Re: WW2 pilot ace reference in book who was killed and eaten by crabs alive!

[Danny152]

Hello all,

Forgive me for not going too much into the detail as want to keep the truth - surprise of this story for my upcoming book.

Has anyone read a book written by a Mosquito pilot that talks of a colleague who was involved in a post WW2 crash where they were reported to have been eaten by crabs alive! Yes, crabs.

Thanks and forgive me for not giving too much away.

Cheers

Danny

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

The scenario you describe sounds horribly like the loss of Mosquito FB.VI TE746 in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, on 26 March, 1947.

Col.

[jonny]

Ref Mosquito TE746 - I am not aware that either of the aircraft's occupants were ever found, and are still listed as 'missing.' May I suggest, therefore, that it is most unlikely that this can be them. It is also worthy of note that the distinguished pilot's wife and daughter are alive and well and living in Kenya, so any suggestion - however speculative - that a crew member suffered in this fashion, must be handled with exceptional care. Mind you, I guess we all understand that this approach applies to any possible candidate for a scenario such as this.

Rgds

Jonny

[Danny152]

Hi Jonny,

Thanks, and in weekly comms with his daughter who is a great friend. I am writing the bio of this pilot and hope it will be of interest to all.

I will let you know when has been published!

Cheers

Danny

[jonny]

Danny,

I'll look forward to getting my hands on a copy. Off at a but of a tangent, but a friend is in the process of writing a bio on Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter DSO (him of umbrella fame at the Arnhem bridge), and whose family also still reside in Kenya. Having just been posted back from Nairobi to the UK, I am sure that the famies are probably known to each other.

ATB

Jonny

[Danny152]

Jonny,

I can ask Berties daughter. I will let you know when the book is out.

This, plus confirmation of many other sources confirm his death. I got this snippet. But trying to find this book .

One forum post says "There is another story about Hoare's demise which is rather more distressing. It turned up in a book by another Mosquito pilot who does not mention Hoare's name, but the way the story is told it can only be him." but the post was never followed up. We can only speculate.

[COL BRUGGY]

Danny (and others),

Before you put anything into print, I strongly advise you to get hold of a copy of the following book:

Mosquito Monograph:A History of Mosquitoes in Australia and R.A.A.F. Operations.
Vincent,David.
Highbury:Author,1982 (1st.ed).

Vincent, who is a well-respected author/researcher here in Australia, gives a graphic account of the loss, search and recovery of the remains of the the crew of Mosquito TE746. He names all his sources - he does not speculate. His account can be read in Appendix Six - RAAF Mosquitoes in New Zealand and RNZAF Mosquitoes in Australia (pp.232-7)

One of Vincent's sources is the following:

fn.9 - Wing Commander W. E. Townsend "Report on Search for RAF Mosquito TE746 Missing During Flight from Darwin to Garbutt 26 March 1947" in Department of Air, Registry, Correspondence Files, multiple Number (Melbourne) Series, primary Numbers 1-323, 1939-1959. "Mosquito TE746 Accident" 1947. Australian Archives: CRS A705, Item 32/32/60.

This report is available at the National Archives of Australia. At the moment it is undigitised. I will give you the location of the file, but copy it quickly as it will time out

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=165889&isAv=N

The Preliminary Flying Accident Report (A9845), can be viewed here:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRETRIEVE/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7127498 p.22 of 22 - It won't tell you much!

Re Bertie Hoare's wife. Can someone please explain the following?

http://the-snorings.co.uk/places/airfield/cpt_hoare.html

Her Date of Death is given as, 22 June, 1970!

Due to senistive nature of this matter, I'll restrict any further comments here.

Col.

[Danny152]

Col,

You are a star! Thank you so much.

Cheers

Danny

[Danny152]

Col, can I ask you put the link on again, as it had timed out! I will jump on here UK time early morning.

Thanks mate.

[Danny152]

Col,

You asked about Lucy's headstone. She passed away from the result of a terminal illness in 1970. She was buried at Little Snoring where she met Bertie. The headstone was funded by ex members of the Mossy Sqns that were based there.

I visit her sometimes and say hello. Her grave does look like a CWGC headstone but actually civilian.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

Danny

[Danny152]

Jonny,

Rosy, Berties daughter would luv to get in touch with Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter DSO family. Lucy was godmother to his children. Is there anyway we could connect them?

Thanks

Danny

[COL BRUGGY]

Danny,

The reason I enquired about Hoare's wife, was that Jonny (in Post #3), mentioned that she was still alive!

Please try the link again now, as I won't be able to post it again here shortly.

I'll be in touch privately, soon.

Col.

[jonny]

Danny,

I’ll see what I can do, however, I’m engaged on pre-deployment training for Iraq for the mo, so it may take a while to make it work.

Rgds

Jonny

[Danny152]

Jonny,

Stay safe. Don't miss that place. If I am honest!

Cheers

Danny

[jonny]

Danny,

Iraq will make a nice change to AFG, which is where I should be now.

I had a response rather faster than I anticipated. I will send you a PM.

Rgds

Jonny