Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

My research on RAF losses lead me across the following case:
Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 of 60. Sqn RAF piloted by Lt. Daniel Hector SHELDON - 206489V of SAAF was on a reconnaissance mission to the former Czechoslovakia and crashed on it's way to or from the target area over austrian territory. The navigator on this mission was F/O. Peter Arthur Kynaston SNELL - 15295, also of SAAF. Both men were 21 years old when they died. Today they rest at Klagenfurt war cemetery, Austria.

I would also like to learn more about this mission and the crash of that Mosquito. Thanks to anybody who is willing to share data about it.

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

Hi
Sorry, just a small correction:
F / O (152.975) Peter Arthur Kynaston SNELL - RAFVR navigator
Regards
Paul

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

Paul, thanks for your response! Interesting data - I've just checked my resouces and found out that I made a failure about his origin. You are right, F/O. SNELL was with RAFVR and not SAAF. The list provided at the bristish war cemetary at Klagenfurt, Austria gives his service number with: 15295. Think the failure is made there and you are right. - Kurtl

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

Hi Kurtl,

I have the Interrogation Report for this sortie. It doesn't give much info but does list targets for the sortie. It exceeds the file limit for attachments (I've pasted the image into a word file) but if you would like a copy send me an e-mail (via my profile).

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

Interrogation report for sortie 60/787 of 13/10/1944 for Mosquito NS656 shows the following targets:
P/C/a/3398.
Nem.Brod.A/D.
Chrudim A/D.
Scutec. A/D.
P/C/a/3390.
P/C/a/3397.
Leignitz a7d:
Leignitz/Schanfeld A/D.
Aslau. A/D.
I'm aware of most aerodromes in that list (except Nem.Brod and Leignitz/Schanfeld A/D). Who can give further details about the navigational waypoints P/C/a/3398. etc.? It certainly is part of navigation system similar than that used by the german Luftwaffe. I am not familiar with this. Thanks!

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

Hi Kurtl, if you would check the report attached (right at the bottom)


https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...gid=null&pid=2


you will see the full number, looks like there is a typo in CWGC DB.


As for aerodromes - Chrudim + Nemecky Brod were both on territory of former Czechoslovakia (Böhmen und Mähren during WWII), now Czech Republic. Nemecky Brod has been re-named to Havlickuv Brod in 1945.


HTH


Pavel

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

According to the following PDF listing Allied losses (well Western Allied, Soviet are not included) over Austria, this Mosquito crashed at Sommeralm, Steiermark.
http://www.bundesheer.at/download_ar..._in_action.pdf.

The unit is listed as 680 Sqn, 205 Group RAF.

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

60 Squadron was in the Far East, so believe this should be 680 Squadron which were equipped with the Mosquito Mk XVI at the time.
Have contacted CWGC for this to be corrected also Snell 6 digit Service Number 152975.

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

It is 60 Sqn SAAF which operated PR Mossies from Italy.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Loss of Mosquito PR Mk. XVI NS656 on October 13th, 1944
 

In the German loss records (Luftgau reports, Bruchunterlagen vom 13.10.1944) the crash of this Mossie was registered under the casualty no./Abschussnummer ME 2333. Crash time 1008 hrs, crash place Siebenkögerl, 8,5 km north of Passail, Steiermark.

Regards
Leo