack, but maybe somebody out there has a photograph?

Thanks in advance,

Dean.

was he sgt Allenby or Brown?

i do have some additional information - but not about photographs .

four of the aircrew who were killed in this crash - Harding , Clarson , Moreton and Brown had been involved in the yorkshire crash of DT554 07 06 44 . recrewed with Stratford .

jettisoning

jettisoning,

Thanks for that information – it all helps build up a picture. Was DT554 a 78 sqdn aircraft? I’ve had a quick look through ‘From Hull, Hell & Halifax’ but I can’t find any reference to it, other than it being a MK II.

Dean.

76 sqn

My uncle was Sgt G. Allenby – he had just finished his training and was posted to 78 sqdn on 7th July, only to be lost on the 19th July – he was only 19. Tragic, but probably a typical scenario of those times.

Dean.

this halifax was initially allocated to 78 Sq , then to 76 Sq 05 12 42 (flying as MP-B) before being transferred to 1652 HCU (Marston Moor) . It was a Mk II .
I have an early edition of Chorley Vol 8 and there is an inadvertent reference to the 4 crew joining Stratford at '76 Sq'. perhaps this was corrected in a later edition .

jettisoning

jettisoning – thanks for that. My copy of Chorley is Vol. 5 (1944) – so doesn’t cover HCUs.

When I get the time, I want to go to Kew to have a look at 78’s ORB, and hopefully get a bit more information on my uncle’s brief time with them.

Dean.

The particular 'Losses' in question is W R Chorley 'Vol 8 Bomber Command Losses - Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units 1939 - 1947'
ISBN 1 85780 156 3

it is a relatively simple matter to cross-check from HCU to operational squadrons - and Chorley actually does this himself occasionally .

jettisoning