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-   -   Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942? (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=49819)

Roundway 27th November 2017 19:23

Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
At 0215 GMT on 11 December 1942 a Harrow aircraft of 271 Squadron took off from Portreath en route to Gibraltar. Nothing more was heard from the aircraft, but during the following weeks two bodies washed ashore near Brest, and two more on the Cherbourg Peninsula.

Is there a record of any Luftwaffe activity during the early hours of 11 December which might have accounted for the Harrow's disappearance?

Brian

dahiot daniel 27th November 2017 19:56

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Hello,
On 12 December, the Mustang Mk. Ia AG643, was shot down by 2 Me 109 and disappeared at sea to Batz Island.
By cons I do not have the serial of this Harrow and names of airmen.

Roundway 28th November 2017 01:12

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Thank you, Dan,

The Harrow was K7011, and carrying four crew plus 7 passengers:

Crew
S/Ldr (70089) Godfrey Allison Brown (33) RAFVR - Missing
F/Lt (72991) Edward Thomson Halley RAFVR - Missing
P/O (132123) Peter Marsh Burton (20) RAFVR -
(Plouhinec Communal Cemetery)
F/O 115669 Edwin Buckley Bowen (27) RAFVR
(Buried Le Rozel Churchyard, Manche)

Passengers
P/O 132361 William Milton Henderson (24) RAFVR
( Cherbourg Old Cemetery, Manche, Normandy)
Lt Andrew Jervis Hawkins (21) RN HMS Formidable
(Lanildut Churchyard)

F/O 118987 John Glen McCauley (30) RAFVR (NZ) - Missing
Flt/Sgt 926796 Richard George Brett RAFVR - Missing
Flt/Sgt 643049 John Brister (21) RAF - Missing
LAC 936370 Philip Cashmore (22) RAFVR - Missing
Major 136336 Harold John Palmer (48) 140 'Z' Battery, Royal Artillery - Missing.

Brian

Col Bruggy 28th November 2017 03:20

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Roundway (Post 243343)
Thank you, Dan,

The Harrow was K7011, and carrying four crew plus 7 passengers:

Crew
S/Ldr (70089) Godfrey Allison Brown (33) RAFVR - Missing
F/Lt (72991) Edward Thomson Halley RAFVR - Missing
P/O (132123) Peter Marsh Burton (20) RAFVR -
(Plouhinec Communal Cemetery)
F/O 115669 Edwin Buckley Bowen (27) RAFVR
(Buried Le Rozel Churchyard, Manche)

Passengers
F/O 132361 William Milton Henderson (24) RAFVR
( Cherbourg Old Cemetery, Manche, Normandy)
Lt Andrew Jervis Hawkins (21) RN HMS Formidable
(Lanildut Churchyard)

F/O 118987 John Glen McCauley (30) RAFVR (NZ) - Missing
Flt/Sgt 926796 Richard George Brett RAFVR - Missing
Flt/Sgt 643049 John Brister (21) RAF - Missing
LAC 936370 Philip Cashmore (22) RAFVR - Missing
Major 136336 Harold John Palmer (48) 140 'Z' Battery, Royal Artillery - Missing.

Brian

Hello,

I have some doubts about 936370 LAC Philip CASHMORE RAFVR being aboard No.271 Sqn Harrow K7011. I think it is more likely he was aboard the S.S. "Strathallan" which was torpedoed by U-562 on 21 December,1942.

Possibly, the CWGC has mistakenly entered "271 Squadron RAF", in lieu of, "No.2771 Sqn RAF Regiment.

Needs more research.

Col.

Roundway 28th November 2017 14:11

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Thanks, Col, I simply copied out the list that has appeared several times in the past. The 271 ORB did not record the crew/passenger manifest, simply that the aircraft was missing. Although I knew it would be a long shot, it's the cause of the missing I was after, and wanted to rule out enemy action - which we seem to have done.

Brian

Chris Goss 28th November 2017 15:52

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
I would have thought that any route would have been to take them as far away from German aircraft as possible. Luftflotte 3 reports are very detailed that day with quite a bit of activity but absolutely no mention of anything like a Harrow

Roundway 28th November 2017 16:32

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Yes, I agree Chris. I was just double-checking to make sure before writing a biography of one of the passengers. From the locations where bodies drifted ashore I guesstimated the loss probably occurred about an hour into the flight in the region of 49N 08W . I appreciate the dangers of attempting to work back from a body's landfall, but with two on the Brest peninsula, and two on the northern part of the Cherbourg peninsula, I felt that was a reasonable start point.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the loss occurred during the very early part of the flight rather later.

Brian

Chris Goss 28th November 2017 16:49

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
I wonder if the radio transcripts exist? Weather and loads of fuel on an old airframe......

dahiot daniel 28th November 2017 19:11

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Hello,
We just have this testimony. The leg and body of Hawkins were discovered on the beach of Port Blanc February 1, 1943 in Lanildut, Prigent Gourguen, farmer. (Lanildut death register). In prefect of Brest, Lanildut, February 1, 1942: I have the honor to make you known that we found at the coast of Lanildut the body very decomposed, having stayed at least a month at sea, a lieutenant English or American aviator. I warned the occupying authorities and made preparations for his burial, but the occupation troops prevented me, saying that they would take care of them themselves.

Rainer 28th November 2017 19:48

Re: Luftwaffe activity west of Brest 19 December 1942?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Col Bruggy (Post 243348)
Hello,

I have some doubts about 936370 LAC Philip CASHMORE RAFVR being aboard No.271 Sqn Harrow K7011. I think it is more likely he was aboard the S.S. "Strathallan" which was torpedoed by U-562 on 21 December,1942.

Possibly, the CWGC has mistakenly entered "271 Squadron RAF", in lieu of, "No.2771 Sqn RAF Regiment.

Needs more research.

Col.

It is unlikely that he was lost aboard STRATHALLAN as his name is not on the list about personnel reported dead or missing that was compiled by the CO of Troops after the sinking. 16 people were lost, including 5 RAF personnel and their names can be found here: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship2528.html


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