Avro Lancaster loss August 12/13th 1944.

[Steve Smith]

Hi all,

Trying to establish the cause of the loss of Avro Lancaster PD252 HA-D of No.218 (Gold Coast) flown by Aussie Flying Officer Venon Humphrey lost on the above date. I have Theo's excellent books, I am just wondering if the cause as been confirmed since publication.?

Thanks in advance

Steve

[John Williams]

Hi Steve,

I'll send Theo an email for you, I think Theo is on leave at the moment. Humprey's files are on line at our archives I had a quick look but could not find a match.

Cheers,

John.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Steve,

Alan Storr has the following on this loss:

In a POW report AUS426776 P/O Hynd ((Nav./B) RAAF, stated:

"The aircraft was hit by flak and the intercom failed. It was shot down at 0001 hours on 13 August (1944), The pilot gave me the visual signal to bale out, and I was first out at 18,000 feet. The aircraft was diving and burning and crashed south of Aschen. I met Bower and Westbrook two days later in the lock up. The Germans said that Humphrey and Chew were killed in the crash, and Lyons and Horrocks were injured and in hospital. I landed safely by chute and walked until captured at Malmedy at 2300 hours on 13/8. Released by 11th Armoured Division at Lubeck 2/5/45."

https://d2uipk7udysvkd.cloudfront.ne...25_007--1-.pdf see: p.125 of 308.

Steve I would be careful in using these reports as to what actually happened. Sometimes, the crews literally did not know what hit them! For instance: we also have another account of the same event:

http://lbmhs.co.uk/newburgh-war-memoria Scroll down to Thomas Bruce Rushworth Horrocks (unsourced!).

Col.

[Alain12]

Hello ,

12/08/1944 Sourbrodt –Malmedy Belgium , but during the war the Germans claimed back this area as German territory
Lancaster I - PD-252
Humphrey 02/09/1920 , according to his personal file he was buried o 12/08/1944 at Sourbrodt and later brought to the US cemetery at Henri-Chapelle , mentioned on the german Totenliste nr 238 , Horrocks was buried at Henri-Chapelle on 03/11/1944. After the war reburried at Hotton.

Regards
Alain12

[Steve Smith]

John & Col,

Thank you both, I did have conflicting causes, just hoping Theo could help?

Alain,

Thank you for your help, I did check both the RAAF files in the hope there was something I had missed on the previous check, but thank you again.

Regards

Steve

[Andrew Curtis]

Hi Steve

I'm new to the site. P/O Vernon Humphrey was my dad's cousin and I am researching him now. I have his service records from the National Archives of Australia as well as information from my dad and his immmediate family. What are the conflicting causes you are referring to? There are differing stories on how he was killed. Also is there a copy of J Hynd's POW report that could access (the link in the thread doesn't work)? Also did Bower and Westbrook make POW reports?

Regards, Andrew