During the period of 29 April - 7 May operations Manna and Chowhound were carried out. I read three aicraft were lost due to a collision and engine fire. Can someone supply me more details on these three crashed aircraft?
Hi Pieter, The following from RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.6 - W R. Chorley 2-3 May 1945 199 Squadron Halifax III RG373 EX-T Op. Bomber Support Took off from North Creake at 2050 hours tasked for Mandrel screening duties over Kiel. Believed to have collided with another Squadron Aircraft while preparing to make a bombing run, both machines crashing at Meimsdorff east of the Eider and about 4 to 5 km south south west from the centre of Kiel. Crew. F/L. W E. Brooks + W/O. W F. Bolton + F/S. J R. Lewis + W/O. K A C M. Gavin + F/O. K N J. Croft + F/S. D. Wilson + F/O. A S J. Holder DFC + P/O. K N. Crane. Evaded ...................................... 2-3 May 1945 199 Squadron Halifax III RG375 EX-R Op. Bomber Support Took off from North Creake at 2054 hours similarly tasked and lost in the manner described above. Crew. F/L. L H. Currell RAAF. PoW Sgt. W H V. Mackay + F/S. A A. Bradley + Sgt. F T. Chambers + F/S. J. Loth + W/O. R H A. Pool + F/S. D. Greenwood + F/S. R. Hunter. PoW
.As regards the RAF,it would appear that apart from interrogating relevant squadron ORBs, given that a lost/incident aircraft's squadron can be identified,there is little possibility of this information being accessed.Apparently,there were so many aircraft movements during this period that they were not included in statistical returns.One method of research might be to check the CWGC records, as far as Bomber Command were concerned,for casualties during this period, assuming that there were casualties involved.Then trace the casualty back to a squadron. BC used No 1,3 and No 8 PFF Groups for Operation Manna.The 8th USAAF Bomb Groups and their squadrons have the operations detail recorded including the drop areas.This information can be referenced in the Mighty 8th War Diary by Roger Freeman. The Kiel operation was to counter the possibility of the Wehrmacht reinforcing Norway as a last stand...the Allies seemed to have a suspicion that the Germans intended to create Redoubts during their demise,something that never materialised.