|
Home
Allied:
1939-1940 Updated 19/10-24
1941 Updated 28/4-22
1942 Updated 14/7-24
1943 Updated 15/4-24
1944 Updated 20/11-24
1945 Updated 4/12-22
German:
1939
1940 New 30/11-23
1941 New 23/7-21
1942 Updated 24/7-24
1943 Updated 28/1-23
1944 Updated 23/7-23
1945 Updated 16/7-23
Books New Book by Steve Smith
Sources
Contact
Links
Search this
site by entering search words:
|
Halifax III HX294 crashed Langelands Bæltet 29/1 1944.
The aircraft belonged to RAAF (RAF) 466 Sqn Bomber Command and was coded HD-A
T/o 00:07 Leconfield. OP: Berlin.
In the Berlin area HX294 was followed by a German night fighter but managed to
shake him off and after having dropped its bombs the Halifax turned east and
then north towards Denmark on the route back to England. Over the Danish islands
south of the island of Fyn (Funen) it became clear that they would not have fuel
enough to reach England and they set course for Sweden. It soon became clear
that they would not make it to Sweden and around five o’clock in the morning
they left the aircraft by parachute.
The first to leave the Halifax was Navigator P/O Jack W. Tyler RAAF who landed
in the sea south of Fyn and probably froze to death. His dead body was found
near Dybskrog Huse in Nakkebølle Fjord on 16/4 and brought to the chapel in
Aarstrup church. The next day it was placed in a coffin and taken to Faaborg
where it was laid to rest in Faaborg Ny Assistens cemetery on 18/4 1944.
The next to leave was Wop F/S Jack Clark RAAF who landed in the water off Vornes
Skov forrest. He entered the island of Taasinge and walked about for the day
until he early on the evening of 30/1 knocked on the door of the farm of Fruit
Grower Holger Larsen, Eskær Fruit plantation. The flyer was wet and cold and
exhausted. The police was informed and two constables picked him up and took him
to Svendborg where he was handed over to the Wehrmacht in Møllergade street.
The third to bail out was Bomb aimer F/S Geoff Walker RAAF who landed in a field
on the island of Taasinge. He hid the chute and headed south towards Vejlegaard
farm. Outside the farm he met two farmhands but since they had no command of the
English language they called for the owner. He was however afraid of hiding the
flyer and called the Danish police. It was now 10:40 hours. A constable was sent
to pick up Walker and took him to Svendborg where he was handed over to the
Wehrmacht.
Air Gnr. Sydney L. Smith RAAF and Flt. Engr. R. Collings both landed in the sea
off the island of Siø. Smith entered the island and at 06:30 hours he arrived at
Siøgaard farm and told Farmer Petersen that he and six more flyers had bailed
out. Petersen then set out searching for the others while Smith was laid to bed
due to being wet and freezing. The farmer found Collings in the sea and took him
to the farm and put him to bed. Petersen then informed the flyers that he would
have to inform the police since there was no way they could hide on the small
island. The police in turn informed the Wehrmacht and around noon the flyers
were picked up and taken to Svendborg.
Air Gnr. F/Sgt Ross A. Whitfield RAAF landed in a field in the northern suburb
of Rudkøbing town on the island of Langeland. Ha saw a light from a house and
entered the chicken coup of the house. The noise from the chickens alarmed the
owner Rudolf Navne who found Whitfield. Navne did not speak English and called
for the neighbour sons to translate. The rumour spread that a flyer was at
Navnes house and Navne had to call the police. At 08:45 he was picked up by the
Danish police from Rudkøbing. In the afternoon the Wehrmacht brought him to
Svendborg.
Pilot S/Ldr Allan O.McCormack RAAF landed in the sea off Langeland and made it
to land. After having walked for a while he found a shack. When standing outside
the shack he was approached by a boy who showed Mccormack on his escape map
where he was. The boy then disappeared but returned with some sandwiches for
McCormack. McCormack stayed in the shack for the day and spent the night
searching for a boat but did not have any luck. In the afternoon of 30/1 the boy
returned followed by a police constable who took McCormack to the police station
of Rudkøbing. In the evning the Wehrmacht brought McCormack to Svendborg.
The Halifax is believed to have crashed into the Langelandsbæltet east of the
island of Langeland.
The crew were sent by train to Germany and Dulag Luft at Oberursel for
interrogation.
After Dulag Luft McCormack was sent to Stalag Luft III sagan where he stayed for
the rest of the war.
The other crew members were sent by train to Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug where they
arrived on 12/2 and stayed until 14/7 where they were loaded into cattle wagons
and taken by rail to Stalag 357 Thorn. They arrived on 15/7 after 34 hours in
the wagons.
On 9/8 the camp was evacuated and the prisoners were sent to Fallingbostel where they stayed until they were sent on a march which took them
across the river Elbe. After liberation they were flown to England.
(Horace Tylor via Finn Buch)
Left to right:
Pilot S/Ldr Allan O. McCormack RAAF, Flt. Engr. R. Collings, Navigator P/O Jack
W. Tyler RAAF,Bomb aimer F/S Geoff Walker RAAF, Wop F/S Jack Clark RAAF,
Air Gnr. Sydney L. Smith RAAF,
Air Gnr. F/Sgt Ross A. Whitfield RAAF.
Sources: LBUK, AS 25-86, EDIH, UA.
Back to 1944
Top of page
|
