23 Sq Havoc Intruder BB905 loss

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi All

Can someone enlighten me what happened to Havoc BB905 listed on its AM 78 form as missing
either 5 Sep or 8 Sep 1941 when shot down at/near St Seve, France?
The back of the card is written quite sloppily.

Since it is not listed by Theo Boiten in his Nachtjagd Combat Archive probably by flak.

I have changed the date from 5 Sep to 8 Sep (data probably from Andy Marden)

Is anything known from the German side?

B Rgds
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hi Stig,

Not September 1942

Although three Mosquitos II's were lost 8/9 th.

Sgt, Wright RCAF(USA), Sgt Cook. a/c "U".

F/O. STEIN, Sgt.Challicombe. a/c "O".

F/Lt.Buchanan, P/O Brewis. a/c " S"

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi Stig,
BB905
Crew were -
F/O. Philip, Stephen, Baddesley, ENSOR - 41003 RAF - DFC.
F/Sgt. Peter, Alfred, ROBERTS - 522759 RAF - DFM.
F/Sgt. George, Dixon, OLIVER - 936196 RAFVR.
All three airmen rest at Brest ( Kerfautras) Cemetery, Finistere, France.
Date given in CWGC is the 8th.

AIR81/8905 ( 8th September 1941).

ORB gives date as 7th September, 41 ( Took off ?).
Aircraft was shot down after leaving St.Eval, Cornwall and crashed at Saint Seve, France.
The ORB for Sept 41 are AIR 27/287/46 and 47.

I will try to post them to you soon
as I too have been searching 23 Sqdn serial numbers and have found 57 a/c that served with 23 Sqdn.
Would you like the numbers ?
Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Alex

Yes 1941 is the correct year, no idea why I didn't spot my printing error

After that I fooled myself and only checked the faulty date. Jeeez....
Flak was (as I suspected) the cause of loss!

Cheers
Stig

[gilles collaveri]

Hi Stig & all

I confirm that this Havoc was very likely shot down by the flak.

We investigated locally and cross checked :

- the local testimonies
- the remains found on site (with greenlight of French archeologists)
- the archives (ORB etc..)

and reached the conclusion that it was probably shot by Flak.

We studied the trajectory of the A/C : seen burning in flight, crashed soon after, burning fiercely (probably with its incendiary bombload).

The conclusion is that it was very likely shot in flight while attacking Morlaix airport.

We also searched the descendant of the crew members and we could reach two families out of three, who shared with us pictures of the crew members, A/C, press clips of that period about them, and even a recording of the pilot who was interviewed by the BBC shortly before the drama (he also got married a few weeks before the crash, sad story).

So, we have rebuilt almost in totality the story of this aircraft and its crew, and we will publish an article end of 2024.

If interested, drop a PM.

Kind rgds

Gilles Collaveri
Aerocherche.fr

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Gilles

Cheers
Stig

[Zoran Petek]

Hello,
On 7 April 1941 23 Sqn's CO Wg Cdr G.F.W. Heycock flew a first Havoc I mission over France and Sgt J.B. Raffels flew final Blenheim sortie on 6 May.
Most were painted RDM 2A (Matt Black) overall, with Grey, and later Dull Red codes.

