F/Lt J.D. (Barney) WALLIS (RAAF) KIA

[REDCAP50]

Hello all,
On January 15th 1945, the spitfire (SM-333) of F/Lt J.D. (Barney) WALLIS (RAAF) 451 SQN, crashed in the Belgian village of HUNDELGEM.
- What was his mission on that day?
- Is the cause of this fatal crash known: enemy fighter, bad weather, engine trouble or?
- Is he buried in Belgium or repatriated to Australia?
Any info is very much appreciated
TIA
redcap50

[REDCAP50]

the given date may be 14 or 15 january 1945 !
sorry for that,
redcap

[BruceMk11]

The ORB can be freely examined: www.naa.gov.au/collection/search

Click on RecordSearch and enter '451 Squadron history'.

Good luck!

[udf_00]

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au

Keywords : WALLIS, John Desmond 408541
Date from : 1939 to 1945

WALLIS, John Desmond - (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number - 408541; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Spitfire SM333; Place - Ostend area, Belgium; Date - 14 January 1945

Digitized item : Infos from page 20 onwards.

[Alain57]

Hello ,

Wallis had a mid-air cillision with another Spitfire SM-384 from his own squadron during a sweep to Frankfurt. P/O Newberry Edward Raymond bailed out and was safe. According to Wallis file his aircraft came down in Rue des Alouettes ( Meeuwenstraat ) in Oostende were he is also buried.

Greets

Alain57

[REDCAP50]

Thank you very much gentlemen
redcap50

[ClinA-78]

Alain,

Meeuwen = mouettes

ClinA-78 (aka 'birdman')

[Alain57]

Hi Clin ,

Sorry , mij French is not so good

Alain57

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

This street is presently called ' Leeuwerikenstraat '.

best regards

Luc