[Allan125]

Hi David
Both squadrons were part of 125 Wing, and the following is the Wing ORB entry for 2/3/45
To-day for the first time since we arrived at this resort we were able to take the air as planned in the early morning. Both squadrons were airborne at 0719 hours, the Wing Commander leading 130 Sqdn on a sweep and were warned when in the Enschede area that Huns were in the Rheine area. This is what all the pilots had been hoping for so off they went and the Wing Commander caught a glimpse of a nice gaggle of mixed 190’s and 109’s about 1,000 feet below and then the fun started. The W/Cdr dived down with 130 Sqdn and quickly got on the tail of a Hun and in a very few minutes the latter had decided he had had it and out he came complete with parachute. The Wing emerged with 5 destroyed, 3 probables and 3 damaged plus 1 destroyed claimed over the R/T by F/Lt Earp. This was not achieved without loss as F/O Heale and F/Lt Earp both of 130 Sqdn did not return. F/O Heale was seen diving with a Hun on his tail and those who saw him last were not happy about his chances of having got away with it. George Earp had trouble with his engine, probably as a result of the scrap and nursed it back some way but could not make it and is presumed to have crash landed somewhere in enemy territory. Before doing so he sent his claim to the Squadron and claimed a 190 destroyed. F/Lt Samouelle believes he probably destroyed the Hun who shot down F/O Heale. He saw Heale turning inside the Hun but the former suddenly straightened up and the e/a got in a quick burst. Sammy was by that time able to get in a burst at the Hun which followed Heale’s aircraft down in a vertical dive, both a/c streaming glycol and smoke. He got some strikes on another FW 190 but was not able to finish off the bird. After this hectic beginning to the day the pilots had a relatively boring job giving area cover to Mediums on Kevelaer and Geldern. This was uneventful, the bombing was not seen due to cloud. Later in the day 6 aircraft gave cover over base to the V.I.P. and needless to say it was uneventful.
Totals: 130 Sqdn – Sorties 10; e/a destroyed 3; probables 3; damaged 2 ***
350 Sqdn – Sorties 18; e/a destroyed 3; probables -; damaged 1.
*** 130 Sqdn score includes 1 destroyed by Wing Commander Keefer
I also hold copies of the 41, 350 (Belgian) and 130 (Punjab) Squadron ORB’s and the events of the day have been written up by Peter Kassak “An Ordinary Day in 1945” ISBN 83-89450-22-4 published in Poland in 2005 by Stratus for Mushroom Model Publications.
Hucks216 missed off W/C George Keefer from his list of names – he is listed as the second entry, under F/L Danny Reid of 41 squadron, in the claim total on Page 441 of 2TAF vol 3, flying Spitfire XIV RM808 GCK.
41 squadron was nominally still part of 125 Wing but had been attached to 122 Wing for approximately 6 weeks from the end of January 1945 - returning in March.
See http://www.350sqn.be/index.html for more info on 350 (Belgian) Squadron and http://brew.clients.ch/RAF41Sqdn.htm for 41 Squadron. I do not believe that 130 (Punjab) Squadron has a website dedicated to it.
Hope this helps?
Allan