A tentative "work in progress" list compiled from many sources:
W8258 Boston III
W8259 Also 605 Sqn. Refurbished as tropical bomber. To North Africa, 114 Sqn, 326 Wing.
W8261 Also 605 Sqn and 418 RCAF Sqn. 12 MU 6.8.42.
W8262 Boston III (Intruder), lost 27/28.8.42, Montdidier, with 418 RCAF Sqn. Sergeant R.J. Blenkarn and FS J.C. Colter killed.
W8263 Also 605 Sqn, and later TH-P in 418 RCAF Sqn April-July 43. Refurbished as bomber, to North Africa, 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
W8267 Refurbished as bomber, to North Africa, 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
W8278 Boston III (Intruder). 418 Sqn from Mar 42. Crashed during test, I.43. Either wrong date or repaired as another source claims that it burned on airstrip, 418 Sqn, Bradwell Bay 17.4.43.
W8283 Boston III (Intruder). Also 605 Sqn.
W8292 Crashed with 418 RCAF Sqn 2.1.43, Southminster.
W8344 Also 605 Sqn.
W8347 Also 116 (Calibration) Sqn. Refurbished as bomber, to North Africa, 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
W8359 Lost later with 418 RCAF Sqn, collision in dates, either 19/20.5.42 or 6.10.42.
W8361 Also 605 Sqn and 771 Sqn FAA.
W8374 Boston III of No 23 Sqn lost on intruder sortie to Deelen 31.5.42. Some sources say that also flew in 418 RCAF Sqn, but I doubt it.
W8399 Also 605 Sqn (UP-X) and 418 RCAF Sqn.
Z2186 Also 85 and 605 Sqn and 418 RCAF Sqn. Crashed 17.10.42. Parts used during restauration of 43-9628 2016.
Z2188 Also 605 Sqn. Refurbished as bomber, to North Africa, 18 Sqn ('J') of 326 Wing (later 232 Wing, in Italy).
Z2192 Also 605 Sqn and 418 RCAF Sqn (TH-Z) 43.
Z2241 Also 605 Sqn and 418 RCAF Sqn. No. 43 Group DA, 30.5.43. Refurbished as bomber, to North Africa, 18 Sqn, 326 Wing.
AE461 Ex-Belgian contract. RAE (upper Earth/Green, lower Night), than 23 Sqn. Also flew in 418 RCAF Sqn and 51 OTU.
AL459 YP-W. Boston III. Force landed in France 28.6.42.
AX849 Boston I
AX850 Boston I
AX929 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn, destroyed at Ford on landing from a raid on Evreux when its bombs dropped off and exploded 30.8.41.
AW394 Havoc I. Also 51 OTU and USAAF.
AW398 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn, shot down by flak during intruder sortie to Dinard 27.4.42.
AW402 Havoc I
AW404 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn, shot down on an intruder mission to Gilze-Rijen airfield 1.9.41. Another source claims that AW404 returned to USAAF.
AW406 Havoc I. Also 1422 and 1460 Flts and 93 Sqn, listed as Boston bomber in 226 Sqn.
AW413 YP-F
AX921 Also 605 Sqn.
AX922 Also 51 OTU and USAAF.
AX928 Also 605 Sqn.
AX929 Havoc I
BB890 Also 44 Sqn.
BB891 Havoc I (Turbinlite) in 530 Sqn. Also 44 Sqn and USAAF.
BB893 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn, spun into the ground during a low level practice dogfight near Manston 28.5.41.
BB895 Also 93, 605 Sqn RAF and 771 Sqn FAA.
BB900 YP-G of No 23 Sqn, crashed off Margate 27.2.42.
BB905 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn, failed to return from an intruder operation to Lannion 8.9.41.
BB910 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite). Also 605 Sqn.
BB980 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite)
BD112 YP-T in 23 Sqn. Polish crew s/d Ju 88 and damaged another 6.12.41. Also 51 OTU.
BD114 Havoc I
BD116 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite in 1452 and 1422 'Pandora' Flights)
BD121 YP-F, 23 Sqn, Ford. Fig Off P.S.B. Ensor become ace flying BD121 on 10.5.41. His 5th victory was Ju 88 near Beauvais. Later 771 Sqn FAA?
BD123 Also No. 51 Operational Training Unit.
BD124 YP-D of 23 Sqn. B. Hoare claimed He 111 3/4.5.41. BD124 crashed into the sea off Worthing after stalling during a night flying test 7.11.41.
BJ462 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite). Also 605 Sqn RAF.
BJ466 Also No. 51 Operational Training Unit.
BJ469 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite in 1453 and 1454 Flights). Also 85 Sqn RAF.
BJ470 Havoc I (some time Turbinlite). Also 93 Sqn RAF.
BJ471 YP-P 'Evelyn'. Also 85 Sqn RAF.
BJ477 Also MA-R in 161 (SD) Sqn at Tempsford.
BJ485 Havoc I of No 23 Sqn. Sgt A.P.T. Lewis (RNZAF) was killed on 31.5.41 when he was thrown from the aircraft without parachute during a violent manoeuvre in cloud. BJ485, still in 23 Sqn, crashed near Ford following engine failure on a night training flight 9.7.41.
BJ489 Also 605 Sqn RAF.
BJ490 Also 605 Sqn RAF.
BJ492 YP-J. Also No. 51 Operational Training Unit.
BJ495 YP-W. Sqn Ldr B. Hoare claimed Fw 200 23.4.41.
BJ496 Havoc I. At RAE used for experimental night camouflage trials in February 1941. Some claims Extra Dark Sea Grey and a special mix Olive Grey on upper surfaces, another Black high over standard Green/Earth camo. Later Turbinlite, 1454 Flt.
BJ501 Also 605 Sqn and No. 51 Operational Training Unit.
BK882 Havoc I
BK883 Havoc I. 23 Sqn, 93 Sqn, 605 Sqn RAF and 771 Sqn FAA. Later ground instruction airframe as 4364M.
BT462 Also 605 Sqn.
DG554 Also 93 Sqn and 51 Operational Training Unit. The only other Havoc in DG range was DG555, early 1941.

Corrections/updates are very welcome.
Regards
Zoran