Halifax III. Serial LK840 EY-J. Shot down June 23rd 1944 near Quinquempoix

[Mysticpuma]

Flight Details:

Base: R.A.F. Breighton, North Yorkshire
Unit: 78 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Halifax Mk III, serial LK840 EY-J
Target: Laon, Aisne, France
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Quinquempoix killing four of the crew. Sgts. A. Gill and W. C. Brown were taken prisoner. Sgt. S. W. Fox survived and escaped.

The reason for the crash from the French translation is listed as "Slaughtered by night hunting".

I am assuming this is by a night fighter rather than flak, so does anyone have any information on which unit or pilot may have been involved in this claim?


Finally I am just wondering now if there is any information on what may have been at the target area to make it the mission destination?

Thanks for any help as always. Cheers, Neil

[Nick Beale]

The reason for the crash from the French translation is listed as "Slaughtered by night hunting"

If the French is what I think it is, it's "shot down by night fighter".

[MW Giles]

Target was the rail yards at Laon

Regards

Martin

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
BCL vol 5, page 297.
Shot down by night fighter and crashed near Quinquempoix ( Oise ) , 6 km North of St - Just- en-Chaussee. Those who died lie in Quinquempoix Communal Cemetery.
Op: Laon night of 22/23rd June 1944.
Crew -
F/O. IRWIN, D. L.- RCAF +
Sgt. GILL, A - POW
F/O. FUHR, H. A.- RCAF +
Sgt. SHARRATT, W. S. - POW
F/O. SHEPSTONE, B. +
Sgt. BROWN, W. C. EVD
Sgt. OWEN, T. R. +

No FOX though, and Brown listed as the evader.

Alex

[Mysticpuma]

Thanks very much for the replies. The reason I am trying to find as much information as I can is that Sgt. Owen was the brother of a friend of mine's Grandfather. I only heard of this story yesterday and would like to gather as much information to share with her as possible.

So information on which unit or pilot may have been involved in this claim from the Luftwaffe side would be really of interest if possible.

Apparently Sgt. Owen was 6'3" and the tail.gunner. That must have been a squeeze!

Cheers, Neil

[Chris Goss]

Possibly got by Lt Gerhard Wagner of 9./NJG 5 NE Senlis 0120 hrs. I was in touch with Wagner some years ago so PM me if you want to know more