Spitfire at Goes, Netherlands

[Andy Saunders]

On 22 July 1942 a Spitfire was lost at Goes on the road from Flushing to Bergen-op-Zoom, the pilot killed. He was buried as "unknown" in Flushing, Section 3 B, No 68. Presumably, this was P/O H W Harrison of 485 Sqn, lost on that day in BL815? However, the grave for Harrison is now given by CWGC as Row C, Grave 6. This was after MREU investigations sometime soon after 24 March 1946. Is this the same grave as 3 B, No 68? Or is there now another candidate for that grave location? I think probably not - although there is always a possibility if there is still an "unknown" at what is, or was, known as grave 3 B, No 68, then Harrison has two graves at Flushing.

This one for you, Bart!

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Andy,

Couldn't find any unknown candidates for grave 3B, No 68. According to Slagveld Sloedam (on this page) it contains P/O H.W. Harrison; buried 28/07/1942. His body was burned.

What I did find though was:

Vlissingen NN-920; 'died' [i.e. fished from the sea] 07/08/1942; buried 08/08/1942. Grave: Section 3B. No.81. 1 deep
Details: P/O, RAF, Service number: 1104950 (???)
According to Vlissingen Archive: Radcliffe, C.D.; 1104950; Offr. Eenheid: OD

CWGC: Pilot Officer (W.Op.) Hubert A Radcliffe, RAF 122312, 158 Sqdn., age 32, 31/05/1942, Row B. Grave 25., Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery.

What means that P/O Radcliffe was identified somewhere between the time he was mentioned as NN in the Archive of Flushing city and now, and possibly moved to another grave.

It could be that the same happened with P/O Harrison.

Another possibility is that they were not moved, but that the sections and graves were given different letters and numbers.

Regards,

Bart

[Andy Saunders]

Further remains were found at the crash site in 1946, identified as Harrison and buried at Flushing. Presumably, the previously buried remains (unidentified in 1942) were reunited with those found in 1946 and named. I think that is the explanation here. Thanks!

[B.F.M. Droog]

No, wait a minute,

according to Slagveld Sloedam:
Vlissingen NN-920 - fished from the sea] 07/08/1942; buried 08/08/1942, grave 3B. No.81
Vlissingen 894 -H.A. Radcliffe; died 31/05/1942; buried 03/06/1942, grave 3B. No.55 1 deep. With note: 'In overhemd naam met potlood Allan en RAF 115….' (in shirt name with pencil Allan and RAF 115...')

This really puzzles me. Can somebody couple a name with service number 1104950?
CWGC doesn't list any other RAF Radcliff or Radcliffe for 1942.

Regards,

Bart

[Andy Saunders]

Bart

There are many many cases of casualties found wearing clothing or equipment belonging to others, and so one name in clothing is not always indicative of the persons identity.

[Andy Saunders]

Bart

I am a bit puzzled by your post about Allen and Radcliffe.

There is no mystery about either:

We know about P/O Hubert Alan RADCLIFFE 122312 of 158 Sqn (Wellington Z8577)
We know about P/O F E ALLEN 118637 of 107 Sqn (Boston AL725)

Where does the number 1104950 come from??

[Wim de Meester]

P/O Harold William Harrison died at 12.45 hours on that date as a result of target fixing, anyway according to the coroner's inquest. His target and that of his three comrades were the railway station at Goes which was successfully strafed but unfortunately an enginedriver was also killed. The remains of the pilot were completely burned and that, what wa sbelieved to be the pilot's remains were buried on 28 July at the Noorder cemetery at Flushing.

[Andy Saunders]

Wim

Thank you for that information.

When the remains were buried they were "unknown" but the crash site was excavated in 1946 by the RAF MREU and further remains were found and identified. It was established that this was the same person previously buried as unknown, and so I suppose the remains were put together and the pilot named.

I have a map of the crash location and MREU report.

Andy

[B.F.M. Droog]

Originally Posted by Andy Saunders

Where does the number 1104950 come from??

Hello Andy, that appears to be Radcliffe's NCO number. See RAF Commands Forum for more regarding Radcliffe

Regards,

Bart