wrote on January 2, 2011
Hello,
My Great Uncle was the pilot of a Halifax III on 408Sqn from July 1944 until he was killed on his 30th Op on 2nd Nov 1944. NP744 EQX. This is the complete crew:
F/O Vernon Beverley GILSON Pilot RCAF KILLED
F/O Donald Anderson STAPLES Navigator RCAF KILLED
F/O Louis Joseph REAUME Air Bomber RCAF KILLED
F/S Allan Clifford INESON Tail Gunner RCAF KILLED
These crew members were admitted to 50th (US) Field Hospital on 3rd November and evacuated to 15th (US) General Hospital A.P.O. 350 US Army on 4th November.
SGT Archibald ANDERSON Flight Engineer
P/O Donald Haig WOODWORTH Wireless Operator
F/S William Gordon SUTTON Mid Upper Gunner
The official letter sent to his widow said that there had been an accident on operations. 65 years later we found out that the aircraft was attacked by a FW190 nightfighter and in a running battle over a distance of 100 miles the aircraft was shot-up and burning and crash landed in Belgium.
The three survivors have all passed away now. I would really like to hear from any 408 Halifax crew who served during 1944 to find out more and of course if you knew this crew then please do contact me.
Any help much appreciated.
Simon Jeffs