Help needed researching the history of the Halifax bomber on the cover of "Amazing Airmen". What is known to date; She was named "F" for Freddie and was based with 35 squadron RAF at Graveley. The photograph was taken in 1942. Aircrew on cover from left to right... George Darling, Roy Macdonald,Tom Lane, Peter Jackson, Jimmy Janes, Don Alexander and Jimmy Rogers. Thank you in advance.
I don't know if this helps: Aircraft - Halifax II HR 685; Place - Germany; Date - 22 June 1943 (file not digitally scanned, not available to be read) Summary heading BALSON, Albert Peter - (Warrant Officer); Service Number - 403977 (became a POW - so Aircraft must have been shot down. He was discharged from RAAF November 1945) Descriptive note (I haven't checked these details on CWGC or wherever, but sometimes the names or service numbers of other crewmen are incorrect as they have been added in by NAA staff from sometimes degraded documentation) In addition to the file subject, the following servicemen are mentioned in this record: LANE T – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number – RCAF J15834 DARLING G – (Warrant Officer); Service Number – RAF 936544 JACKSON P – (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number – 130105 MacDONALD R – (Sergeant); Service Number – 652721 ALEXANDER D – (Flying Officer); Service Number – 120076 ROGERS F – (Flight Sergeant); Service Number - 570456
Hi Dave thank you very much do you think this Halifax may be HR685? It appears on lostbombers that the Lane crew was shot down in HR685 but is there any way to know if the Halifax on Amazing Airmen's cover is HR685 thanks again?
All you need to know here it seems! Added later! http://www.tremele.nl/english/crashes/e_wamel22061943/E%20crew/the%20crew01.htm Is the writer of the book a relation of one of the crew? Darling - G is not on the CWGC so did survive the war. Lost Bombers quotes all POW: Halifax HR685 Information Type Halifax Serial Number HR685 Squadron 35 X1D TL-X Operation Krefeld Date 1 21st June 1943 Date 2 22nd June 1943 Further Information "Serial Range HR654 - HR699. 46 Halifax Mk.11. Part of a batch of 250 HP59 Halifax Mk.11. HR654-HR699; HR711- HR758; HR773-HR819; HR832-HR880; HR905-HR952; HR977-HR988. HR758 was used for engine experiments. HR845 and HR909 had experimental turrets. Delivered by Handley Page (Cricklewood & Radlett) between 21Dec42 and 5Feb43. HR685 was one of six No.35 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this operation. See: W7878; BB361; BB368; HR799; HR848. Airborne 2313 21Jun43 from Graveley. Shot down by a night-fighter. Crash-site not established. F/L T.J.Lane DFC RCAF PoW F/S F.J.Rogers PoW F/L P.McG.Jackson PoW W/O G.W.Darling PoW F/S A.P.Balson RAAF PoW F/S R.F.MacDonald PoW F/O D.R.Alexander PoW F/S A.P.Balsom was interned in Camp L7. PoW No.43240 W/O G.W.Darling in Camps L6/357, PoW No.108 with F/S R.F.MacDonald, PoW No.205 and F/S F.J.Rogers, PoW No.239. F/L P.McG.Jackson in Camp L3, PoW No.1655 with F/L T.J.Lane, PoW No.1659. 'Air Battle of the Ruhr', A.Cooper, records F/L P.McG.Jackson as F/L P.M.Jackson. F/O D.R.Alexander was incarcerated in Camp L3. PoW No.1648. " Cheers Geoff
I believe the aircraft in the picture to be a Halifax Mk I which carried the Boulton Paul Type C nose turret as shown in the picture. From the MkII IA the turret was removed to improve the stability of the aircraft.
Thanks spidge and CXX. Yes the author's father was George Darling in this crew. Still not sure if that's HR685 on the cover though?
In this article it states that the photo was courtesy of Steven Darling however the photo must have been in the family somewhere.. http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/559466 Prt of the books article. http://findarticles.com/p/news-arti..._2003_Nov_6/leap-clutches-nazis/ai_n37063481/
Still nothing to say in there that it's the plane on the books cover the crew were shot down in. Aircrews did not always fly missions in the same aircraft. Photo was taken in 42 and the Lane crew were shot down in 43. I'm thinking it's more than likely not HR685.
Delighted to find out through crewman Tom Lane's log book the Halifax on the cover of "Amazing Airmen" is W7749(F). Tom flew on W7749(F) for 16 trips to continental Europe starting on August 11/1942 with a trip to Le Havre and ending with a trip to Turin on December 9/1942. The “F” in the serial number explains why the plane was called “F" for Freddie.” This Halifax was retired from operations and placed with 35/1659 BCU, which i believe is a training unit. It was “struck from charge” which i believe means no longer used as of August 6/1944. Very interesting to learn that Halifax W7749(F) actually survived several operations and was retired.
