Mosquito crashlanding 26 November 1944

[lancaster103]

Looking for info on the following 107 Sqdn, Mosquito Fb VI who made a emergency landing after attacking a train at Oisterwijk,Holland on 26 november 1944.

Thanks,
Adrian

[Jaap Woortman]

Why should a Mosquito attack a train in already liberated Netherlands?
This part of the Netherlands was liberated at October 27th, 1944.
Is your date correct?

Jaap Woortman

[lancaster103]

Hello Jaap, Date is correct. Why this Mossie attacking a train while that part of Holland was liberated is still unknown to me. A/c made a belly landing beside Oirschotsebaan near Kleine Oisterwijkse Heide. Got a name Warrant Officer Warren as pilot or Nav. Sadly no other info.

Regards,
Adrian

[Jaap Woortman]

2nd TAF part 2, page 342 and 343:
At e2040 No. 107 Sqn. Mosquito VI NT207 B.
W/O G.Warren
Sgt W.Roberts, injured.
It is mentioned that the Mosquito was shot down by Flak north-east of Tilburg. No mention of trains. North-east of Tilburg could have been everywhere.

Jaap

[lancaster103]

Many,Many Thanks Jaap for this info. Any other info like target, base, take off time etc???

[SMF144]

Adrian,

Don't have much in the way of specifics, as no times are given, but here is what I have for this incident.

11 Mosquitoes of 138 Wing - to attack movement along waterways GRONINGEN-LEEUWARDEN-SNEEK/ASSEN-MEPPEL/ZWOLLE-MEPPLE-HOOGEVEEN/ZUTPHEN-HENGELO. 9 aircraft attacked with 36x500 bombs, 1840 rounds cannon and 700 of machine-gun. The crew of one aircraft were heard to say they were baling out and an aircraft was seen to crash near TILBURG. 1 aircraft did not take off due to tech. 8 barges were attacked, strikes were seen on the majority. A direct hit obtained on 1 barge at U.9817 which sank. 2 railways were bombed with bursts near track. 1 long train with 2 locos at Z.6722 attacked and 1 loco left steaming. Flak position at Q.0473 silenced and 1 MET strafed Z.7945. At 2218 hours in RHEINE area our aircraft was approached by a S/E/ a/c, probably jet-propelled, with red light at tail. Our a/c made diving turn from 3,000 to 250 ft and E/A was out-turned and lost contact.

Ultimately, consulting 107 Squadron's ORB will provide the details you are after.

Stephen

[lancaster103]

Hi Stephen, Many ,many Thanks for this very interesting information. This was happened 25/26 November 1944. FTR 3 Mosquitoes from 305 Polish Sqdn. Seems that our a/c was lost 26 November 1944 at 22.30Hrs. and attacking the same targets as you mentioned.

For Jaap; Tagesmeldung der 88 Armee Korps there where two train transports of the German 347 I.D. One train transport for Artillery Regt 347(November prepared at the river Meuse near Den Bosch), and one train transport for parts for Artilley Regt 191. These where the only train transports that day for 88 Armee Korps

I doubt it if this mosquito where hit by FLAK over Tilburg when it's was liberated!! Maybe own FLAK??

Cheers,
Adrian

[SMF144]

Adrian, this might help with the overall picture for the 26th; maybe put a few things into perspective. As a side note, besides the eleven Mosquitoes which your crew were a part of, thirty other Mosquitoes from 138 Wing were engaged in a lot of activity. I have included their accounts after the main summaries.

83 Group Intelligence Summary upto 2359 hrs for 26th November.
Enemy Activity – It has been a very busy day for the G.A.F. on the RHINE front and behind it. A considerable reaction of German fighters was evoked by the heavies and there seems to have been an air battle between Osnabruck and Minden and another in much the same area on the return flight of the heavies. A number of front line patrols was flown, but less, it seems, than yesterday. The day was notable for the greater number of sorties flown by Me.262’s, most of them over Holland. The only recorded hostile incident in daylight was the dropping of 4 H.E. bombs from 2,000 feet some 2 miles E. of B.86 by three Me.262’s. One of these aircraft received a direct hit from guns the R.A.F.R. on the airfield and is claimed as damaged. Witnesses who saw the incident say that the aircraft on being fired at jettisoned their bombs and made for Germany, the one that was hit smoking and losing height. In all the Group had 17 separate sightings of 27 Me.262’s. Only in one case were our aircraft able to engage and in that case one Tempest from the same height of 18,000 ft., was able to obtain strikes on the port wing and later on the starboard jet unit. The only normal single engine fighters seen were three Fw.190’s near VENLO in the afternoon of which one was destroyed. In the morning an Armed Recce by Tempests chanced upon HANDORF airfield as a Ju-88 was coming in to land. It was attacked, hit and landed in a field ¼ mile short of the airfield. Next door, MUNSTER, a Ju-188 was attacked in similar circumstances. It was not so fortuned and blew up in the air, one parachute being seen. A fighter sweep in the same area later found MUNSTER and HANDORF cloud covered, but at HOPSTEN(HOPSTRN?) two Me-262’s were seen. One near the runway was left in flames and the other in the West of the field was attacked, strikes being seen. This sortie also saw an Me-262 take off from RHEINE/SALZBERGEN but could not engage it. Shortly after dark 2nd Army report two, apparently isolated cases of bombing in the area West of ROERMOND.

