Hudson loss

[alex crawford]

Hi,

Does anyone have information about a 233 Sqn Hudson loss on 13 April 1940? One of the crew was LAC Peter Murray (wop/ag) from Anstruther in Fife.

In Fledgling Eagles by Chris Shores, Hudson N7258 from 233 Sqn was shot down by Ofw Robert Menge II/JG77. The pilot of the Hudson was Plt Off G J D YTorke. This loss occured on 12 April. Could this be the same aircraft?

Alex

[Peter Clare]

Alex,

The following is taken from RAF Coastal Command Losses Vol 1. Ross McNeill.

12 April 1940.
233 Squadron.
Hudson 1 N7258 ZS-J.
Op. Special.
Base Leuchars.
Take Off Time 07:28 hrs.

Crew.
P/O. G J D. Yorke 36185 +
F/Lt. A H. McLaren DFC 39019 +
Cpl. M. Wilson MiD 522495 +
LAC. J A. Milne 610765 +

Set out to intercept and shadow an enemy naval task force believed to include the 'Scharnhorst' and two Hipper-class cruisers. Whilst shadowing 'Scharnhorst' it is believed that the Hudson was shot down SW of Kristansand by Oblt Carmann of II/JG77 at 13:55 hrs. P/O Yorke, a New Zealander from Wellington, who was involved in the first submarine attack of the war, and his crew, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


13 April 1940.
233 Squadron.
Hudson 1 N7323 ZS-Y
Op. Stavanger.
Base Leuchars.
Take Off Time 13:42 hrs.

Crew.
Sgt. R S. Callinan 580171 +
Sgt. J S. Scarffe 529786 +
LAC. P. Murray 524858 +
LAC. T. Liddle 568502 +

Shot down off Stavanger, Norway, at 17:25hrs by Unteroffizier Bruckner in a Messerschmitt Me110C-1 from 3/ZG76 based at Sola. Sgt Callinan, a New Zealander from Auckland City, and his crew are buried in Sola Churchyard, Norway.

233 Squadron also lost Hudson 1 N7241 ZS-U on the same day.




Hope this is a help
Regards
Peter

[alex crawford]

Hi Peter,

Thank you very much, this helps a great deal.

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi,

I have another couple of queries regarding Hudsons.

4/10/39 A 224 Sqn Hudson crashed and four of the crew are buried at Leuchars. Crew are:

Plt Off R A Barker
Plt Off J W C McFarlane
Sgt H Letchford
AC C A Bates

10/10/39 A 233 Sqn Hudson crashed and two crew members are buried at Leuchars. Crew are:

Plt Off W E Lockey
Fly Off C H Clark

Can someone tie up these crews with a serial number/code and reason for loss?

Thanks,

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alex,

From Coastal Command Losses v1
4th October 1939.
224 Sqdn Hudson I N7214 "QX-T"
Delivered as a relief a/c to the detached flight and returned with relieved crew and kit. Dived into the ground from 300 ft, half a mile N of Leuchars, Fife after a presumed loss of control due to unbalanced load. Sgt Letchford, P/O. McFarlane P/O. Barker and AC1 Bates rest locally in Leuchars Cemetery . P/O Perry is buried in Lonparish Cemetery Hampshire and AC1 May in St. Johns Westgate Cemetery Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
F/O. D.G.Perry 37899
P/O J W C McFarlane 39638
Sgt. H. Letchford 580247
P/O. R A Barker 40199
AC1 F H May 521784
AC1 C A Bates 511737

10th October 1939
233 Sqdn Hudson I N7227 "ZS-Y"
The Hudson was flying very low as the visibility was poorwith a low cloud base and it struck high ground at 19.40hrs, 1 and a 1/2 miles S of Freuchie, Fife when returning from patrol. Fire broke out immediately and the wreckage was distributed over a large area. The crew of four were killed instantly. F/O Clark, a New Zealander from Wellington City and P/O. Lockley are buried in Leuchars Cemetery while AC1 Blades was taken to St.Mary Churchyard Wath, Yorkshire and AC2 Cochrane rests in Ryden Mains Cemetery New Monkland Lanarkshire.
F/O. C.H. Clark 39272
P/O. W.E.Lockley 41436
AC1 B N Blades 550711
AC2 W M Cochrane 620399

Alex

[alex crawford]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for filling in the gaps.

Alex

[bevanclark]

hi new to this ,looking for any information about P/O G yorke 233 sq on hudsons lost 12 april 1940 .

[Henk Welting]

Originally Posted by bevanclark

hi new to this ,looking for any information about P/O G yorke 233 sq on hudsons lost 12 april 1940 .

.......have a look at message nr 2 of this thread !!!