Searching records of lost RAF/RAAF planes.

[Dennis Peschier]

After liberation allied airman, that had been in German p.o.w. camps, were probably debriefed about the loss of their plane. Have these reports survived? And if so where are they now? I’m looking for those of two man from 500 squadron who were captured when their Anson crashed into the North Sea on August 9 1940.

and also

On 2/3 October 1943 a Lancaster of 467 squadron ditched in the channel. F/Sgt M.E. McGrath was the only survivor, he was found floating in a dinghy. I suppose his ordeal was put on paper as well. Where would one search for this record?

In both cases the squadron associations were not in contact with the survivors.


All help will be apriciated,

Dennis

[Chris Goss]

I believe that the AHB has most copies

[Fairlop]

Hi Dennis,

Try Kew and WO 344 series - "War Office: Directorate of Military Intelligence: Liberated Prisoner of War Interrogation Questionnaires". Issue No.8 in the contemporary form could help you.

regards,
Michal

[Hans Nauta]

Hi again Dennis,

As Michal already has pointed out some details can be found in the Liberation Questionnaires in WO344, however, my experience is that only the place of capture is mentioned briefly.

Regarding the two survivors of the Anson, you only may find 'Dutch Coast' or 'North Sea' as reference and nothing about the circumstances in which the aircraft was lost.

Best regards,
Hans Nauta

[Dennis Peschier]

Hello Chris, Fairlop and Hans,

Thank you all for your contribution! I will check the WO 344 file. It sounds a bit odd that so little is recorded.
Would WO 334 record things as pow.nr. and prison camp(S)

Cheers,
Dennis

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Dennis,

Contact me off-board, I've a couple examples of Liberation Questionnaires.

Best regards,
Hans Nauta

[RossGmann]

Re your inquiry of 29th August 2006

Lancaster ED530 Information

Type Lancaster
Ser No. ED530
Squadron 467
X1D PO-O
Operation Munich
Date 1 2nd October 1943
Date 2 3rd October 1843

Airborne 1844 2Oct43 from Bottesford. Ran out of fuel and came down in the sea 0138 3Oct43 some 25 miles off Beachy Head. F/S McGrath was picked up by an ASR walrus. Subsequently two bodies were washed ashore; P/O McIver is buried in North Walsham New Cemetery but Sgt McLelland is buried in Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery having been found at Katwijk 30Nov43. The others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. P/O K. A. McIver DFC RAAF KIA Sgt A. B. McLelland KIA F/S J. K. Gale KIA F/S M. E. McGrath Sgt C. MacLean KIA Sgt R. Short KIA F/S F. W. Shaw KIA "

Kind regards

Ross