RAF Halifax crash, 6 Nov 44

[Eagle0025]

I need assistance in identifying an RAF Halifax that crash landed at Florennes AB, Belgium (A-78) on 6 Nov 44. The Halifax was returning from a night mission to Koln, Germany with two engines shot out. All of the crew except the pilot bailed out over the field. The pilot then crash landed on the field. I have photos of the wreckage and wanted to see if I could find out any more details about this crash.

[Vraa84]

Hi
Any sqn letters, serial or something.

Cheers Nick

[Eagle0025]

Unfortunately, no squadron codes or serial numbers can be seen in the three photos that I have of the wreck. It was pretty well burnt out. Just the engines, props, and a little of the tail section remained. The 6 Nov 44 date is based on an entry in the 429th FS squadron history (the 474th FG was at Florennes) that mentioned how a crippled "Lancaster" had bellied in at Florennes after a night mission to Koln. The 474th veterans that I have talked to who were at Florennes then only recall one instance where an RAF bomber crashlanded at A-78. Hence, my guess that this crash occurred on 6 Nov 44. I am still checking with the vets to see if I can confirm that date.

Cheers, Gary Koch

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The date is probably off, or the type.

There was no raid on Koln by BC on 6 Nov 1944. There was a day raid against Gelsenkirchen with Lancasters and Halifaxes and then night raids on 6/7 against Koblenz and Mitteland Canal, but only with Lancasters.

The only possibility for the night of 6/7 according to Chorley is the Lancaster I HK621 GI-O of 622 Sqn that took off at 1700 to bomb Koblenz. Only details given is "Crash-landed in France. It is not thought that anyone was injured". Crew F/O F I Stephens RAAF, Sgt G Green, P/O F S Deacon RAAF, F/S A D Young, F/S J D Crago RAAF, Sgt D J Fitzsimmons, F/S W McRae, Sgt C E Barclay.
As part of the crew was Australian, maybe you can find more details in online Australian archives.

As for Koln, it was raided on 28 Oct by day and during the night of 30-31 Oct and 31 Oct-1 Nov. There were few losses.

A possibility on 31 Oct/1 Nov
Lancaster I LL964 PM-H of 103 Sqn took off 1749 to bomb Koln. Hit by Flak over the AP, which damaged fuel tanks and the rudder controls. The crew turned towards the Allied lines and when over Namur, Belgium, the order to abandon was given. F/S oubrey RCAF has the misfortune to open his parachute while still in the aircraft and by the time he had located the spare 'chute, the bomber was dangerously low. Exercising airmanship of the highest order, F/S Cooke RCAF crash-landed at St-Gerard (Namur), 14 km NW of Dinant, without injury to himself or F/S McCoubrey.
Crew (all save): F/S J C Cooke RCAF, Sgt E W McGrath, F/S J A Goff RCAF, F/S A E Mann RCAF (evaded, probably bailed out over the frontline), F/S F I R B Hill RCAF, F/S J H C McCoubrey RCAF, F/S M O Orr RCAF.

And another on 28 oct
Halifax III NA512 L8- of 347 Sqn took off 1342 to bomb Koln. Landed 1755 at Brussels with its engine streaming oil. Believed to have been abandonned to its fate and possibly fell victim to enemy action at Brussels on 1 January 1945.
Crew (all save, all French): Cne A Barrault, Adj H Laronze, Ltn P Vallette, Ltn J Bergeon, Adj P Baffico, Sgc R Monnett, Adj Stepanoboli

[Vraa84]

Hi
Sorry for my lack of knowlegde about belgium geography, but where is florennes to brussel.
Can you in the picture se any rundel, cause if it was NA512, it would be a french roundel and fin flash. And maybee a red diamond at the rudder.

Cheers
Nick

[Paul]

Nick,

Florennes is located about 70 km south of Brussels under Charleroi.


Regards,

Paul

[Vraa84]

Hi
Gary do you have a link for those pictures.

Cheers
Nick

[Eagle0025]

Nick,

I have all three shots of the Halifax crash scanned and saved as JPEGs. I can send them to you. Just give me your email address in a private message and I'll be happy to forward them to you.

Cheers, Gary

P.S. An interesting point is that the writing on the back of one of the photos says "Several French, RAF pilots brought this Halifax in. All except one escaped. The one that didn't tripped over a wire or something near exploding plane. Florennes, Belgium." Unfortunately no date is provided.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

This comment of "French pilots" seem to point to the 347 Sqn Halifax in my post above.

[Flupke]

The only Halifax crashed on A-78 was as far as I know the MkIII 14/3/1945 NA-681 347Sqn L8-G FFAF
Adj Chef Vidal F. FFAF(WND)
Adj Portesseau Louis FFAF(KIA)---Lt Guenois FFAF---SousLt Picot FFAF---Sgt Chef Chanson FFAF---Adj. Bruno FFAF---Sgt Pizel FFAF
It crashed on the airfield and destroyed several P-61