Hello All, I'm seeking information about an aircraft that took off from Tarrant Rushton on 20-9-44... This aircraft was part of 298 Sqn and could be a Hailfax or Albermarle and there is one casualty In Memory of Sergeant GEOFFREY O'KEEFE 1399880, 298 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 29 on 20 September 1944 Son of John and Beatrice O'Keefe; husband of Eva Joan O'Keefe, of Welling, Kent. Remembered with honour CAMBERWELL (HONOR OAK) CREMATORIUM Also another aircraft Geoff sent me some information already on this one but I need to know if it was on surport mission to Arnhem ??? Also will be at Kew next week checking Air files for them both Regards Tom
Hello All, Just found the above so here you all go SAS Mission 19/20.9.44 Halifax Mk V LL256 T - S 298 Sqdn RAF P/O A.K. Berry - Pilot Sgt Geoffrey. O’Keefe RAFVR - Wireless Op - killed P/O K.W.Austin - Flight Engineer - injured Sgt O’Keefe interned at Camberwell (Honor Oak) Crematorium, UK Middle Wallop, UK T/O Tarrant Rushton 19:32 hrs on SAS operation to LOYTON 27. Aircraft ran out of fuel and crash bellylanded in a wood near Middle Wallop at 02:53 hrs while being diverted to Harwell due to bad weather on returning from unsuccessful mission. Passengers included 3 SAS troops and a dispatcher. One of troops was dangerously injured. Aircraft completely written off
Tom ORB states "At night three Special Air Service operations were laid on and the crews were S/L R J IMBER, W/O SMITH AND P/O BERRY, Before P/O BERRY could land here the weather had become u/s so he was diverted to another aerodrome, before reaching it he ran out of petrol and crashed. One member of the crew SGT O'KEEFE, G was killed but the rest of the crew were uninjured except for cuts and bruises" John
