Harold Maitland Houghton of 138 Sqd

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Skintman1, Sep 21, 2014.

  1. Skintman1

    Skintman1 Member

    Morning all

    Trying to find any information on this chap Sgt Harold Maitland Houghton flew with 138 Sqd

    Question i recived
    "As you have an interest in aircraft I wonder if you have any information on an aircraft crash during training run 17 Dec 1943 (Biggleswade) 138 Squadron. The plane ? hit a steeple during training and all crew were killed. "

    I have the CWGC data and Chorley anything else appreiciated

    Chorley

    19 Dec 1943 138 Sqd - Halifax Mk II - BB364 NF - R - Op: Taining

    Sgt H D Williams, Sgt S Higham, Sgt H M Houghton, Sgt J N Pollard, Sgt F H Adams, P/O C A Woolldridge, Sgt J E Mooney, Sgt C A Kidd.

    Crashed after colliding with a tall factory chimney on the site of the Arlesey brickwork's, 1 mile SE of Henlow, Bedfordshire. Both air gunners came from Liverpool; Sgt Mooney lies in Ford Roman Catholic Cemetery, While Sgt Kidd rests in the City's Kirkdale Cemetery. The accident happened during container dropping practice over Henlow airfield.


    Dom
     
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  2. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Hi, Dom
    This was answered over 8 years ago on the Handley Page forum, which I found by a quick Google
    http://www.network54.com/Forum/261665/thread/1071330819/last-1364415786/crash+in+arlesey+(beds)

    There seem to have been plans for a Memorial for the 9 crew members (bit of a squeeze, presumably some would have been used to drop containers from the fuselage doors...?

    Hope this helps
     
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  3. Skintman1

    Skintman1 Member

    excellant many thanks

    Dom
     
  4. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    Containers were dropped from wings and bomb bays - packages were dropped by parachute or free dropped depending on content
     
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  5. Skintman1

    Skintman1 Member

    Many thanks Jed,

    The lady concerned is working on her family tree and is nowtrying to fnd ou as much as posible .

    Dom
     
  6. bill24chev

    bill24chev Junior Member

    I wasl eadt o blieve "packages" refered to the SOE agents that were to be dropped, presumably all by parachute if no tlanded by Lysander or other aircraft such as Ansons and Hudsons that were some times used.
    bill
     
  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    I have emailed CWGC re F.H.Adams headstone which is badly weather worn at Islington cemetery.


    ADAMS, FRANK HENRY




    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Trade:

    W.Op./Air Gnr.

    Service No:

    1395215

    Date of Death:

    19/12/1943

    Age:

    22

    Regiment/Service:

    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve



    138 Sqdn.

    Grave Reference:

    Sec. O. Block 9. Grave 21184P.

    Cemetery:

    ISLINGTON CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM

    Additional Information:

    Son of Frank Henry and Violet Elizabeth Adams; husband of Elizabeth May Adams, of Islington, London.http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2735085/
     

    Attached Files:

  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  9. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    "Package," the British referred to their outgoing agents sometimes as "packages",also probably used by those in the resistance networks who were to receive the agents as to minimise security leakage related to parachute drops or by covert landings of agents.

    The USAAF used the term "Joes" for those agents who they flew into Europe.
     
  10. hudson

    hudson Junior Member

    "Package," the British referred to their outgoing agents sometimes as "packages",also probably used by those in the resistance networks who were to receive the agents as to minimise security leakage related to parachute drops or by covert landings of agents.

    The USAAF used the term "Joes" for those agents who they flew into Europe.

    I can confirm that "packages" were just that, packages carried in the fuselage. These often contained the more delicate items including radios and radio spares. If you look at the debrief reports for the Tempsford Ops you will see the heading Personnel & Equipment carried and under this - Personnel (agents were referred to as Joes by the RAF), Containers, Leaflets, Packages, Pigeons, Coffee.

    If anyone would like a copy of a typical Debriefing Report just send me a pm with your email address.
     
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