RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

I need assistance in identifying an RAF Halifax that crash landed at Florennes AB, Belgium (A-78) on 6 Nov 44. The Halifax was returning from a night mission to Koln, Germany with two engines shot out. All of the crew except the pilot bailed out over the field. The pilot then crash landed on the field. I have photos of the wreckage and wanted to see if I could find out any more details about this crash.

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Hi
Any sqn letters, serial or something.

Cheers Nick

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Unfortunately, no squadron codes or serial numbers can be seen in the three photos that I have of the wreck. It was pretty well burnt out. Just the engines, props, and a little of the tail section remained. The 6 Nov 44 date is based on an entry in the 429th FS squadron history (the 474th FG was at Florennes) that mentioned how a crippled "Lancaster" had bellied in at Florennes after a night mission to Koln. The 474th veterans that I have talked to who were at Florennes then only recall one instance where an RAF bomber crashlanded at A-78. Hence, my guess that this crash occurred on 6 Nov 44. I am still checking with the vets to see if I can confirm that date.

Cheers, Gary Koch

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

The date is probably off, or the type.

There was no raid on Koln by BC on 6 Nov 1944. There was a day raid against Gelsenkirchen with Lancasters and Halifaxes and then night raids on 6/7 against Koblenz and Mitteland Canal, but only with Lancasters.

The only possibility for the night of 6/7 according to Chorley is the Lancaster I HK621 GI-O of 622 Sqn that took off at 1700 to bomb Koblenz. Only details given is "Crash-landed in France. It is not thought that anyone was injured". Crew F/O F I Stephens RAAF, Sgt G Green, P/O F S Deacon RAAF, F/S A D Young, F/S J D Crago RAAF, Sgt D J Fitzsimmons, F/S W McRae, Sgt C E Barclay.
As part of the crew was Australian, maybe you can find more details in online Australian archives.

As for Koln, it was raided on 28 Oct by day and during the night of 30-31 Oct and 31 Oct-1 Nov. There were few losses.

A possibility on 31 Oct/1 Nov
Lancaster I LL964 PM-H of 103 Sqn took off 1749 to bomb Koln. Hit by Flak over the AP, which damaged fuel tanks and the rudder controls. The crew turned towards the Allied lines and when over Namur, Belgium, the order to abandon was given. F/S oubrey RCAF has the misfortune to open his parachute while still in the aircraft and by the time he had located the spare 'chute, the bomber was dangerously low. Exercising airmanship of the highest order, F/S Cooke RCAF crash-landed at St-Gerard (Namur), 14 km NW of Dinant, without injury to himself or F/S McCoubrey.
Crew (all save): F/S J C Cooke RCAF, Sgt E W McGrath, F/S J A Goff RCAF, F/S A E Mann RCAF (evaded, probably bailed out over the frontline), F/S F I R B Hill RCAF, F/S J H C McCoubrey RCAF, F/S M O Orr RCAF.

And another on 28 oct
Halifax III NA512 L8- of 347 Sqn took off 1342 to bomb Koln. Landed 1755 at Brussels with its engine streaming oil. Believed to have been abandonned to its fate and possibly fell victim to enemy action at Brussels on 1 January 1945.
Crew (all save, all French): Cne A Barrault, Adj H Laronze, Ltn P Vallette, Ltn J Bergeon, Adj P Baffico, Sgc R Monnett, Adj Stepanoboli

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Hi
Sorry for my lack of knowlegde about belgium geography, but where is florennes to brussel.
Can you in the picture se any rundel, cause if it was NA512, it would be a french roundel and fin flash. And maybee a red diamond at the rudder.

Cheers
Nick

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Nick,

Florennes is located about 70 km south of Brussels under Charleroi.


Regards,

Paul

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Hi
Gary do you have a link for those pictures.

Cheers
Nick

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Nick,

I have all three shots of the Halifax crash scanned and saved as JPEGs. I can send them to you. Just give me your email address in a private message and I'll be happy to forward them to you.

Cheers, Gary

P.S. An interesting point is that the writing on the back of one of the photos says "Several French, RAF pilots brought this Halifax in. All except one escaped. The one that didn't tripped over a wire or something near exploding plane. Florennes, Belgium." Unfortunately no date is provided.

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

This comment of "French pilots" seem to point to the 347 Sqn Halifax in my post above.

