236 Sqn Beau Loss 15 March 1942 Hannaford and Robinson

[andy bird]

Having taken off at 2.40 p.m., Beaufighter U-Uniform was shadowing 3 Laden Tankers and 1 MV Robinson was sending signals back when Y Station lost contact.

Crew: Australian Jack Hannaford and Arthur Robinson from Bombay India

The Australian file on Hannaford at ANA Canberra have been quoted 3 months to access and obtai copies - unfortunately can't wait that long.

Were they shot down by fighters or flak ?

Best regards

Andy Bird

[Orwell1984]

You might not get much more information from them anyways if the following is any indication.
See page 345 of
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE
SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN
WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH
NO KNOWN GRAVE.

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws....25_017--1-.PDF

402536 Sergeant HANNAFORD, Jack Coulson
Source:
NAA : A705, 163/120/404.
Aircraft Type:
Beaufighter
Serial number:
T 4878
Radio call sign:
Unit:
236 Sqn RAF
Summary
:
Beaufighter T 4878 of 236 Sqn RAF took
off at 3pm on 15 March 1943 from RAF
Station Wattisham, on an operational shadow
patrol over the North Sea off the Dutch
coast. The aircraft failed to return from this mission.
Crew:
RAAF
402536 Sgt J.C.Hannaford, Pilot.
RAF
Sgt F.A.Robinson, Navigator (Wireless).
Following post war enquiries and investigatio
ns, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing
crew had lost their lives at sea.

[andy bird]

Many thanks Orwell1984,
Andy Bird

[Tom Semenza]

Andy,

You can access Hannaford's file on line at:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...5534390&isAv=N

Regards,
Tom

[andy bird]

Originally Posted by Tom Semenza

Andy,

You can access Hannaford's file on line at:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...5534390&isAv=N

Regards,
Tom

Cheers Tom. Have already done this,
Many Thanks
Andy

[Chris Goss]

I have 2 claims that day by Fw Helmut Baudach of I./JG 2 who was based at Katwijk that day (in 1942 not 1943 as one of the posts says the latter). First was for a Spitfire at 1400 hrs; German records have a fighter crashing at Lopik at 1402 hrs which was Wg Cdr J W S Forbes in X4503 of 1401 Met Flt. He then claimed a Blenheim at 1635 hrs so this could be them

[andy bird]

Yes, Think so judging by S/L Pikes timings who also took off from Wattisham slightly earlier:

T/O 1207
Le Havre 1416 attacked by Me109s
T/D 1610

Hannaford

T/O 1440
Le Havre 1620 / 1625 - rough calculations

Air Ministry Daily Report for 15 March 1942

6 EA active in Le Havre area

James Pike Papers: [via Auction House]

'Hannaford was in a buoyant mood going on first op'

Pinkerton and my self heard shortly after landing that contact had been lost indicated 'fighter' or 'fighters'

Many Thanks info will help get the last chapter finished

Andy

[Chris Goss]

Andy-to patrol Le Havre from Wattisham is a bit odd?