Mosquito PR IX 540 Sq Lost October 26,1943-Cause?

[kaki3152]

On October 26,1943 the Mosquito PR IV LR 420 crewed by F/L Reggie A Lenton and Sergeant Haney were lost on a mission to Trondheim,Norway.
Supposedly they were shot down by a fighter.
There weren't any JG-5 claims for a Mosquito on October 26,1943.

Anyone have an idea as to the cause of the loss?

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Kaki,

There is nothing in the 540 Sqn ORB hinting at the cause of the loss (no W/T messege etc). Both Lenton and Haney are still MIA so they probably came down in the sea.

Reggie Lenton's rank at the time of his loss was A/S/L. As you are probably aware he was awarded the MC for evading capture (ditched 21 Nov 41 whilst with 39 Sqn) and subsequently fighting with partisans in Crete before getting off the island in mid 1942.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[kaki3152]

Thanks Andy,

In his book on Peenemunde, Martin Middlebrook has him shot down by a fighter. Wonder where he got his information?

I have the JG-5 series from Eric Mombeek to check for JG-5 claims and there are no Abschusse for this date.

Thanks,

Carlos

[Observer1940]

One has to consider that not all RAF aircraft lost over the sea in WW2 (even those given as Cat FB) were shot down.

My Grandfather's Whitley had been in touch by wireless per Raid Form (TNA, Kew). Also an SOS incident is recorded in Hants CRO, an SOS by unknown aircraft at BT Archives and an RAF Aircraft SOS per Air Ministry Distress file in AIR 2 at TNA, Kew, but there is no record of any wireless communication / SOS in the Squadron ORB at TNA, Kew, nor the Casualty file according to the claim by the AHB.

Mosquito
There is a file in The National Archives, Kew, in AVIA 5 for WW2 and although I have only listed the AIB Misc., Report Numbers (so that they don't get removed). These AIB Misc Reports have numerous Mosquito Serials, which were lost due to 'structural failure'.

Although yours may not be listed, you have to consider the possibilities of engine failure, structural failure or even the possibility of a fire on board.

Structural Spitfire Failures per AIB, but listed by RAF to Other Causes
I was interested in 3 Spitfire crashes which I discovered were all structural failure according to AIB reports at TNA, Kew and I wanted to know the AIB Engineering Branch which dealt with the Reports, so I wrote to the AHB who wrote back saying that according to their RAF records two were enemy action and the third was a Flying Accident.

Perhaps, the author was given the general term 'enemy action' when your Mosquito loss actually had another cause?

Mark

[kaki3152]

Who knows? In the case of missing aircraft lost over water with crew, rarely can we find the reasons as to the cause of their demise. Engine failure, oxygen failure, or unreported enemy action could all be responsible. Structural failure is another option.
This Mosquito, I believe,was one of the first PR IX lost in action.

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

This Mosquito, I believe,was one of the first PR IX lost in action.

Hi Kaki,

Having a quick look through the 540 Sqn and 544 Sqn ORBs the first total loss I can find for a Mosquito PR.IX is LR405 of 540 Sqn (F/S Ernest Percy Henry PEEK and P/O James Henry WILLIAMS (Nav) both KIA).

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher