198 Sqn 20 Sep 43

[Chris Goss]

On this date, Flt Sgt R F Broad was shot down and killed near Vladslo and Flt Lt A Houston shot down and captured east of Dixmude. Cause is said to be Flak but can anyone confirm this and give more accurate locations? Broad is buried at Vladslo and I visited his grave over the weekend

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Chris,

RL5-1447 p67 confirms that the plane was shot down by flak unit 4./956 (E.Tr)

Best regards

Luc

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Luc. No precise location for Broad but Houston came down at Handzame 3 minutes later a victim of 3./956

[Larry deZeng]

Possibly of some use:


le.Flak-Abt. 956 (ETr.)

Formed: c. January 1943, almost certainly in Belgium or NE France, as le.Eisb.Trsp.Schutz-Flak-Abt. 956 then redesignated le.Flak-Abt. 956 (ETr.) in mid-1943. Had a Stab and 4 batteries numbered 1. – 4./956. (Tessin or (www.ww2.dk)
Lineage and Subordination: see: Tessin or (www.ww2.dk).
History:
23 Jan 43: Abt. reported 1 man KIA and 2 WIA in low-level enemy attack on their train at Serqueux/38.25 km NE of Rouen in N France. (BA-MA Loss Reports)
4 Feb 43: 3 men KIA and 1 WIA at Leeuwarden/N Holland during a low-level Allied attack on their train. (BA-MA Loss Reports)
Apr 43: all or part of the Abt. in Wynendaele/17 km SW of Bruges (Brugge) in N Belgium. (www.ww2.dk)
May 43: under Flak-Rgt. 431 (Flakgruppe Lille)/16. Flak-Div. (www.ww2.dk)
20 Jul 43: 2./956 operating in the Dunkirk area and 4./956 in Dixmude/35 km E of Dunkirk. (BA-MA Ob.d.L./OKL claims files)
Oct/Nov 43 – Jan 44: Belgium and NE France variously under Flak-Rgt. 159 (ETr.) and Flak-Rgt. 431 (Flakgruppe Lille). (www.ww2.dk)
Feb-Apr 44: no mention of the Abt. found for this three month period - possibly non-operational for rest, refit and equipment maintenance.
8 May 44: 1. Battr. shared a claim for a B-17 Fortress shot down over the Bruges (Brugge) railway station in N Belgium. (BNA HW 5/480)
May 44 – 1945: NE France, Belgium, Holland and Central Rhine area under Flak-Rgt. 159 (ETr.)/12., 1., 5. Flak-Brig. (Tessin)
15 Jul 44: Stab/956 in Roubaix/11 km NE of Lille in NE France under Flak-Rgt. 159 (ETr.)/1. Flak-Brig. (NARA T-971 roll 18/f.054)
27 Sep 44: one Zug of 4./956 was aboard a flatcar attached to a passenger train in the railway station at Vallendar on the E bank of the Rhine 5 km N of Koblenz where it claimed shooting down a B-24 Liberator this date. (Schnatz, p.210)
10 Dec 44: Abt. elements still in Koblenz or its immediate vicinity. (Schnatz, p.369)
Dec 44 - 1945: Abt. along the Rhine, including Remagen and Brohl/27 km SW of Koblenz. (Tessin)
FpNs: Stab (L 53634), 1. Batterie (L 54110; from 5.44: L 53713), 2. Batterie (L 55222), 3. Batterie (L 53749), 4. Batterie (L 54260).
Kommandeur:
Maj. (d.R.) Fritz Hass: (5/43 - 5/45)