Crash Lancaster EE142 July 28, 1943

[RSwank]

Looking at the GSGS M3 map, it is possible to work out a rough "correction" factor for where the echodelta site locates co-ordinates vs where the same point seems to be on the actual map.
A point we can identify on the M3 map is where the Brettorfer Str / Uhlhorner Str crosses the railroad track (Bahnweg). On the M3 map the co-ordinates appear to be very close to rW478860. If we put those coordinates into the echodelta locator for the Nord de Guerre Grid it translates to the co-ordinates: 52.96795N, 8.4491E.
Looking a Google maps that point (see orange marker) appears to be about 200 meters NE of the actual location of the intersection:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/52...8.4491!5m1!1e4

A second point we can locate on the M3 map is at co-ordinates rW466851. There is a road that looks like the letter “L” rotated about 120 degrees clockwise and the coordinates are where the short leg of the “L” meets the long edge. If we again put that point in the echodelta translator, we get a location about 200 meters NE of the actual location.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52....42995!5m1!1e4

So it would appear that the echodelta locator is shifting locations about 200 meters to the NE of their “actual” locations for this part of the M3 map. Thus the grave location rW472854, that we located using the echodelta locator has probably also been shifted about 200 meters NE of its actual location.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52...6261!4d8.43891

[Dötlingen 1961]

In the next few days there will be a report in the “Nordwest-Zeitung” with a request for support. I hope that I will then find out the exact coordinates of the grave.

[Dötlingen 1961]

With the help of the newspaper and some residents of Brettorf, the crash site (see photo) could be found (Green Circle).
The approach to the railway line took place via the courtyard (blue circle).
During the attack, the aircraft got caught in a phone line and crashed. Residents of the courtyards saw the crash (blue and red circles).
A resident then buried Halliwell right next to the crash site under a beech tree (see also photo). There was no tombstone.
The plane was still there for a very long time. It was not recovered by the British. Children have found the remains of the aircraft for many years. A local resident also gave me the two parts seen in the photo today.

[RSwank]

Interesting. Looks like the part may possibly be part of a foot pedal for the rudder control.

[Dötlingen 1961]

Hello!
Is the name of the Tempest V "NV660" the number of the machine or a serial number?
Regards,
Karsten

[RSwank]

The plane was a Hawker Tempest. The Version or Mark number was "V" (for five). NV660 was the serial number.

Some background on the Tempest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker...t#Tempest_Mk.V

Note there is a photo of NV696 on the wikipedia page (note serial number on tail).

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...otype_ExCC.jpg

Wikipedia even has a colorized version: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...t_Nov_1944.jpg

I would guess Halliwell's plane would look the same or at least certainly very similar. What is missing are the squadron code letters and the individual plane letter.

You can see examples of those this next photo or in the video on the Tempest. The "SA" were the code letters for 486 squadron.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._48...Camps_1944.jpg

I think 274 squadron was using "JJ". See for example, this: http://www.luftwaffeinprofile.se/Tem...0%20D%204.html

A video on the Tempest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Sd8h3XXvU

[Dötlingen 1961]

Maybe someone has a photo of Halliwell or the Tempest NV660?
Thank you so much!

[RSwank]

We probably need to find some Halliwell relatives to possibly locate a photo. I will see if I can get any leads on his family. (I think I know his parent's names... so that is a start.)

[Dötlingen 1961]

Hello,
Due to the call in the newspaper, a contemporary witness reported that on July 10, 1943, another plane crashed in the Birkenbusch area. It was a bomber plane that was shot down by an anti-aircraft gun. Can someone say something about this?
Greeting,
Karsten

[RSwank]

Regarding the bomber on July 10, 1943, if you are sure about the date it would be a RAF bomber. The AAF only had a few missions into France on that date. See July 10, 1943 on this link: http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii...ml/Jul.43.html