RAMROD 753 to MALINES on 19 April 1944

[Marcellus]

Hi,
I am trying to reconstruct the live of Arnost MRTVY, a Czech pilot from 313 RAF Squadron who died in Belgium on 19.04.1944.
On that day, he was escorting B-26 bombers during a mission on the Malines Marshalling area which has been executed by bombers of 322 BG(M), 387 BG (M) and 394 BG (M) which is being refered to as RAMROD 753. I do not know if RAMROD 753 refers to Malines only, because B26.com reveals that at that same day Hasselt and Namur were targeted as well.
So far, the only reference on Ramrod 753 tells me that 7 Spitfires from 302 Polish Sqn flew to Bradwell Bay. Whether that was to link up with a Sqn or to reinforce a Sqn there or to put the escort package together, I do not know. Furthermore, Budil, another Czech pilot from 312 Sqn, was taken POW during the flight back. So, I am assuming that RAMROD 753 involved 312 Czech RAF Sqn as well.
As I would like to reconstruct his last day, I am trying to put all bits and pieces together from both the Bomber and the Fighter escort mission together.
So, if anybody out there could help me with details such as the escort and bomber Sqn involved, who provide front, high and low cover, timings, rendez-vous, headings, mission reports, incidents, etc I would be more then grateful.
Any other links and additional information such pictures, etc would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Marc

[RSwank]

Here is a link to a report on CD about the damage done on that raid. It is possible they have more specific information about the groups in the attack but you can't be sure. They do have a detailed short description in the ad. I guess for $5 you could take your chances on getting anything new.

" On 19 April 1944, 196 medium bombers (B-26's) dropped 216 short tons of 1, 000-lb. HE's and approximately 60 tons of 100-lb. IB's on the locomotive repair shops, Malines, Belgium, causing structural and superficial damage to 94% of the total building area surveyed. Thirty-one short tons of 250-lb. HE bombs did no structural or superficial damage and are not considered."

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/invid/10339388460

[glider1]

I understand that 310, 312 and 313 squadrons escorted the B26 bombers on that mission, but only 72 bombers attacked the yards. This sounds probable given the bomb loads dropped. Presumably the other bombers were used on the other targets.

They were attacked by 20 Me 109's followed up by a wave of Fw190's losing two Spit IX'x MK248 flown by F/L Budil POW and MJ558 flown by W/O Mrtvy. The losses were caused by the Fw190's flown by Maj Karl Boris and Oblt Wolfgang Neu.

Details from 2nd Tactical Airforce Vol 1

[SMF144]

From the basic information that I have:

80 Spitfires IX 302, 308, 310, 312, 313, 442, 443 carried out close escort to three formations of Marauders attacking Malines. One Do 217 destroyed by 443 Squadron. Eight Fw.190's and Twenty Me.109's seen fifteen miles west of target and Czech Wing became engaged. Two Spitfires missing of 312 and 313 Squadrons. Time up 1800 down 2030.

Thirty-Eight Marauders of the 394th Bomber Group were despatched to attack Malines railway centre dropping 262 x 250 GP and 559 x 100 IB from 12,000 feet with very good to excellent results.

Thirty-eight Marauders of the 387th BG (two aborted) attacked Malines railway centre dropping 1015 x 100 IB from 11,500 feet with fair results.

Thirty-six Marauders of the 322nd BG attacked Malines railway centre dropping 144 x 1000 GP from 11,500 feet with excellent results.

Thirty-nine Marauders of the 391st BG (one aborted) attacked Malines railway centre dropping 152 x 1000 GP from 12,000 feet with good results.

A lot took place this day, ADGB and 2nd TAF were quite active, mainly attacks on Noball sites.

Stephen

[Michal]

No 310, 312 and No 313 (Cz) Squadrons were led by W/Cdr Tomáš Vybíral. During flight to target Allied Planes were attacked unsuccesfully by Bf 109s. Over Target Czechoslovak Squadrons were attacked by eight Fw 190s of I./JG 26.

Spitfire Mk. IX MJ558 piloted by W/O Arnošt Mrtvý, No. 313 (Cz) Squadron, was last seen at 18:53 some 10 miles north of Bruxelles. Later W/O Arnošt Mrtvý was burried by Germans in Schoonselhof Graveyard by Antwerpen (Grave No. IVa-C-7).

In fact his plane crashed in Herentals, Belgium.

