418 Squadron

[Henk Welting]

Looking for Mosquito serial numbers:

14-5-1944 (France):
F/Lt W.J. HARPER - RCAF C/5584 and F/O T.H. REES - 152425

16-5-1944 (Sweden):
S/Ldr H.D. CLEVELAND - RCAF J/5765 and F/Sgt F. DAY - DFM - 1503804.

Regards,
Henk.

[Amrit]

16-5-1944 (Sweden):
S/Ldr H.D. CLEVELAND - RCAF J/5765 and F/Sgt F. DAY - DFM - 1503804.

NS855 FBVI 418S Damaged by flak on day intruder nr Stralsund and forcelanded in Sweden 16.5.44

EDIT: I see from previous threads that these two losses, and the appropriate serials, are contentious. Seems an issue still not resolved

A

[jossleclercq]

Hello

The same applies for their Bostons ! I've checked samples of this Squadron ORB (Boston era), it contained very few details, and no serial numbers quoted. I don't know about the Mosquito period.

We have to rely on checking with Air-Britain volumes and other sources, but in case of multiple losses, not easy at all.

Joss

[Alex Smart]

Hello Joss,
Funny that you refer to the Air Brit volumes. Thats just what I did.
And
418 Sqn Mosquito losses that I could see were
LR
268 - 3-1-44
270 - 10-3-44
327 - 1-11-44
HJ
719 - 25-6-44
722 - 29-1-44
733 - 12-6-43
742 - 21-11-43
773 - 24-8-43
822 - 26-7-43
823 - 30-9-43
830 - 10-11-43
HR
114 - 23-7-44
149 - 23-7-44
151 - 10-3-45
179 - 3-6-44
183 - 8-7-44
342 - 23-2-45
351-18-10-44
HX
807 - 19-4-44
808 - 31-7-45
810 - 29-7-43
811 - 8-9-44
812 - 23-3 -44
817 - 27-10-43
818 - 23-9-43
MM
421 - 10-5-44
NS
830 - 5-1-45
850 - 1-11-44
855 - 16-5-44
906 - 30-9-44
980 - 1-6-44
986 - 8-5-44
NT
117 - 11-5-44
140 - 19-6-44
142 - 17-6-44
195 - 19-7-44
PZ
198 - 22-10-44
220 - 17-10-44
235 - 4-2-45
342 - 3-10-44
388 - 22-2-45
394 - 1-4-45
397 - 22-2-45
416 - 22-2-45
458 - 26-3-45
RS
531 - 26-3-45
561 - 10-3-45
569 - 22-2-45
571 - 14-1-45
604 - 22-2-45
613 - 11-9-45
TA
nil
The above were all Mk.VI's.
Four were of note
NS986 - 8-5-44
MM421 - 10-5-44
NT117 - 11-5-44
NS855 - 16-5-44

I saw none for the 14th ? While Vol 1 of "Making for Sweden" has Case number 108 as MM421, Cleveland Interned and Day killed a/c coded "TH-P". But if MM421 was lost on the 10th with Connel and Carr then it leaves NS855 as the a/c of Cleveland and Day.
As for the Mosquito loss on the 14th with Harper and Rees, I could see no match.
There were 418 Sqn claims made in May on the 2nd,2/3rd,14th and 16th.

Alex

[Dakota]

G'day Alex

In my haste to answer another question on this board, I failed to notice I included the wrong serial number. It should have been NS855 of course.

According to the squadron O.R.B. NS855 was severely damaged by flak in one engine while in the Stralsund area of Germany and ditched off the coast of Sweden on the 16th of May 1944.

Cleveland was interned in Sweden on the 16th of May 1944. He was reported safe in the United Kingdom on the 17th of June 1944 and was subsequently repatriated back to Canada on the 6th of August 1944.


Cheers...Chris

[Henk Welting]

Thanks friends for your response. Still have a problem with the Mosquito's from 14th/16th May (Harper/Rees and Cleveland/Day). Allison in his 'They Shall Grow Not Old' mentions serial NS855 for Harper (day ranger airfield Luxeuil; crashed at Lantetot near Belfort, about 16 km SE of Luxeuil).
Regards,
Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Have looked at the other 418 post and -

If Harper and Rees were lost the 8th May in NS986 and not the 14th May.
If Connell and Carr were in MM421 on the 10th May.
If Cleveland and Day were in NS855 on the 16th May.
Then who was in -
and NT117 on the 11th May.

Always more questions.

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Alex,
NT117: W/Cdr (Pilot) A. BARKER - RCAF and F/Lt (Nav) R.G. FREDERICK (RCAF) rescued from the Britsh Channel (18.35 - 20.15 hrs) by ASR Walrus L2315 of 277 Sqn (crewed by S/Ldr R.W. Wallens, W/O W.L. Butler and Sgt R.N. Smith).
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Alex,
...............but don't forget that the death date for HARPER/REES was 14th May 1944 ! What about NS986 (Air Britain DBR in accident 8.5.44) could be repaired and lost 14.5.44 ?

Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hi Henk,
Thanks for details re NT117 loss on the 11th May as being Barker and Frederick.

We would then have -
8.5.44 -NS896 - Harper & Rees (perhaps they both died on the 14th?).
10.5.44 - MM421 - Carr & Connell Both POW
11.5.44 - NT117 - Barker & Frederick Both rescued
16.5.44 - NS855 - Cleveland & Day one Int Sweden one Killed.

Alex