Serial nr. of 305 Sqn Mosquito lost near Sonsbeck on 25-26 November 1944?

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Who can provide me with the serial number of a 305 Squadron Mosquito that was lost to light Flak and crashed near Sonsbeck at 21.37 hrs on the evening of 25 November 1944?

Grateful for any details, Theo

[Col Bruggy]

Theo.

Mosquito SM-W, HP913 failed to return from operation No.367 on the night of 25 November, which involved fifteen aircraft. It was flown by the crew of F/Sgt Zygmunt Haas (Pilot) and F/O Tomasz Wilcewski (Nav.) who knew the Ruhr well. This was their tenth combat sortie. Over the Ruhr the aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. All instruments and the cockpit lighting failed and the navigator was unable to find the heading to return to base. Using the moon they headed over Champagne and baled out. They met some Poles who lived in France, reached a US Army post and on the evening of 26 November they were back with their squadron (p.156).

Photo and detailed side-view with the following (photo) caption: Right: SM-W, HP913. When flown by the crew of P/O T Wilczewski & F/Sgt Z Haas over the Ruhr on the night of 25 November 1944. It was hit by anti-aircraft artillery. The electric system was damaged and both airmen baled out over Champagne. Several days later they returned to the squadron. And side-view description: Mosquito FB.VI, SM-W, HP913. Lasham, 1944. When applying the invasion striping the serial number was overpainted on the aircraft, leaving just the last digit on the port side. The aircraft was most often flown by the crew of F/O A. Gertner and W. Andruszko. A log of seventy operations on the aircraft. Standard RAF night fighter scheme (p.153).

See:
Bomber Aircraft of 305 Squadron.
Musialkowski,Lechoslaw
Petersfield:Mushroon Model Publications/Stratus,2014.
pp.153 & 156

Col.

[Luc Vervoort]

Hello Theo and Col.,

The orb of the Squadron (AIR27/1672) mentions two additional losses for that night :


Mosquito S 278 with crew F/L. Moseley and F/S.Nugent. They were initially buried at Coesfeld St.Jacobs and later at Reichswald CWGC cemetery. (source CWGC website)


MosQuito G 333 with crew F/S Chwalibog and Sgt.Parzych. On the CWGC website is only mentioned that they are buried at Reichswald.
The website http://www.polishwargraves.nl/kleve/5007.htm mentions :


25.11.1944, Bönninghardt, Kreis Wesel, Germany

Mosquito FB.VI, nr. PZ333, code SM-G was hit by German flak
and crashed 22.00 hours.

The orb AIR27/1672 mentions for the Mosquito W : damaged by flak during patrol, bombed lights on road at A.5672, compelled to abandon aircraft at Rheims, crew baled out and returned safely to unit.


Best regards


Luc

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks Col and Luc for these useful details. It appears that PZ333 fits to the light Flak claim near Sonsbeck.

Cheers, Theo