R.A.A.F. member crew V.N. HANSEN K.I.A. in Normandy

[loiclemarchand]

Hello everyone,

I research informations concerning an australian member crew who was killed in action the 3rd june 1944 at Criquebeuf la Campagne (Normandy - Eure). His name was Vernon Nelson HANSEN (429431).

He was on board of the Halifax III LK875.

If anyone have the crew list or other informations ?

Thank you
Best regards
Loïc from France

[Linzee]

HANSEN VERNON NELSON : Service Number - 429431 : Date of birth - 28 Apr 1923 : Place of birth - WARWICK QLD : Place of enlistment - BRISBANE : Next of Kin - MARSH CHRISTIAN

You will find 33 pages of his Service Record has been digitised and is available for viewing online at the National Archives of Australia website - go here http://www.naa.gov.au/The_Collection/recordsearch.html then click on "Search Now - as a guest" then in the form that is displayed type only 'Hanson 429431' in the space "Keywords(or name)" then click on "Search". On the next page click on "Display" to see the files available and you will see an icon which you can click on to view the file that has already been digitised.

This file includes a small photograph of him, casualty notification info, postings, courses, enrolment papers, etc.

There is a further file for this airman which has not yet been digitised. You can make a request for it to be digitised at no cost. It takes approx 4 weeks before it is available for viewing.

Regards & Good Luck
Linzee

[Linzee]

Halifax LK875 was one of six Halifax aircraft from 158 Squadron which were lost on the night of 2/3 June 1944 on the same operation.

The following information re Halifax LK857 comes from RAF Bomber Command Losses 1944 by W R Chorley:
Halifax III LK875 NP-Q, Op; Trappes. Took off Lissett 2224 to bomb the rail yards. Crashed between Criquebeuf-la-Campagne (Eure) and Ecquetot, two small communities N of the main road between le Neubourg and Louviers and some 20 km NNW of Evreux. F/Sgt Hanson RAAF is buried in the churchyard of the former while the others who died are buried in the communal cemetery of the latter.
Crew and fates:
WO2 R B THOMPSON RCAF - died
Sgt D G GETTINGS - evaded
F/O J K GREENWAY RCAF - died
F/Sgt W A YOUNIE RCAF - died
Sgt D R DAY - POW
F/Sgt V N HANSEN RAAF - died
Sgt T J SHERIDAN - died

Regards
Linzee

Vernon is also the name of a small city nearby (have a look at a map). I happened to spend 4 years in this very region but in Calvados, a bit to the West, not Eure where these events took place. There are big test facilities for European "Ariane" space rocket engines at Vernon (which earlier belonged to the French firm SEP). If you drive around in the region you often see road signs with the name of Vernon.

What a coincidence! I don't find it funny but a bit moving. Let us remember the young guys who died - so young. Thanks to them we are able to do a few things today, for example drive around in the nice countryside of Normandy, enjoy the cheeses, apples, cidre etc. produced there and send rockets into space. I feel it's better than having to lift my right arm all the time an yell "Heil Hitler" like a lunatic.

A big "thank you" to Vernon and all his pals.

[NigelHalifax158]

Cher Ami,Why are you interested in Crew of Halifax III LK875?My Mother's first
Husband was W.A.Younie Bomb Aimer.I have much information in respect of this crash.My village is twinned with Ecquetot & a regular visitor to the graves.

I would like to find the Luftwaffe pilot who shot the aircraft down.Any ideas?

L'amite'

Nigel

[Chris Goss]

Knowing the area well, there are 3 possibilities:

Hptm Fritz Soethe, 4/NJG 4, Evreux-Louviers, 0119 hrs
Hptm Paul Zorner, III/NJG 5, 30 km WNW Evreux, 0122 hrs
Ofw Klaiber, 1/NJG 5, 40 km NW Evreux, 0124 hrs

[Vraa84]

Hi

Does anyone know why Hansen is buried at CRIQUEBEUF-LA-CAMPAGNE CHURCHYARD, while the rest is buried at ECQUETOT COMMUNAL CEMETERY. In Chorleys "In brave company- 158 sqn operations" it is stated that only 4 crewmembers where taken away for burial, was Hansens body fund later than the others.

Cheers Nick

[NigelHalifax158]

Chris,
Many thanks for your valuable information.That night there was 5 Halifax A/c
shot down from 158Sqn.I will look into the Bomber Command Loss report together with the account of the Flt Eng.
Is it possible to contact any of those pilots now ?

Yours in friendship,



Nigel

[NigelHalifax158]

Nick,
I have visited the site on a number of occassion and spoken to one of the brave Frenchmen who collected the bodies and he confirmed that one body was found
a short distance from the other four bodies.My Mother visited the crash site
in 1946 and told me that the aircraft wreakage covered a number of fields.I guess V.N.Hanson either fell from the aircraft or tried to bail out.From information received from one of the survivers the intercom was damaged in the attack and the fuselage was on fire.My Mother did have two photographs
of the site but unfortunely connot be found.

Any further questions please contact me.

Best Wishes

Nigel

[NigelHalifax158]

Chris,
Would these have been Me 210's ?.Which airfield were they from ?Any ideas

Yours in Friendship.



Nigel