420 Sqn Halifax LW674
 

Hello All,

Can anyone help with the title of a book written by Norman Binnie or B E Brakes about surviving the crash of LW674 PT-E and their time evading capture from the Germans.
I know Binnie was helped by either a french family or the local Resistance and ended up hiding in the FRÉTEVAL FORREST camp until his return to England later in the year
I know nothing of Brakes or how he made his escape back home?

In addition has any kind sould have a copy of the ORB for 122 Sqn (Mustang III - RAF Andrewsfield) for Dec 1944 to July 1945 that they could let me have?
If anyone can help in any way that would be great!

Best Regards - Keith.

Re: 420 Sqn Halifax LW674
 

Hello Keith

Nothing showed up for s/h books written by Binnie or Brakes. If you are sure one of them wrote a book, then try the RAF Museum, Hendon, apparently they have a substantial Library, also try the Imperial War Museum and a British Library search.

However, two books show up for 420 Squadron and are available second-hand online, for sale in Canada:-

"One of the Many" by Russell McKay, published in 1989. [covers only 7 months apparently]
The author, who flew with 420 Squadron in the RCAF's 6 Group, completed 38 operational flights in a seven-month period, in the Battle of Berlin through to D-Day. After several more months of bomb runs he became a flight instructor. His book is compiled from two reminders of his war service which were both forbidden and against military regs and rules - his camera and diary.
Online book description.

and

Bomber Aimer The World War II Memories of Flying Officer Tom Kernaghan
by Tom Kernaghan, 1994 [only 49 pages]
This is the personal account told by the author of his years as a Bomber Aimer during these years. 49 pages.
Online book description.

Note: I have not read the above books, so they may not even cover the date, or the crash.

I presume this is the crew (unchecked) from an online source?
Lucas Holoway, RCAF
John Douglas Lancaster, RCAF
Robert Murray Irwin, RCAF
William Joseph Chudzik, RCAF
Harry Waller, RAF
Frank Grant Harrop, RCAF

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collec...Detail/2321203

Plus, Binnie and Brakes who got out.

I don't know anything about the crew, or Binnie and Brakes, but perhaps, you also need to make some enquiries in Canada and with the Canadian Veterans Archives, as the crew were virtually all Canadian.

Regards Mark