Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

On 26 Sep 1946 Halifax G-AHZN of London Aero Motor Services (LAMS) ditched just off the beach at Knokke, Belgium.
It was carrying grapes from Italy to England, but ran into navigational problems and fuel shortage. One passenger from Norway was killed, crew was safe.

My two questions:

Halifax was ex-RAF PP244 and had served in RAF Transport Command.
Was the a/c an original transport or did it also fly in Bomber Command as bomber before being changed into a freight plane?

Pilot was Squadron Leader G(eorge?) Coleman in the 1946 accident.
Is he the same Coleman who disappeared in Proctor G-AHWP off Margate on 6 Jan 1948?

Thanks for info.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Hi Leendert,


Have a look at


http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.co...ile/index.html


On this excellent website the form AM78 for this aircraft can be found.


Best regards - Met vriendelijke groeten


Luc

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Leendert,

The pilot of the Proctor was Squadron Leader George Byrne Stanislaus Coleman.

His name appears on this headstone (which also has his brother, Maurice).

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-byrne_coleman

Quite a bit about him here, starting on pdf page 27, but does not mention specifically the Halifax ditching. It does say he survived three ditchings and the Proctor ditching was the fourth. It appears there were (at least) two ditchings during the war, which might suggest the post-war Halifax incident was the third, but it never actually says that.

https://www.beaumont-union.co.uk/pdfs/SPRING%2017.pdf

This link mentions a ditching in 1943: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../1635/data.pdf

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Luc, thanks for pointing me to that website. It appears that this Halifax was only accepted in April 1945. No Bomber Command.

Rolland: yes, I had come across this S/L Coleman when looking into the Halifax accident and arrived at the missing Proctor. Indeed no conclusive link yet if S/L Coleman in both is the same person...

Groet & regards,

Leendert

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Hello,

Re: Ditching of F/Lt G. B. S. Coleman in 1943:

Sunday, 17 January, 1943.

British Casualties.

272 Squadron - Beaufighter VIf T5112 'H' - engine failure on patrol, ditched at 1110 - F/Lt G. B. S. Coleman and Sgt L. Lyne Hale rescued.

See:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940 - 1945 - Vol.3
Shores,Christopher et al.
London:Grub Street,2016.
pp.258-9

Col.

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Just to add that I found a local article about this accident. Pilot's name is given as Georges Coleman, flight engineer John Tuman, and radio J. Fitzpatrick.
Passenger was Christian Frederik Thus from Norway. Text says he was crushed by the cargo.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Halifax G-AHZN (ex-RAF PP244)- ditched 26 Sep 1946
 

Hello,

Geni site gives the passenger's name as; Christian Fredrik Thiis - The New York Times, 27/9/1946, p.8, states he was an agent for the Argonaut Trading Company of China.

https://www.geni.com/people/Christia...00013921594035

Col.