…part of it at least.
At 2255 hours on the evening of 24th May 1944, Handley Page Halifax Mk III LV905/EY-W, 78 Squadron RAF, departed RAF Breighton tasked, alongside 400+ allied bombers, with delivering a deadly payload of bombs on the railway marshalling yards of Aachen. Following the raid the returning bomber was attacked by Luftwaffe night fighters, setting it on fire and sending it into a steep dive. The aircraft then began to break up and subsequently crashed near Bergse Maas, approximately 1KM south of Hank (Noord-Brabant), 11KM NNE of Oosterhout. Two of the crew were thrown from the aircraft on impact, the other five were buried deep in the peat with the wreckage, sadly, and not surprisingly, none of the seven crew members survived.
In 2003 a group of Dutch aviation archeologists with the assistance of the Mayor of the Municipality of Werkendam, established the Salvage Halifax 1944 Foundation with the intention of salvaging the wreckage. They have kindly agreed that one of the aircraft’s engines should complete its mission and to that end we are currently in the process of having it returned to Breighton.
It is anticipated that we’ll receive the engine by the end of May, almost 66 years to the day since it departed on that fateful mission and just in time for the 78 Squadron reunion on June 6th (Exercise Halifax Shadow).
The crew of LV905 are believed to be buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen. They are:
Pilot P/O E.B. Wilson, Flight Engineer Sgt W.J. White, Navigator F/O S.C. Peterson RCAF, Bomb Aimer F/O N.A. Marston DFC, Wireless Operator F/Sgt J. Henderson, Mid Upper Gunner Sgt G.H. Butler, Rear Gunner Sgt J.T.L. Leblanc RCAF.
By: j_jza80 - 6th March 2013 at 00:01
Flying shots of Halifax LV905 EY-W
and a short video:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_W-BY-M-4c&feature=youtu.be
I’m hoping that she will fly at Breighton and complete her mission started in 1944 as a tribute to all her crew
Fantastic to see that shape back in the air 😎
By: playaviation - 5th March 2013 at 23:46
Flying shots of Halifax LV905 EY-W
and a short video:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_W-BY-M-4c&feature=youtu.be
I’m hoping that she will fly at Breighton and complete her mission started in 1944 as a tribute to all her crew
By: playaviation - 25th February 2013 at 18:19
The very same only just found this site:)
By: robdd1 - 25th February 2013 at 17:59
Playaviation – is this the build I have been watching on RCGroups – looks a cracking model
By: playaviation - 25th February 2013 at 17:24
A model halifax LV905 will soon fly from Breighton York’s as a memorial to all the crews lost on opps
By: Radpoe Meteor - 30th May 2010 at 15:32
What a wonderful gesture to effectively return the Halifax home – well done to all
By the way did this Halifax carry nose art?- if so it would be an ideal candidate for your cockpit Cees.
By: PaulR - 29th May 2010 at 22:53
Just caught up with this, brilliant stuff, a part of the aircraft is home. I’m sure the reunion will hold extra poignancy for this. May the day go well.
And, Peter, that is a very moving website. To see how our Dutch friends revere the airmen who fought so couragously against the Nazi menace is touching. I knew many survivors of the bombing campaign many years ago and they would be deeply humbled.
By: davski - 29th May 2010 at 21:08
Quick update – the salvaged engine arrived at Breighton this morning.
By: CeBro - 16th May 2010 at 11:49
Cees, it’s good to hear that some of LV905 has found a good home with you, too!
The craftsmanship involved in your restoration fills me with admiration.
As does the continuing activity, particularly in Holland, to ensure those who died fighting for your (and our) freedom are not forgotten.
Thanks Icare9
Lex, who does the metalworking ( I am a mere assistant) would blush from your compliment.
Well, Holland suffered quite a lot during WWII and the Allied aircraft in the skies gave the people hope. Even today the aicrew are held in high esteem.
Cees
By: Peter - 16th May 2010 at 01:26
Any chance of adding the a/c type to titles like this? Not all of us know RAF serials from A0001 to XX999 by heart…
Done.;)
By: Nashio966 - 15th May 2010 at 22:24
the first post clearly states which one we’re talking about mate
By: Kenneth - 15th May 2010 at 22:21
LV 905 returns home…
Any chance of adding the a/c type to titles like this? Not all of us know RAF serials from A0001 to XX999 by heart…
By: Icare9 - 15th May 2010 at 21:10
Cees, it’s good to hear that some of LV905 has found a good home with you, too!
The craftsmanship involved in your restoration fills me with admiration.
As does the continuing activity, particularly in Holland, to ensure those who died fighting for your (and our) freedom are not forgotten.
By: CeBro - 15th May 2010 at 18:38
Great to read that.
Some members of our museum including me were invited by the RNethAF
to visit the work being carried out there. The amount of wreckage was staggering, also the devastation the airframe had to suffer.
Some parts have been incorporated into my project.
Cees
By: Whitley_Project - 15th May 2010 at 14:13
Any idea which group was behind it? Any pictures of the recovery?
Cheers
Elliott
By: hindenburg - 15th May 2010 at 14:03
Wonderful idea of a project.
By: Blue_2 - 15th May 2010 at 00:45
What a wonderful project. Well done to all concerned, I take my hat off to you.
By: roadracer - 15th May 2010 at 00:23
Well done to all those involved.
By: Dr Strangelove - 15th May 2010 at 00:20
Indeed- “Nemo non paratus” (Nobody unprepared)
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May 14, 2010 at 4:04 pm