Whitley Z9305 78 Squadron

[Brian]

Hi guys

Z9305 was lost on the night of 28/29 January 1942 when returning from an agent dropping sortie over Holland. Apparently it carried a crew of eight, all of whom perished.

Has anyone a crew list please?

Cheers
Brian

[Ex Shack]

Hi Brian
This is in Chorley BCL Vol 3 but there is no mention of any SOE activity. Chorley has Z9305,EY-,as shot down by Trawlers off the Essex coast and crashing into the sea nr the Cork Lightship off Harwich(?friendly fire incident). They were returning from an op to Rotterdam. The crew were,
Sgt A N Williams RAAF,
P/O D Williams,
F/Sgt D R Campbell,RCAF,
Sgt D Curnick,
Sgt R W Dobson
All KIA , 2 bodies were recovered but that of F/Sgt Campbell was returned to the sea. The number seems normal for a Whitley, and unless an op to Rotterdam was a cover for clandestine work, not reported in Chorley's sources, it seems to be normal Bomber Command Business
Regards
Dick

[Brian]

Thanks Dick

I have a note that David Gold was the pilot and that there were eight crew aboard the aircraft when it was lost!

Needs further investigation.

Cheers
Brian

[78 Sqn History]

Brian

I can confirm that this aircraft was one of eight from the Squadron detailed for operations against Rotterdam on that night and it was shot down by armed trawlers off the coast of Harwich on the way to the target. The Squadron also had one early return, the remaining six crews all reported bombing sucessfully and returned safely to base. I have not found any mention of agent's in my research.

Hope this helps

Daz

[78 Sqn History]

Brian

having had a look through BCL by Chorley there is a Whitley V Z6728 from 138 Sqn listed as having come down in the sea whilst on SOE operations. The Pilot is Sgt D Gold, full crew list is as follows:

Sgt D Gold
Sgt EE Jones
FSgt GEA Baxter
Sgt FW Smith
Sgt A Brittain
PO DO Weeks
WCdr JED Benham

alll were killed and Chorley states that the loss card shows a Sgt Bolt but that he has been unable to identify this man. Perhaps he was the agent that was being dropped.

Regards

Daz

[Brian]

Thanks Daz

I've had another look at the information (on the web) and it appears that the poster has confused the two incidents - although he says his information comes from AHB!

He has Gold being the pilot of the Whitley shot down by friendly fire from the trawlers!

Cheers
Brian

[paulmcmillan]

Brian

See:

http://harringtonmuseum.org.uk/Aircr...Operations.pdf

F/Sgt E.E. Jones RAFVR - Pilot - died
W/O G.E.A. Baxter RAF - died
W/C J.E.D. Benham RAFAAF - died
F/Sgt A. Brittain RAF - died
F/Sgt D. Gold RAFVR - Pilot- died
Sgt F.W. Smith RAF Dispatcher - died

P/O D.O. Weeks RAF - Rear Gunner - died

Said returning from Mission!


and

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Bedfor...wLost1942.html

[Brian]

Thanks Paul

Cheers
Brian

[BC]

From the War Diary of Police Inspector Claude Rush, Felixstowe, Suffolk:

(480) Wednesday 28th January 1942 about 2100 - Whitley bomber, from Croft Royal Australian Air Force Station (sic), probably hit cable of barrage balloon of Harwich Harbour barrage. Flew over ships near Cork L.V. off Felixstowe, then fell into sea in flames there. Crew of 5 - pilot Australian, others R.A.F. personnel. 2 bodies recovered at 2130. One, Sergt Campbell, buried at sea owing to severe mutilation of body. The other, Sergt Dobson, R.A.F., brought to Felixstowe.

From 18 Group ROC Centre Logs:

28.1.1942 2122 Plane believed friendly shot down in sea M 8147 by ships. 1 survivor (sic) and 1 body found. L3 post reports plane believed to be a Blenheim.

28.1.1942 2237 L3 post reports balloon adrift M7743 after raid had passed over Harwich area.

12.3.1942 0952 Information required on Whitley shot down off Harwich on 28th January.

Hopes it helps !

BC

[Brian]

Thanks Bob et al

This is an extract from the piece on the BBC website that aroused my interest:


Pensioner Alan Brown has spent the past 20 years piecing together details of pilot David Gold's final flight in 1942.
The Leyland pilot's final mission, on January 29, 1942, was top secret; so much so that when he was seen flying back after dropping two agents over Belgium, he was shot down, with his crew of seven, by allied sea forces.
All eight on board died as the Whitley Armstrong Bomber sank slowly into the cold English channel, near to Boulogne, even though two crewmen made it back to Folkstone.
Local legend has always suggested an allied war ship cost David his life, but it has taken Alan nearly 20 years to get official confirmation. Alan, of Oakfield Drive, Leyland, said: "A lot of the information was buried away in confidential documents at the Ministry of Defence which I couldn't get access to.
"But in 1997, a lot of documents were released, including one detailing what happened on January 29, 1942.
"It said exactly what had happened."
The documents confirmed an English ship shot down the plane. Alan also discovered details of David's crew, which included men from Gateshead and Wales. He added: "From what I can gather, they were on a secret mission to Belgium, which was occupied by Nazi Germany at the time."

Something's not right!! Or were both Whitleys shot down by friendly fire?
Cheers
Brian