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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

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Old 28th April 2009, 12:53
Alain57 Alain57 is offline
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Halifax LW-142

On 08/02/1945 Halifax MKIII LW-142 from N° 102Sqn code DY-N fromRAF Pocklington came down near Hamme-Mille in Belgium during a mission to Goch.The entire seems to have died in the British 101 Field Hospital in Heverlee Belgium. Does this means that the aircraft crashlanded ?

F/O Smallwoods Ronald W pilot 170228 (KIA)
Sgt Gallagher John engineer 1592676 (KIA) 39 jaar
F/O Russell Wilfred W navigator 162051 (KIA) 24 jaar
F/O James Bernard R bombaimer 154377 (KIA) 22 jaar
Sgt Hewitt Peter D w/op 1864292 (KIA) 20 jaar
Sgt Lennon James M gunner 1826768 (KIA) 20 jaar
Sgt Scott Walter B gunner 1050587 (KIA) 24 jaar
Heverlee war cemetery – Died in the 101 Field Hospital at Heverlee
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Old 11th June 2009, 00:18
Icare9 Icare9 is offline
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Re: Halifax LW-142

Apologies for late response but I'm a recent addition to members here and have only now found your question.
It would seem likely that they did crash land, as all 7 becoming fatalities from baling out would be unusual.
The CWGC site has this information:
The original burial ground at Heverlee was on the opposite side of the lane. It was used after the liberation for burials from the 101st British General Hospital, which was then housed in Heverlee Girl's School close by. In July 1946, the present cemetery was started and was used for burials brought in from a wide area round about.
It seems as if the crash landing caused severe injuries to all the crew, sufficient that they either died at the scene or shortly thereafter. The reference to dying at the hospital might simply mean that they were confirmed as dead there, not getting there alive and subsequently all dying.
The "Lost Bombers" website gives the following information (which you probably already have):
Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Hamme Mille (Brabant) some 12 km SSE from the centre of Leuven and on the main road leading to Namur. All are buried in the Heverlee War Cemetery. Sgt Gallagher at 39 years old was well above the average age of operational aircrew. F/O R.W.Smallwoods KIA Sgt J.Gallagher KIA F/O W.W.Russell KIA F/O B.R.James KIA Sgt P.D.Hewitt KIA Sgt J.M.Lennon KIA Sgt W.B.Scott KIA
The fact that none of the crew appear to have baled out indicates some catastrophic cause, direct hit from flak etc rather than a fighter.
I hope this information helps.
I would also like to express my thanks to all our continental friends who care equally as much about our crew losses and take such an active interest.
Thank you all.
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