Hampden of 455 Sqn

[Chris Goss]

I have just been sent photos of an intact captured Hampden coded UB-C-serial looks to be AT709-is this a good serial and if so has anyone got to hand the details of its loss?

[Tony Kearns]

Chris,
There is no Hampden listed as AT 709 according to Jim Halley's AB Military Aircraft Serials. A possible contender AT 109 455 Sqn. missing on transit flight to North Russia 14-9-42.
Regards
Tony K

[markjsheppard]

Flown by S/Ldr Catanach of Great Escape infamy. Part of the Orator Ham unit flying to Russia, hit by flak and force landed on beach in Northern Norway.

http://www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.a...20Catanach.pdf

~(Date wrong)

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/hampden.htm

regards

Mark

[udf_00]

http://kristenalexanderauthor.blogsp...1_archive.html
This photo is of Jack Davenport, Squadron Leader Jimmy Catanach, Wing Commander Grant Lindeman, 455 Squadron’s commanding officer, Flight Lieutenant Les Oliver, and Squadron Leader Bob Holmes, taken in August 1942, just before the Squadron flew to Russia.
http://finnmarkunderhakekorset.origo...ref=checkpoint
Molvika, september 1942: — Hampden UB-C (AT109) tilh. 455 Sqn RAAF inspiseres av tyske soldater etter nødlandingen 5. september. Foto: Günther Hortenbach

[andy bird]

Hi Chris,

Looking at Jack Davenports Diary - Herewith some rough notes:

The last of 455's Hampdens that failed to arrive was AT109, piloted by Sqn/Ldr Jimmy Catanach DFC, he had joined 455 whilst in our Bomber Command guise during which he had been awarded the DFC before the conversion to torpedo bombers when transferred to Coastal and at 20 years old was one of the youngest pilots at the time to be a Sqn/Ldr out side Fighter Command.

AT109 had experienced a great deal of flak of all calibre's as it crossed the Norge coast in atrocious weather conditions. The aircraft bucked about like an American Bucking Bronco at a Rodeo Show according to Bob [Anderson]. Jimmy struggled to hold the aircraft steady. In their course of stooging along the coast AT109 had been fired on by all and sundry and Jimmy thought or was convinced that fuel was being lost from holed fuel tanks. Jimmy rather than risk the engines cutting, trimmed the aircraft right back for a slow flight across Varengern Fjord and then at the first opportunity was going to ditch in the waters.

The somewhat sudden appearance of heather adjacent to a beach ahead of Jimmy offered at least the possibilities of a safe landing. Jimmy lowered the carriage down, AT109 touched down safely on the heather [adjoining beach near Vardo] with an understandably rough bumpy landing. Catanach, Anderson, Cameron, Hayes, Davidson (Flight Mech), attempted to set fire, but a horde of soldiers appeared on the high ground above the beach whilst a patrol boat edged nearer and opened fire, the soldiers opened up with rifle fire to. The situation was hopeless and in a matter of minutes the five had been taken prisoners.

The first night was spent in a camp containing hundreds of Russian slave labourers who existed on potato soup. Taken by lorry to Rovaniemi and then flown by Ju 52 to Helsinki, after spending one night in a cramped civilian jail the five were flown to Frankfurt and began their status as POW's at Dalag Luft.

Catanach Killed 28 March 1944
Davidson Died during forced march May 1945
Anderson Unsuccessfully attempted to escape during captivity - Survived
Cameron Unsuccessfully attempted to escape during captivity - Survived
Hayes Unsuccessfully attempted to escape during captivity - Survived

Hope this helps, do have full statement by Bob Davidson if required ?

Kind Regards

Andy Bird

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all. All 3 photos will be apparently be appearing on www.ebay.de in due course

[Juha]

Hello Andy
thanks for the very interesting info!

Juha

[andy bird]

Hi Juha,

Hope your well,

This was a shortened version.

Kind Regards

Andy

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

I have just been sent photos of an intact captured Hampden coded UB-C-serial looks to be AT709-is this a good serial and if so has anyone got to hand the details of its loss?

ARE YOU ABLE TO EMAIL ME WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHOTO OR PHOTOS OF THE HAMPDEN at109.
MY WIFE'S UNCLE WAS THE WIRELESS OPERATOR/GUNNER ON THE PLANE 5/6 SEPTEMBER 1942.
THANK YOU.

[quote=andy bird;180976]Hi Chris,

Thanks Andy, I think this may be my first post so any apologies
I am writing an appendix to my earlier book The RAAF in Russia on what happened to the aircraft and crew, mostly for their families
Geoff