Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

hello,

I searching all informations about this plane, Halifax HR907, crashed down on 27.09.1943.

grüße
uwe

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

27-28 September 1943

35 Squadron
Halifax II HR907 TL-P
Op: Hannover

Crew
P/O. N J. Matich DFN RNZAF evaded.
Sgt. R A. MacI Mather pow.
F/L. C A. Hewlett pow.
P/O. R W. Tully RCAF pow.
P/O. F R. Dolling DFM pow.
P/O. A T. Tuck DFC RAAF +
F/S. A V. Forsyth DFM +

Took off 1939 hrs Graveley. Shot down from 17,000 feet by a night-fighter, crashing onto a house and exploding. Both air gunners are buried in the War Cemetery at Hannover. The three DFM holders had their awards Gazetted on 10 September 1943, 15 October 1943 and 10 April 1945 respectively. As a crew their combined sortie total stood at 307 operations. Although by no ways unique, it was unusual to have three Commonwealth air forces represented in a single crew.

Bomber Command Losses Vol.4. W R. Chorley.

Regards
Peter.

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

thx peter.

here some special questions:

1. crew list like this ? :

1st.....Pilot.
2nd....Flight Engineer.
3rd.....Navigator.
4th.....Air Bomber.
5th.....Wireless Operator.
6th.....Air Gunner.
7th.....Air Gunner.

2. halifax II

means Mk II or perhaps B. II series ?

3. crewmembers

P/O. N J. Matich DFN RNZAF ? evaded.
P/O. R W. Tully RCAF pow (Royal Canadian Air Force ?)
P/O. F R. Dolling DFM ? pow.
P/O. A T. Tuck DFC ? RAAF +

gruß
uwe

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

Flying Officer Nicholas Joseph MATICH (N.Z.414658) later went on to be awarded the DSO in 1944 (with 35 Squadron again).

Matich's evasion can be read in the NZ Official history:

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c4.html

Francis Robert DOLLING (155855).
Ralph Wilbert TULLY (Can/J.18180)
Sgt. R A. MacI Mather (947323)
Cyril Arthur HEWLETT (126470) (DFC Gazetted 7 September 1943)

Name: TUCK, ALBERT THOMAS
Initials: A T
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 27
Date of Death: 28/09/1943
Service No: 411060
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Son of Harry Thomas Tuck and Grace Burns Tuck, of Coogee, New South Wales, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Joint grave 16. A. 16-17.
Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

Name: FORSYTH, ALBERT VICTOR
Initials: A V
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 35 Sqdn.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 28/09/1943
Service No: 1382045
Awards: D F M
Additional information: Son of Robert and Rose Forsyth; husband of Kathleen Elsie Forsyth, of East Ham, Essex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Joint grave 16. A. 16-17.
Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

thx amrit1.

in the story about matich I found this:

Flying Officer N. J. Matich, who captained a Halifax of No. 35 Pathfinder Squadron during 1943, also owed his escape to assistance received from various underground organisations on the Continent. It was during one of the raids against Hanover that Matich's Halifax was shot down. All the crew baled out safely but the Australian mid-upper gunner, who had been severely injured in the fighter attack, later died of wounds and exposure. The others were taken prisoner, and only Matich got clear.

what about F/S Forsyth, he also died ?

gruß
uwe

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

Hello Uwe,

Since F/S. A V. Forsyth is buried at Hanover War Cemetery one might assume he lost his life in this crash.

Regards,

Bart

Re: Halifax, HR907, 27.09.1943
 

This is an old post, but for any people interested, the webpage below gives the crashplace and crash hour for Halifax HR907:

http://www.spurensuche-owl.de/englis...7.09.1943.html

Same website had also crashsite for Halifax HX159 lost same night:

http://www.spurensuche-owl.de/englis...943/index.html

Chorley 1943 book is lacking both these crashsites.

Best regards