Alan Helsby RAF 178 squadron

Hi Paul welcome to the forum... they had more than one a/c that they had liberated from the enemy so it might be one of those...
Dee

 

Two Ju 52/3m aircraft were given the serials HK919 and HK920.

HP920 was issued to a Mosquito VI

Regards
Ross

 

My late father, W/Op LAC John JOHNSON served in the RAF during WW2 and was stationed in Libya, Eqypt, Iraq and Iran.
He accumulated many hours on flying duty at his Servicing Flight in a variety of transport aircraft types but mostly in two Junkers 52's which I believe were captured in Libya. The RAF serial numbers which were allocated to two of the three JU 52's captured were HK 919 and HK 920. I recall my father mentioned that there was another JU 52 (HK 918?) but it was u/s as the engines were 'clapped out'. Not that the engines in HK 919 and 920 were any better - they leaked oil profusely and when refueling the aircraft my father often wittingly said that they filled the aircraft with more oil than petrol.
He had great admiration for one pilot called Duckett of the SAAF who flew SAA civilian Ju 52's before the war. While flying, Duckett would keep a tin of petrol beside his pilot seat and wipe the leaking oil from the cockpit windows with an oily rag or, as an alternative, shut down the central engine at cruising altitude.
The BMW engines were replaced on both aircraft some time later by Pratt & Whitney Wasps and Hornets (the original BMW engines were license built Pratt & Whitney Wasp radials). He would say that the Hornets made 'a terrible racket'. Why Hornets and not Wasps I asked him? His answer was 'that's all we could get'. I believe he said that the propellers were also changed from twin blade to 3 blade and then back to twin blade.

My brother, who also served in the RAF servicing Chinooks at Guetersloh, has most of my father's photos including the JU 52's as well as his Flying Log Book. It makes interesting reading. I must piece together the tales my father would tell about the Ju 52's and the pilots who flew them.
I will keep you posted.

James

 

hi was searching your site and my grandfather was wilfred john furniss of 178 died 8th jan 1945

 

I am researching my father's wartime experiences. His name is Dennis Houghton. He was a rear gunner flying in Liberator bombers in 178 Squadron and served in N.Africa and Italy. He tells a story of being shot down over Yugoslavia while doing a drop to the partisans flying out from Foggia. He managed to bail out but most (possibly all) of the rest of his crew were killed. This happened before Christmas 1944. He said that he was rescued by the partisans and was taken back to Italy by RAF launch. He is shortly to celebrate his 90th birthday, is now a bit confused and so finds it hard to remember details. Does anyone know how I could find out more about this incident?

 

I am researching my father's wartime experiences. His name is Dennis Houghton. He was a rear gunner flying in Liberator bombers in 178 Squadron and served in N.Africa and Italy. He tells a story of being shot down over Yugoslavia while doing a drop to the partisans flying out from Foggia. He managed to bail out but most (possibly all) of the rest of his crew were killed. This happened before Christmas 1944. He said that he was rescued by the partisans and was taken back to Italy by RAF launch. He is shortly to celebrate his 90th birthday, is now a bit confused and so finds it hard to remember details. Does anyone know how I could find out more about this incident?

Hello Trevor, welcome to the forum.

The nearest I can find to Christmas 1944 for a 178 Squadron loss is Liberator KH243 which was missing on a supply drop on 6 November. Six crew were lost and two survived. I only have the details of the crew who were killed.

Would it be possible for your father to recall some of the crew names?

If you think it would help I can post more details.

Regards
Peter

 

Not part of the crew of either aircraft lost on the 5th/6th Nov.

He is flying during Nov and Dec 1944 with either S/L McNamara or F/L Fletcher and F/O Clegg in Jan 1945.

After that things become confused as two Sgt Houghton's are flying ops as aircrew.

Regards
Ross