RAF losses 5./6. March 1945

[AndieT]

Ross, some of the information you have is incorrect.

NA204 unknown 6U-J 415 SQUADRON
Airborne 1645 5Mar45 from East Moor. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. The majority of this crew had arrived at East Moor 18Oct44, on posting from 61 (RCAF) Base. This raid was part of Operation Thunderclap. F/L W.R.Mitchell RCAF Inj F/O R.C.Barteaux RCAF Inj F/S A.E.Ridley Inj F/O R.D.Loveridge RCAF Inj P/O F.T.Mudry RCAF Inj P/O W.D.Mosey RCAF Inj F/S W.B.Gill RCAF Inj P/O J.R.Gendron RCAF Inj F/O R.C.Barteaux, P/O J.R.Gendron, F/O R.D.Loveridge, P/O W.D.Mosey, F/L W.R.Mitchell, P/O F.T.Mudry, F/S A.E.Ridley and F/S W.B.Gill were confined to Hospital due injuries until Liberation. No PoW Nos. "

All crew members except D. Loveridge were Canadian, he was British.
They were not confined to hospital due to injuries, they were captured POWs until Lib. The crew was shot down and all members bailed and survived the crash.

[JanZ]

Hi Andie,

thank you for this add! Please, do you know anything more about this crew? Area of the loss? Target area or on the way?

Thanks a lot, Jan

[barargeballoonman]

977625 Edward Cecil Coldicutt F.Sgt 640 Sqdn kia 25th May 1944
Squadron code C8. He may have been on a raid to Achen. Can anyone help?
Thank you.


Peter

[Observer1940]

Peter

Halifax Loss 24/25th May 1944

If you are a relative of E. C. Coldicutt, I suggest you may wish to contact the National Australian Archives who list the following for E C Coldicutt under file A705, 166/43/690 for their national:-

WILLIAMSON, James Esca - (Warrant Officer); Service Number - 408380; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Halifax MK III MZ675; Place - Aachen, Germany; Date - 24 May 1944

In addition to the file subject, the following servicemen are mentioned in this record:
MARRIOTT D – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 1432314 RAF
ROSS J H – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 1550710 RAF
LAW J – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 1537400 RAF
SMART H W – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1627476 RAF
ALLDRITT T – (Sergeant); Service Number – 1591743 RAF
COLDICUTT E C – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – 977625 RAF

There is some information online for an "E C Coldicutt" in an Australian pdf document, suggesting their Halifax aircraft collided with another British aircraft, which was discovered by the MR & E a Missing Research and Enquiry team searching for the missing after the war.


"A later report by a Missing Research & Enquiry team stated ; “ the aircraft crashed near Weisweiler after it collided with another British aircraft at approx 1230 hours on the 25th May 1944, and the crews of both aircraft wee killed except Sgt Smart.” W R Chorley states the aircraft was hit by flak and plunged into the Johannestrasse at Weisweiler, 17kms ENE of Aachen." - Online pdf

However, the aircraft serial does not match in the online pdf, with the Australian Archive catalogue description.

I suggest you may wish to apply for a copy of the Australian file, to get the exact information and see what is held.

Regards Mark