Loss of Halifax NA568 LK-Q 11 Sep 44

[mal_ridley]

Gentlemen,

Thank you so much for your contributions; I very much appreciate them.

I know a fair amount about the events leading up to the crash, as I've been able to meet two surviving crew members; the navigator and the wireless operator. The crew were on only their fourth or so mission, and were unable to positively identify the target at Gelsenkirchen on their first run. They went around again to re-attack, and were hit by AAA.

The pilot had control difficulties almost immediately, and a bale out seemed certain. However, my relative, Bert Ridley, the rear gunner, failed to answer on the intercom. The bomb aimer was sent aft to check on him, and found him dead - presumably from the initial effects of the AAA hit. After this, the crew bailed out successfully.

Bert was finally buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, where we will visit his grave next month.

Your clues as to the crash location are very interesting. As mentioned, the RAF records simply show 'Kirchhellen'; we intend to visit the town when we travel next month and have been trying to find any contacts in the town who might remember the event. In some ways the precise location is not critical, in that Bert was killed before the aircraft came down. However, it would be nice to know! It would also be helpful to know that no additional casualties were caused on the ground by the crash; there was enough suffering on both sides in those days.

Again; I can't thank you enough for your interest and help. I will follow up on your suggestions! I am an ex-RAF pilot myself (recently left), and I feel a great empathy with those involved in these events on both sides. It is important to do justice to their memory, I believe.

Best regards,

Mal