This is a photo that was given to me by a family friend about 20 years ago. He served with 418 Sqn, RCAF, and was stationed at Volkel, Holland, when this pic was taken. Now I know that this is a Hawker Tempest V from 486 Sqn, RNZAF, but I have searched high and low for any information about the pilot, or the history of this particular aircraft, namely why it was shot down. Any help would be appreciated.
By: Bricklayer - 1st February 2006 at 21:47
Nothing wrong with your eyesight Bricklayer – it is indeed EJ862, SA-E of 486 Sqn which suffered an engine failure on take-off from B.80, Volkel, Holland, on 11 April 1945. The pilot, Plt Off J.E.Wood, took textbook action, raised the undercarriage and landed straight ahead. He was fine but the aircraft was ‘category B’ and was transported, via 419 Repair and Salvage Unit, to the UK for repair. This was completed by Hawker Aircraft and the Tempest was flown to 5MU, Kemble, for storage on 11 November 1946. It remained there until 5 january 1950 when it was tranferred back to Hawker for conversion to Tempest TT.5. It was delivered to 226 Operational Conversion Unit 2 October 1950 but written off after another wheels-up landing (in a field near Saffron Walden) following engine failure on 30 November 1950. The pilot Flt Lt D.A.Maddox was ok.
Excellent, excellent! Thank you so very much!
I may be pushing my luck here (in terms of possibly annoying people), but this is one other photo from the same gent, once again at Volkel. Here’s what I know about it so far:
“B-17G is “Max” Pathfinder B-17G 42-97691 , 427th Bomb Squadron, RAF Molesworth Cambridgeshire. Crashed Vokel, Holland following a 26 November 1944 mission to Osnabruck, Germany, Capt Richard C. Healy, pilot. Two crewmen bailed out and became POWs. Three crewmen in the nose were KIA when the nose was blown off. Five crewmen survived the crash and returned to Molesworth.”
Does anyone know of any other photos of this aircraft, or the names of the rest of the crew?
By: Cranswick - 1st February 2006 at 21:27
Nothing wrong with your eyesight Bricklayer – it is indeed EJ862, SA-E of 486 Sqn which suffered an engine failure on take-off from B.80, Volkel, Holland, on 11 April 1945. The pilot, Plt Off J.E.Wood, took textbook action, raised the undercarriage and landed straight ahead. He was fine but the aircraft was ‘category B’ and was transported, via 419 Repair and Salvage Unit, to the UK for repair. This was completed by Hawker Aircraft and the Tempest was flown to 5MU, Kemble, for storage on 11 November 1946. It remained there until 5 january 1950 when it was tranferred back to Hawker for conversion to Tempest TT.5. It was delivered to 226 Operational Conversion Unit 2 October 1950 but written off after another wheels-up landing (in a field near Saffron Walden) following engine failure on 30 November 1950. The pilot Flt Lt D.A.Maddox was ok.
By: Bricklayer - 1st February 2006 at 21:13
Can you see all or part of the serial number on the original photo?
Whoops, forgot to add that. Right where the s/n is, the photo is torn, but I can make part of it out. It looks like “862”. There may be an “FJ” or “EJ” in front of the s/n, but my eyes may be decieving me.
By: Papa Lima - 1st February 2006 at 19:55
Can you see all or part of the serial number on the original photo?
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February 1, 2006 at 6:58 pm