83 Group Activity – Surprisingly better weather permitted a good day’s work. Fighter patrols again topped the bill, with the results referred to in para 1 above. Rail cutting and Armed Recces took up the bulk of the remaining effort and good scores of cuts, amounting to 22, were made. One of these missions, having bombed, found a train of one workable loco hauling 10 damaged locos, 3 damaged trucks and 3 damaged tankers at A.7288. The workable loco was left in the same category as the rest of the train. Another mission hit the track with part of its bomb load, the remainder seriously damaging a railside factory at A.2222. 25 soldiers at A2125 were left, it not flamers, at least damaged. A few calls for support were answered, one being for an attack on a defended locality at K.8870. Two attempts failed because of weather though the alternatives attacked, small factories, were successfully dealt with. On the third attempt, the buildings were destroyed and petrol fires left burning. A castle at E.8329 was hit and very severely damaged. Gun positions were also attacked with unobserved results. The Recce Wing had a full day. All but two of its 17 photographic missions were successful and the Tac/R missions numbering 14 produced useful results. 4 Arty/R missions were also flown.

Daily Summary of Air Operations from Sunset 25th November to Sunset 26th November 1944
Eighth Air Force dispatched over 1,000 Fortresses and Liberators, escorted by Mustangs and Thunderbolts, to attack two railway viaducts, an oil refinery, and a railway marshalling yard in western Germany. Seven targets of opportunity were also attacked by single aircraft. R.A.F. Bomber Command during the night of 25/26 November attacked four cities in GERMANY and flew countermeasures. During the day 26 November a force of Lancasters attacked an ordnance depot in Germany. During the ight 26/27 November dispatched aircraft to attack cities in GERMANY, and countermeasures. Second T.A.F. during the night 25/26 November attacked rail and road movements in HOLLAND and WESTERN GERMANY area, flew pre-arranged support and recce missions. During the day 26 November gave immediate support and pre arranged support to ground forces, conducted Armed Recce and Fighter Operations in Battle area and flew recce missions. Ninth Air Force during the night 25/26th November night fighters flew offensive patrols and Intruder missions over western Germany. During the day bombers attacked storage, supply and ordnance depots in Germany. Fighter and Fighter/Bombers escorted Bombers and flew armed recce and flew escort, sweeps and fighter operations. R.A.F. Fighter Command during the night 25/26 November flew offensive, defensive, A.S.R., and F.B.I. patrols. During the day conducted armed recces, fighter sweeps, A.S.R. and defensive patrols. Coastal Command dispatched a/c on anti-U-Boat patrols, anti-shipping patrols, A.S.R. and convoy escort.

15/138 Wing – Time up 1900/Time down 0030 – To harass and attack enemy movements in area ROTTERDAM/DEVENTER/DUSSELDORF/VENLO with particular attention to barge traffic WESEL area. 15 A/C attacked with 59x500 bombs, 4440 rounds of cannon and 9640 rounds of M.G. 10 trains were attacked. Strikes seen on all trains and steam and smoke seen from some of the locos. A large explosion was seen at A.1206 after a train had been attacked. Railway Junction and stations were also attacked and a large explosion caused at ERKELENZ. Strikes were seen on approx 16 MET and 3 barges. Other trains were attacked with unobserved results.

15/138 Wing – To attack movement along railways OSNABRUCK-MUNSTERS-WESSEL/MUNSTER-COESFELD-BUCHOLT/OSNABRUCK-HENGELO-DEVENTER/MEPPEL-SWOLLE-AMERSFOORT. 14 a/c attacked with 56x500 bombs, 4880 rounds cannon and 5180 rounds of M.G. 1 a/c aborted due to tech. 13 trains were attacked and strikes seen. At A.6464 much debris was seen and at Z.6001 a direct hit was scored on a train and another at A.7995 was followed by a large explosion. Railway stations at Z.7425 and Z.8332 were bombed and a large explosion followed attack on the latter. A direct was obtained on canal bridge at V.4320. Six MET and a factory were also attacked. Additional trains attacked with unobserved results.

Stephen