Missing

[JamesM]

Hi all,

Since my last visit I have been doing research on my great uncle, P/O D.J. Marks, DFM, who was lost with his crew on 29/30.7.43 on a mission to the Germany city of Hamburg.

I've been looking at Helmut Lent's operational record, and another forum I am on has provided three possibilties for Helmut Lent's kill on July 30, 1943 over the North Sea. One of them is ED862.

If it wasn't shot down by Lent, what could have happened? Engine trouble or something else?

Thanks,

~ James

[Alex Smart]

Hello James,

Chorley's BCL vol 4 has the other loss from 97 Sqdn that night, EE172 "OF-O" as being Shot Down by a Night Fighter. But for ED862 "OF-P" has "Lost without trace".

There must be a reason that he (Chorley) made the distinction between the two reports.

Good hunting
Alex

[JamesM]

EE172 was flown by Pilot Officer Derek Shiner, RCAF and his crew.

[Rob Philips]

Hi James,

I have ED 862 on file as shot down by IV./NJG1, Major Helmut Lent. The aircraft crashed in the North Sea, about 25 km North of the Isle of Ameland at 02.10h. All seven crew MIA. Bodies from this aircraft may have washed ashore on the German Eastfrisian Isles or in Denmark, but were not identified as such.

Regards,

Rob