Spitfire NH380
 

Hello all,

I'm looking for some missing information about Spitfire NH380 which crashed on 20th January 1945 at 11:30 at the rural estate "Ehrenthal" near Nijkerk in Holland.
The aircraft belonged to 411 (Grizzly Bear) sqn RCAF and was on an armed recce mission to Osnabrück.
I have read that the NH380 came from an airfield in Germany... Fassberg, but I am not sure about this. Does anyone know if this is correct?
I also do not know the takeoff time...
The pilot was F/O Carl A. Ellement and that's the only thing I know about him. Unknown is his service no., his age, where he came from (town/birth etc.) and what happened to him (KIA/MIA/POW/EVD)...
I anyone has some more information, then please let me know...

Jan

Re: Spitfire NH380
 

Fassberg was not in Allied hands as early as 20th Jan 1945 as the Allies were still mopping up after the Battle of the Bulge and this was before the Rhine crossing in March 1945

In Jan 1945 411 Sqn RCAF was based at airstrip B.88 at Heesch flying the Spitfire Mk IX.

The pilot was safe when he crashed on 20th Jan 1945 and luckily survived being shot down on 21st April 1945 with 411 Sqn RCAF while flying Spitfire Mk IX PL283. He evaded and returned on 3rd May 1945, so I can only assume he survived the war, as 411 lost only 3 more aircraft till VE-Day none flown by him.

Re: Spitfire NH380
 

Jan,
Don't know where he came from but one of our Canadian friends may be of any help to you. His servicenumber was J/36347 and he evaded capture.
Regards,
Henk.

Re: Spitfire NH380
 

Hello Larry and Henk,

Thanks very much for the information... I will add the aircraft this evening to my internet database. Please have a look at my (perhaps already known to you) "Allied Aircraft Crashes in The Netherlands" website.

Jan

Re: Spitfire NH380
 

Jan,

From the squadron ORB.

540 - For a brief period the weather opened up and an armed recce was attempted. 10/10 cloud made it abortive. F/O C.A. Ellement failed to return from the mission. He was last seen south of Zutphen. It was his first operational sortie.

541 - Armed recce into the EMMERICK/MUNSTER/OSNABRUCK/LINGEN area. Abortive due to 10/10 cloud and generally bad weather. F/O C.A. Ellement did not return. There were five early returns: 1 engine trouble, 2 windscreens oiled up, 1 hood trouble, one acting as escort.

The overall times list up and down are: 0950 - 1140.

Hope this helps.

Stephen