Halifax IIa 'K' 502 Sqn, April 1st 1943

[wwrsimon]

Hello

On May 1st* 1943 Halifax 'K' of 502 Sqn was abandoned on return to Chivenor at 21.55 due to bad weather at the end of its patrol. All the crew landed safely.

The O.R.B. doesn't list the aircraft's serial number, but I wondered if anyone knew it?

Many thanks

Simon

*EDIT - title amended: April 1st, not May 1st.

[Ross_McNeill]

1st of April (I've just checked F1180 and it has 29/30 March)

HR688

Ross

[wwrsimon]

Many thanks indeed Ross, and yes the ORB is for April 1st 1943. Apologies - been staring at badly-scanned ORB files on the National Archives website all afternoon, and it's muddled my brain somewhat.

The ORB Form 541 has:

1/4/43
Halifax IIa 'K'
C/V escort SL 126
Up: 09.20
Down: Baled out 21.55

Cruiser Newfoundland sighted. Met C/V and patrolled for three hours. U/B was surprised on surface while shadowing C/V and attacked with three DCs, one which appeared to throw U/B on beam ends. Captain was diverted to Chivenor because of bad weather but failed to land, and had to bale out. All crew safe.
F/O Davey N. J. [sic - Arthur John Davey D.S.O.]
F/O Armstrong E.A.
Sgt. Finlayson T.
Sgt. Johnson W. A. [William Alan Johnson, D.F.M.]
Sgt. Lewis S. R.
Sgt. Archer H.
Sgt. Barrett H. K. R. [N. K. R. ?]

Regards

Simon

[Graham Moore]

Many thanks indeed Ross, and yes the ORB is for April 1st 1943. Apologies - been staring at badly-scanned ORB files on the National Archives website all afternoon, and it's muddled my brain somewhat.

The ORB Form 541 has:

1/4/43
Halifax IIa 'K'
C/V escort SL 126
Up: 09.20
Down: Baled out 21.55

Cruiser Newfoundland sighted. Met C/V and patrolled for three hours. U/B was surprised on surface while shadowing C/V and attacked with three DCs, one which appeared to throw U/B on beam ends. Captain was diverted to Chivenor because of bad weather but failed to land, and had to bale out. All crew safe.
F/O Davey N. J. [sic - Arthur John Davey D.S.O.]
F/O Armstrong E.A.
Sgt. Finlayson T.
Sgt. Johnson W. A. [William Alan Johnson, D.F.M.]
Sgt. Lewis S. R.
Sgt. Archer H.
Sgt. Barrett H. K. R. [N. K. R. ?]

Regards

Simon

Where did plane crash and crew land

[wwrsimon]

Graham

For the Halifax site, see: http://www.rafdavidstowmoor.com/clog43.html

'29/03/1943 2004hrs Handley Page Halifax Mark II HR688/G YG-K of 502 Sqdn RAF St Eval diverted in bad weather after operations and crashed at Maundown Hill, Wiveliscombe, Somerset.'

Note the /G which denotes the aircraft should under guard when on the ground - I assume it was radar-equipped?

The ORB Form 540 doesn't record where the crew landed, just that they "all landed safely."

Regards

Simon