Before WW2 he was one of Czechoslovak Pilots trained in so called "1000 nových pilotů" (1000 New Pilots) Project. Until March 1939 he served in Letecký pluk 2 (Air Regiment 2) in Olomouc as Pilot of Letov Š-328. Together with 3 Friends he escaped from occupated Bohemia and Moravia on July 1 1939. He crossed border to Poland. I n Poland he promised to served in Foreign Legion and hw was sent with other by SS Kastelholm from Polish Port Gdynia to French Port Calais on July 26 1939. Being in Foreign Legion he was after beginning of WW2 transferred to French Air Force but didn´t finish Pilot Training before evacution from France. He left French Port Bordeaux on deck of SS Arry Scheffer which docked on June 23 1940 in Falmouth. He was trained in RAF in No 24 (Communication) Squadron, No 2 School of Army-Cooperation and No 52 OTU.

From April 14 1941 he served as member of No 257 Squadron, from July 20 1941 in No 65 Squadron. On August 22 1941 he was transferred to newly created No 313 (Cz) Squadron. On September 8 1941 he was married.

W/O Mrtvý damaged his plane by strafing Morlaix A/F on September 28 1941. He was able with damaged propeller and wing of his Spitfire Mk. IIA P7973, RY-H, (he hit telegraph pole) succesfully landed at Predannack A/F. For this achievement he was decorated by Československá medaile za chrabrost (Czechoslovak Medal for Bravery) on November 14 1941.

He had bad landing on November 11 1941 in Portreath A/F. During training flight (Spitfire Mk.VB AD192, RY-K) he was to long during landing that he hit civil truck behind perimeter. Co-driver of truck died immediately, driver in hospital. W/O Mrtvý was in bad psychical condition and he was put out of flying for some time.

On March 11 1944 he had an engine defect that´s why he was able to force land in Spitfire LF.Mk.IXC MK173 by Reasby, not far from Mendlesham A/F, Suffolkshire.

Arnošt Mrtvý was born on January 12 1916 in Hrdibořice, District of Prostějov, Moravia, contemporary Czech Republic.

Spitfire LF.Mk. IXC MK248 (DU-R) piloted by F/Lt Bohuslav Budil, No. 310 (Cz) Squadron, was last seen at 18:55 South of Mallines. After attack of German Fighters his drop tank was burning. Later was known that he succesfully bailed out and was taken POW by Germans. Budil was liberated from POW Camp Stalag Luft 1 Barth in May 1 1945 by Red Army.

In fact his plane crashed 3 km South of Zarren by Diksmuide.

Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 26 Major Karl Borris almost sure shot down F/Lt Budil and Staffelkapitaen 4./JG 26 Oblt. Wolfgang Neu almost sure shot down W/O Mrtvý.

Sources: Jiří Rajlich: Na nebi hrdého Albionu. Part 5, P. 219nn and Part 7, P. 284-285, 305-306, 649, 658nn.

His short Bibliography was published by Jiří Rajlich: Československý Spitfire z Herentals. Historie a vojenství 58, 2009, P. 118-121.

[Marcellus]

Dear All, thanks for the information above.
Meanwhile, I have been digging into the Malines city archives. These seem to confirm 03 consecutive waves of B-26 Marauders on that day; respectively 54, 54 and 72 in the third and final wave. This does not correspond with the numbers provided by Stephen above. However, strangely enough the city archive numbers of 54 and 72 equal a 3 or 4 number of 18 B-26 bomber formation refered to as 'boxes'. I have been trying to get into War Diaries of 9th Air Force, but still unsuccesfully. I guess the Mission Report information sounds more reliable but there is a too big difference between the city archive information and the Mission Reports. Any help on this?

Cheers,

Marc

[SMF144]

Marc,

The numbers do seem to be a bit high but I am quoting them from period sources. Hopefully someone on the USAAF side will be able to figure this out.

Stephen

[Marcellus]

Stephen,

just to provide you with an update. I was lucky getting through to the USAAF archives in Washington. They provided me with the mission reports from the 19 April 1944 mission to Malines Marshalling yards.
According to these reports, a total of 182 bombed the target area.
36 B-26 from 322 BG
38 B-26 from 391 BG
38 B-26 from 394 BG
34 B-26 from 386 BG
36 B-26 from 387 BG
If you are interested I can send you these through PM.
In particular the narrative report from 391 BG mentioned a Spitfire being shot down with the pilot parachuting out. From area, distance and timing, this is almost certainly Arnost Mrtvy.
As I have the timings and altitude of the Rendez-Vous with Spitfire escort for most of the BGs, I would like to fill the gap with some kind of Operational Records from 2 TAF or the respective escort Sqn's side.
Any help or assitance you can give me with this? Somewhere, somehow?

Marc