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

The only Halifax crashed on A-78 was as far as I know the MkIII 14/3/1945 NA-681 347Sqn L8-G FFAF
Adj Chef Vidal F. FFAF(WND)
Adj Portesseau Louis FFAF(KIA)---Lt Guenois FFAF---SousLt Picot FFAF---Sgt Chef Chanson FFAF---Adj. Bruno FFAF---Sgt Pizel FFAF
It crashed on the airfield and destroyed several P-61

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Eureka! Flupke is correct. I searched through the 474th FG histories again and did find the following entry for 14 Mar 45 in the 429th FS history:

"Tonight at 2030 hours, a British Halifax came in to make a desperation landing. It tore through a parked Mosquito and sideswiped an A-26 (Invader) before grinding to a stop. Fire broke out and explosions followed. Our Line Area had to be evacuated (even the A.O. and C.Q. left). The crew aboard the Halifax managed to escape injury but they were unable to recover the body of a dead member left aboard the exploding plane (obviously Portesseau)."

Thanks for the info Flupke.

Cheers, Gary

P.S. Any details on the base it was from or the mission it was on?

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

The mission was against Homberg and the base was Elvington T/O at 17H14
Best regards
Phil

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Hi

It fits in whit the rest of the pieces very neatly. The USAAF uniforms, and the death crewmember.

Cheers
Nick

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Re you inquiry of 26th November 2005

Halifax NP761 Information

Type Halifax

Serial Number NP761

Squadron 408

X1D EQ-A

Operation Gelsenkirchen
Date 1 6th November 1944
Date 2 6th November 1944

Airborne 1213 6Nov44 from Linton-on-Ouse. Cause of loss and crash- site not established. All had reached the halfway stage of their tour of operations. F/O J.C.Kellond RCAF PoW Sgt W.A.Woods RCAF PoW F/O W.A.Gillmeister RCAF PoW F/O K.I.Durk RCAF PoW F/S D.M.Davies RCAF PoW F/S T.G.McLeod RCAF PoW F/S R.C.Robinson RCAF PoW F/S D.M.Davies was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.1236 with F/S T.G.McLeod, PoW No.1203, F/S R.C.Robinson, PoW No.1210 and Sgt W.A.Woods, PoW No.1214 F/O K.I.Durk in Camp L3, PoW No.8808, with F/O W.A.Gillmeister, PoW No.8810 and F/O J.C.Kellond, PoW

Kind regards

Ross

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Hi,
The Night raid report no.762 (Bomber Command Report on night operations 6/7th.November , 1944 – AIR 14/3412) mentions “One Lancaster from Koblenz crash-landed in Florennes after its engines had failed; and another undershot on return from Gravenhorst, and was destroyed.”. The same report also mentions Lancaster I 1 a/c Cat.E in Florennes – engine failure.

The only possible aircraft is HK621 which is mentioned in the ORB of 622 Squadron (AIR 27/2138) as : Notice has been received that this aircraft force landed in France. Crew are safe and have returned to United Kingdom.

However no crashlocation of this aircraft was found in France (see https://francecrashes39-45.net/page_...av.php?id=1511).

The files available on the NAA (Australia) website for the 3 Australian crewmembers don’t mention any information regarding this crash.

An USAAF report (Daily Diary for 6 Nov.1944, 429 FS, 474 FG, AFHRA Reel B0625 p.124) supplied the following info :
Maj.Hedlund and Lt.Johnston took off at 1803 and by the time they had climbed to 8,000 feet, it was pitch black and flying formation was hard (edited by myself) . It is still a question as to who got lost from who but Lt.Johnston’s load got heavy somewhere between Euskirchen and Gelsdorf and he dropped his bombs on lights somewhere in that area. No explosion nor fire was seen. Major Hedlund flying alone, set course for home.
In the meanwhile over this field, “Limey” crew members of a Lancaster were parachuting down all over the place. On an RAF night mission against Cologne, flak had knocked out two of their engines. The crew had thrown out their guns, ammunition, and even pocket change overboard to lighten the load but their old boat just couldn’t make the grade. So they bailed out and the pilot took his chances in going down with his ship. He circled our field once and shot all the flares he had left at the control tower operator. Then he threw his very pistol at him and came in and belly landed. In doing so, the huge plane tore up 50 feet of runway lights and before grinding to a stop, doing so, half on and half off the runway. The pilot fortunately unhurt. There was no time to clear the wrecked Lancaster from the field before Maj. Hedlund and Johnston returned and with the lightning system knocked out, they were instruction to land at A-92,St.Trond.

Best regards


Luc

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

Merci, Luc! I agree with you that the unlucky Lanc was likely HK621 of 622 Squadron. I will research further to see what else I can find and confirm. At least I have a couple clues to go on.
Cheers, Gary Koch

Re: RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44
 

All details about this Halifax crashed at A-78 are covered in the forecoming book written by local researcher Roland CHARLIER (also author of "Raum 7") dealing about "Florennes-Jusaine A-78 airfield '44-'45" history.
Stay tuned, it is coming !

ClinA-78