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
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
Containers were dropped from wings and bomb bays - packages were dropped by parachute or free dropped depending on content
Many thanks Jed, The lady concerned is working on her family tree and is nowtrying to fnd ou as much as posible . Dom
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
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/
HOUGHTON, HAROLD MAITLAND Rank: Sergeant Trade: Nav. Service No: 1543667 Date of Death: 19/12/1943 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 138 Sqdn. Grave Reference: Div. 2. Sec. 2. C. of E. Grave 0.25. Cemetery: HORWICH (RIDGMONT) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Ernest and Annie Houghton, of Horwich.http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2699031/ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=38983390
"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.
"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.