Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Dear All,
I'm looking for information regarding 2 crashed that seems to have occured in Franière (entity of Floreffe) - Belgium. Some witnesses told me the following :

- end of march 1944, a Lancaster bomber crashed in Franière. I've not been able to find any record of it.

- 22/02/1944 an aircraft (probably a Liberator) crashed in the wood near the Calvaire of Franière. Some pieces of it were recovered by locals to make i.e a lettre box! Again, it was impossible for me to locate any record of it.

Many thanks for your help,

kind regards

Hervé

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Hello Hervé ,

I have this , the only B-24 crash in february 1944 in Belgium accrding my files
20/02/1944 Ressaix derrier la gare
B-24J Lt Lange Friederich. 6./JG 26 15H05 Halberstedt
42-64166 44BG/66BS
Big Fat Butterfly
Shipdam
1st Lt Decker Donald R ( KIA ) piloot 0-204424 Queens County NY 2nd Lt Jorgenssen Roy G ( KIA ) co-piloot 0-679073 Dawson County NE - 2nd Lt Liddell James M navigator 0-807917 ( KIA ) Bankhead Alalbama - 2nd Lt Gatens Frederick B bombardier 0-672946 ( KIA ) Brooklyn New-York - T/Sgt Elkin Alton M ( KIA ) engineer 38132105 Wilbarger County Texas - T/Sgt Nowak Andrew B radio 35326545 ( KIA ) - S/Sgt Crocker John L Jr gnr 34430758 ( KIA ) - S/Sgt Albine Robert L rwgnr 13087450 ( KIA ) Fayette County Pensylvania - S/Sgt Balca Michael L lwgnr ( KIA ) 15070162 Summit County - S/Sgt Bethke Elmer J ttgnr ( KIA ) 16077154 Grant County Wisconsin


At the end off mazrch i have a Lancaster lost at Monin postal code 56+356 , Creppe lez Spa 4900 and Rachecourt 6792

Regards
Alain57

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Alain,

Ressaix is not Franière ! And Lancaster of Monin is in Monin...

ClinA-78

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Bonjour Hervé,


Are we certain of the dates ?


On 2 March 1945 Halifax III NP965 of 640 Squadron crashed near Floreffe, killing the entire crew.


Best regards


Luc

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

The B-24 at Franière crashed after the Liberation.

ClinA-78

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Hi Hervé and ClinA-78,


It could be 42-51258 Beverly Jean - see


https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/13...verly-Jean.htm


Best regards


Luc

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Dear all,
Thanks for the interest. Sorry for late reply, but had some personal problems... now sorted out.
Thanks for the link, seems to be the the B-24....
I'm not sure for the dates, this comes from oral transmission and remembrance from old people, so might be the 2 aircrafts mentioned in the above posts.
Thank you so much for your help.
Hervé

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Hi Luc, thanks for this.
Do you have the names of the crew?
Because it seems to be the aircraft crashed in Floriffoux, pilot Lt. Robinson. 7 crews killed. There is now a memorial there.
Cheers
Hervé

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

Hi Hervé,

The crew of NP965 was

Fielder Charles Kenneth RAF(VR) F/Sgt.(Air Gnr.) 2206034 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
Robinson Kenneth RAF(VR) F/Sgt.(Pilot) DFM 117514 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
Tiley Donald Henry George RAF(VR) F/Sgt.(Flt.Engr.) 1853257 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
Turner James Henry William RAF(VR) F/Sgt.(Air Gnr.) 1813257 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
O’Neill Benjamin Francis RAAF F/O. 425048 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
Watkin Frank Edwin RAAF F/O.(navigator) 418895 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee
Wolfson Harold Harry RAAF F/O.(W.Op.) 424253 + Grave : Neuville-en-Condroz > Heverlee

Best regards and stay safe !

Luc

Re: Allied aircrafts lost in Franière (Floreffe) Belgium
 

A little more on the RAF Halifax.

http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/crash-nam-flor.php

The Crew (all killed):

http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/crew-nam-flor.php