157 Sqn Mosquito loss on 15/16 Sep 44

[robcur]

Seeking information on the loss of a night fighter Mosquito of 157 Squadron out of RAF Swannington on the night of 15/16 September 1944. The crew were Sqn Ldr Chisholm (pilot) and Flt Lt Wilde (navigator). The aircraft was coded RS-W and reportedly departed Swannington at 23:50hrs. The mission was high level bomber support (HLBS) in the Kiel area.
The 157 Sqn Operations Record Book for that night shows that crews reported heavy flak both over Keil and the Heligoland Light areas. The squadron mounted a search for dinghies the next day but with no result.

It is believed that there were no emergency RT transmissions and nothing further is known about the fate of this aircraft and crew.



Can anyone add any further information about this loss?

[Jim P.]

Theo Boiten's "Nachtjagd War Diaries, Vol.II" matches up 3 Mosquito claims from JG 300 for that night, but from 239, 608 & 515 Sqs., 2 of which, at least, are in the Berlin area. Unfortunately, these don't appear to help with your inquiry - or maybe it does point to a loss due to Flak. I don't have any NJG claims for 15/16-Sep-44 from Boiten or any other source, at least from over Western Europe.

[robcur]

Thanks Jim for your trouble. Loss to a night fighter is probably now ruled out. I guess that we will probably never now know the cause.