4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

Dear all,

Is there any Flak claim recorded by the 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613, gemischte Flak-Abteilung 613 (o) in JULY 1942, on the Büsum area?

I have a picture of a Sergeant named J. Harpey (or Haney or Hemey - can not see the image completely) killed and buried onto the Büsum Friedhof in July 192, that I am trying to identify.

CGWC do give me a Sergeant James Haney (RAFVR 1280935), an Observer of Nº 104 Squadron killed on the 19th August 1941. But could he had been buried almost one year later at Büsum ??? It seems strange...

Any clues about the other crewmembers of this 104 Squadron machine shot down on the night of 19th August 1941 ?

Adriano

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

Hello Adriano,

Here's a claim that I found (entry in the NCA series July 1942), hope of use:

- 5./NJG3 - - 02.37 214 Sqn Stirling W7560. Note: according to entries in the XI. Luftgau KTB, the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Westerdeichstrich, 3 km NNE of Büsum at 02.30 hrs. It was also claimed by Luftwaffe Flak of 3. & 4./schw. Res. Flak Abt. 613 (o) and 3./Res. Flak Abt. 247 (‘unknown type of aircraft near Westerdeichstrich (Büsum) 02.30 hrs’) and Marine Flak of 1.-3. & 5./M. Flak Abt. 254 (‘4motorig near Büsum in mud flats 01.50 hrs’) and (‘4motorig Westerdechstrich (Büsum) 01.57 hrs’). Luftwaffe Flak claims confirmed by OKL on 19.9.1944, victory 5./NJG3 confirmed on 20.1.1944

Cheers, Theo

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

W7560 was lost night of 26-27 Jul 42, all crew POW and nobody with the name like Harpey or whatever

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

Thanks Chris and Theo,

This is the caption from the seller:
Aus der Nachlass einer Unteroffizier der Luftwaffe.
Er diente ab 1940 bis Ende des Krieges in der 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613,
später gemischte Flak-Abteilung 613 (o), meistens im Gegend Hamburg und Büsum.

And:
Flak Soldaten bei Beerdigung einer englischen Pilot im Friedhof in Büsum, Juli 1942

And here is the Picture:


OBS: I have not managed to identify the Sergeant's Family NAME. There is another grave on the right side, but no clues if related to the same crew or not...

OBS #2: My poor eyes identified the name as HANEY (possibly)...therefore this could be the airman from Nº 104 Squadron, killed in August 1941? Am still trying to match this one....but have no time now...

Would someone have the full crew names for this 19th August 1941 loss of Nº 104 Squadron?

Adriano

Adriano

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

In Bomber Command Losses volume 2 Chorley gives the crew for the No. 104 Squadron loss on 19/20 August 1941 as:

F/L W.W. Burton
Sgt. K.M. Moorhead RAAF
Sgt. J. Haney
Sgt. H.E. Johnson
Sgt. D.C. Marshall RCAF
P/O J.O. Rogers RCAF

Chorley also says that "the body of Sgt. Haney washed ashore on 19 September at Norderplep and was laid to rest at Büsum. Since 1945, he has been taken to Kiel War Cemetery."

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

STEVE R.,

Do have no words to express my gratitude. You matched all the crew. Any clues onto Chorley's work about the serial or codes of the machine? Or reasons for the dismiss (time)?

THANK YOU so much! My poor eyes have not mislead me into Harpey or another Family Name....

Adriano

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

Glad to be of help!

Chorley gives the serial as W5416. Squadron code given only as EP-

The rest of what he says about this loss is: "T/o 2240 Driffield. Last heard on w/t at 0318 trying to raise Bircham Newton. Presumed lost over the North Sea."

I'll try to see if I can dig up anything from the ORB for you later tonight but must take care of a "Honey-do" list first.

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

STEVE,

Thank you again for the additional info. I dig up the ORB and obtained what I was looking for. Hull got their message but they then vanished...Confirm last time at 03:18hs, probably over the Channel or just after crossing the European coast.
I found W5416 as a Mark II Type 271 Vickers Wellington.

AGAIN, a humble Thank you!

Adriano

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

You're quite welcome!

Anytime I may be of assistance...

Re: 4. Batterie der Reserve-Flak-Abteilung 613 - RAF claim - JULY 1942
 

The correct crew for No.104 Sqn Wellington II W5416:EP-A, is as follows:

61045 F/L (Capt./Pilot) William Westbrooke BURTON BA (Oxon), RAFVR +
AUS404274 Sgt (2nd Pilot) Keith Moore WOODHEAD* RAAF +
1280935 Sgt (Obs.) James HANEY RAFVR ** +
942099 Sgt (1st W.Op.) Harry Ellse JOHNSON RAFVR +
R/57837 F/Sgt (2nd W.Op.) Douglas Crosbie MARSHALL RCAF +
J/15013 P/O (Air Gnr.) Jack Goode ROGERS RCAF +

* A little more on Woodhead (not Moorhead):
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172634850

** Some bio details on Haney (& family): http://home.btconnect.com/seftonrufc/FJHaneyMCDFC.htm

Col.