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By: - 21st January 2019 at 07:03 Permalink
Would help to know which one.
is this the loss you mean? https://www.verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/rs.php?aircraft=&sglo=T4581&date=&location=&pn=&unit=&name=&cemetry=&airforce=&target=&area=&airfield=
By: - 21st January 2019 at 10:41 Permalink
Didn't really want to make this about this one crash but more about what sources of information are out there to help people investigate such crashes?
Yes it was HK602 . According to witness, 3 crew baled out but perished. One body was found, identified and has a marked grave. It is not known what happened to the others.
By: - 21st January 2019 at 12:25 Permalink
The 90 Squadron ORB would be a start for research. The ORB is in the Kew archives.
Reason I asked about the individual aircraft is that there's a fair amount of local sources available usually. Take this one, https://db.wingstovictory.nl/pdf/514-story.pdf. The library in Middelburg also has an extensive collection on wartime losses, https://opac.zebi.nl/vubis/PDF/32551058X.pdf.
The Lancaster was part of the first wave of an attack on batteries in Vlissingen, in support of the Allied ground campaign to conquer the righthand bank of the Schelde river to secure the supply port of Antwerp. It shot down by an AA (Flak) battery in Vlissingen, coming down just off the Buitenhaven ('Outer Harbour') in the Westerschelde, around 10:02 LT. The source above also contains detailed information on the fate of those onboard.
By: - 21st January 2019 at 23:37 Permalink
Eric, many thanks for the links! Managed to translate the relevant part of the first. It would seem to confirm that some unmarked graves in the cemetery at Bergen op Zoom are probably the remaining missing crew from HK602. One of these graves is an unidentified Flying Officer.
Unfortunately, haven’t been able to do much with the second link?
From the first link:-
Lancaster Mk.I HK602 of 90 squadron - started at 0818 from Tuddenham Suffolk with the aim of the batteries at Vlissingen - collapsed at 1002 due to Flaktreffers in the Westerschelde.
With the exception of a single crew member, the entire crew has been missing. According to the report of the airguard of the shipyard "De Schelde", four parachutes ended up in the sea just outside the Buitenhaven. However, the Bomber Command Losses report two drownings at sea and two paratroopers, who ended up in the explosions of the discharged bombloads and of which (obviously) nothing could be found anymore.
In the months that followed, the remains of various British airmen washed ashore near Ritthem, after which they were temporarily taken to the sea dike.
ordered. None of these bodies could be identified, but it can not yet be ruled out that one or more of them belonged to this crew. Flg.Off.Robert Josephus Constable Higgins mia
Runnymede Memorial Panel 206
Sgt. David Alexander Robertson Walker mia Runnymede Memorial Panel 239
Flt.Sgt. Lawrence Gordon Calman RNZAF mia Runnymede Memorial Panel 263
Flt.Sgt. Francis Frederick Austerberry RAAF +
His remains were transferred at a later stage to the military cemetery in Bergen op Zoom.
Flt.Sgt. Bernard Coward mia
Runnymede Memorial Panel 216
Flt.Sgt. Donald George Headland mia
Posts: 159
By: MDF - 21st January 2019 at 01:35 - Edited 21st January 2019 at 02:49
A friend has found out that a distant relative was killed in the loss of a 90 Sqn Lancaster in September 1944. The family have found much information relating to the loss, including eye witness accounts and some official records. However, they have no details of any after action reports other crews may have given after the raid or the planned route for the raid, do such records still exist? There is a chance that such records may help to better locate the crash area, which was just off the Dutch coast, and possibly help in the search for their relatives final resting place. They have found that there are some unmarked war graves of RAF crew in the general area believed to be near the assumed crash location but a more accurate location could make these of more or less interest to them. I know there are many experts here and would be greatful for any thoughts or advice as to possible sources of information.