mosquito crash 26 Nov. 1944

[lancaster]

Looking for more info about a crash landing with a Mosquito on the 26 November 1944 near Oisterwijk/Holland. All info is welcome.

[Horst Weber]

Hi lancaster !

On 25 November, you find two MOSQUITO losses:
- MT463 No. 488 Sq. accident at Amiens/Glisy
- LR384 No. 60 OTU out of control into sea

26 November:
- NT207 No. 107 Sq, 138 Wing, 2nd TAF; hit by flak, disposition unknown
- MM203 No. 128 Sq, Bomber Command; return Nürnberg, engine failure
- HP913 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; flak-hit, abandoned near Reims(F)
- PZ278 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; missing
- PZ333 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; missing
- HK427 No. 409 Sq, 149 Wing, 2nd TAF; accidental damage, no further details
Note: all lost No. 305 Sq.a/c were detailed: Attacking rail movement SOEST-HAMM-OSNABRUECK-HENGELO (NL)-MUENSTER areas.

Three additional missions that day are reported by 8th AF, when 25th BG despatched two MOSQUITO on weather recce to Germany and one MOSQUITO to special operations to Holland.

One MOSQUITO, NS382, of USAAF is reported been written off battle
damaged on Nov. 28th, 1944.

All the best,

Horst Weber

[lancaster]

Hi Horst,

Many Thanks for your detailed reply.

Best Wishes,
Adrian

[Allan125]

[quote=Horst Weber]26 November:
- - HP913 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; flak-hit, abandoned near Reims(F)
- PZ278 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; missing
- PZ333 No. 305 Sq, 125 Wing, 2nd TAF; missing
[quote]

Hello Horst - 305 (Ziemia Wielkopska - Polish) Squadron never served in 125 Wing - on 26 November 125 Wing was serving at B.64 Schaffen/Diest with 130 (Punjab) Squadron and 402 (Winnipeg Bear) Squadron RCAF, both operating Spitfire XIV's - From formation in June 1943 to disbanding in July 1945 125 airfield/wing operated single engine fighters only. (Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tempests, and various marks of Spitfires, but Mosquito's - definitely no). My understanding is that 305 squadron operated as part of 138 Wing from 1943 - 1945. cheers - Allan

[Horst Weber]

Hi Allan !

You are completely right. Forgive me, please, but I mixed up No. 305 SQ with No. 350 SQ that day. It is clearly, as you mentioned, that No. 305 SQ, which suffered the three MOSQUITO losses, was placed under No. 138 Wing Command that time. The "2nd T.A.F. Log of Casualtiy Claims, Assessments and Losses", sheet No. 123 gives the same information. Thank you for the correction.

Best regards,

Horst Weber

[Franek Grabowski]

Horst
IIRC one of the Mossies crashed near Wesel, while the one mentioned abandoned was actually lost because navigator forget electric torch!
More details (if needed) when I am back home.

[Allan125]

Originally Posted by Horst Weber

Hi Allan ! You are completely right. Forgive me, please, but I mixed up No. 305 SQ with No. 350 SQ that day. It is clearly, as you mentioned, that No. 305 SQ, which suffered the three MOSQUITO losses, was placed under No. 138 Wing Command that time. The "2nd T.A.F. Log of Casualtiy Claims, Assessments and Losses", sheet No. 123 gives the same information. Thank you for the correction. Best regards, Horst Weber

Hello Horst - sorry to advise you that 350 (Belgian) Squadron was also operating Spitfire XIV's, as part of the Lympne Wing - they joined 125 Wing at Y.32 Ophoven/Zwartberg on 31 December 1944, just in time to, involuntarily, take part in Operation Bodenplatte on the receiving end Allan