Spitfire destroyed over Nieuwkuik 24 Dec 44

[robcur]

A new member looking for information on details of combat and claim by Bf 109 for Spitfire PR IX of 4 Sqn over Nieuwkuik 24 Dec 1944. Planning to escort seriously ill son of Spitfire pilot to Bergen-Op-Zoom war cemetery for first visit to father's grave.

[Revi16]

Here you go. Now we need some JG 1 experts to add info.

PL796, PRXI, Merlin -70, Built Aldermaston, 6MU 25-4-44, Benson 20-5-44, 4Sqn 15-6-44, High Level PR pm east of Utrecht, Shot Down by Me109 of JG1 nr Nieukuik 24-12-44 F/O T A Priddle killed.


Regards,
Mike

[robcur]

Thanks Mike. That's the one. I believe that 4 Sqn were operating from Gilze Rijen in the Netherlands at the time, having just taken over the airfield from the Luftwaffe. I'll add your information to the facts I'm building up for his son and grandchildren.
I did find a site for Luftwaffe day fighter claims which had just two Spitfires claimed on that day. Both were by JG77 but apart from the names of the two pilots, there were no further details.

[Revi16]

This pic is taken from Defenders of the Reich, JG 1 Volume 3 1944-1945, Eric Mombeek.
Note sure how well this matches with F/O Priddle's flight.???

Some other info,

HALBEY Hans: Flug N°742/978. 9.1942/2.1945. Zerbst. EJG Villacoublay. St Jean d'Angely, Avignon. III./JG 27 (Kastelli, Trapani, San Pietro, Catania, Volkel, Köln-Ostheim). Fels. Nogent-le-Rotrou. JG 1.

22.4.44 Ltn. Hans Halbey Stab.III JG1, P-47 -05 Ost. S/ON: 8500m [Eupen-Simmerath]

28.05.44 Ltn. Hans Halbey 8/JG1, P-51 OS-3 at 400m [Allendorf N.E. Giessen]

Regards,
Mike

[Revi16]

Here's some other Spit's lost on 24-12-44. Might help in cross referencing claims. Some German claims of a Spitfire may in fact be Tempest or Typhoons mis-identified in combat.

PL919 PRXI M70 6MU 29-8-44 Benson 28-9-44 541S 28-11-44 missing (Frankfurt) 24-12-44

RM690 XIV CHAG6 533MU 12-7-44 3501SU 7-8-44 130S 14-9-44 350S 4-10-44 Hit by flak and abandoned nr Malmedy 24-12-44

SM187 LFXVI M266 9MU 28-10-44 453S 'FU-N' 9-11-44 Attacking V-2 target Shot down by flak and abandoned s'Gravenhage 24-12-44

SM277 LFXVI M266 8MU 27-10-44 416S Missing presumed shot down by US flak nr Malmedy 24-12-44 F/O J R Beasley killed

This site mentions Priddle,
http://www.rafjever.org/4squadhistory3.htm

This site gives a time of 15:10, Page 32
http://www.nimh.nl/nl/images/1944%20sec_tcm5-7285.pdf

Regards,
Mike

[paul peters]

I am living only a few kms away from Nieuwkuik (Neth), but I never found a Spitfire crash in Nieuwkuik.
The initial burial site of Priddle was Breda, about 40 kms from Nieuwkuik. I think it strange that in those hectic days the burial was not near the crash site (but nothing is impossible).
paul

[robcur]

Thanks again Mike and also Paul. I doubt that the Halbey fight was the one in which Priddle was killed. The date is right but the timing not. Priddle was apparently on an afternoon high level PR task to Utrecht and was probably alone.
Paul, can I ask where you got the information on Priddle being burried initially at Breda? Odd isn't it.
Meanwhile, I'd be grateful for any further info on Priddle's last flight.
Thanks
Rob

[paul peters]

Sorry for not having responded sooner, but pc problems...
There is a paper signed by the mayor of Breda mentioning the transfer of the bodies of the allied soldiers in the cemetery of Zuijlen (Breda) to the Commonwealth Cemetery at Bergen op Zoom on May 6, 1946.
The entry for Priddle reads:
35. Engelschman Th. A. Priddle Flying Off R.A.F. 134730 13).
13) is the number of the grave in Zuijlen Cem.
Paul