Trying to identify an unknown Halifax wreck

Fantastic work, Cees!
Look forward to seeing more photos!

…there are no missing crewmembers as far as we can ascertain.

Part of me is glad. Part of me wishes you had been able to ‘find’ a handful more to rest under CWGC markers.

Exactly what I was thinking.

.. there are no missing crewmembers as far as we can ascertain.

Part of me is glad. Part of me wishes you had been able to ‘find’ a handful more to rest under CWGC markers.

Moggy

Update, We can confirm it’s W1217, any further information anyone of you can provide is hugely appreciated, although there are no missing crewmembers as far as we can ascertain.
Cheers
Cees

Absolutely marvellous work Cees !!

Cees,
What a great service yourself and friends are doing for these fallen bomber Aircrew of WW-2. And bringing back airframes for future generations to study and think about.

I can still just about remember being picked up and thrown around,(As a 3 year old ) in fun, around 1944 by my”Uncle” Arnold who was an RAF Flt. Lt. bomber pilot on Lancaster 1000 Bomber Raids. His wife “Thelma” was lodging with my parents (In Birmingham) at that time. Cannot for the life of me remember their Surnames now, but I know he got through WW-2 OK and went on to fly Meteors in RAF before retiring probably in 57 when the Auxilliaries were disbanded.

So my thanks to you for your efforts.

Bill T.

Congratulations on identifying this aircraft – and thanks for all the great work that you and your team do.

Well, the sense of relief when finding the serialnumber today while cleaning some recent finds was tremendous. It was stencilled on the inside of a leading edge panel. Difficult to identify those British aircraft. You really must have patience. Seems like every project takes years to identify.
Cees

Great work, Cees. Congratulations and thank you, to you and the other volunteers, for doing this.

Very good Cees. Looking forward to more details when they can be made public. Maybe you could put a book together – i’m sure you have some very good stories that need to be told.

I will visit your museum one day I hope.

I was thinking of trying to get there in October, as I will be in Hellendoorn for three days for a memorial to a 158 squadron Halifax that I have links with.
But I dont think time will allow me to stop by unfortunately.
Carry on the good work Cees

Cees can i say what a fantastic job you guys are doing in recovering these aircraft and missing crew. Bringing closure to the families of these brave aircrew who paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom.

Well the wreck has been identified beyond any reasonable doubt. Will keep identity secret for now while research continues.
Very very Pleased.
Cees

The Whitley was 12V Cees, certainly at the start of it’s career.

Today I cleaned the alternator we recovered from the site, it confirmed that it’s a Mk II. We also have an idea which aircraft it can be. The plate on the alternator says 24 volts. I do know that early fighters had 12 volt electrical systems. Don’t know if bombers had 12 volt systems as well or only 24 volt.
Merlin Peter, can you tell me?

Cheers

Cees

Bombers were typically 24V

Bruce

Today I cleaned the alternator we recovered from the site, it confirmed that it’s a Mk II. We also have an idea which aircraft it can be. The plate on the alternator says 24 volts. I do know that early fighters had 12 volt electrical systems. Don’t know if bombers had 12 volt systems as well or only 24 volt.
Merlin Peter, can you tell me?

Cheers

Cees

… and I will say it again, you guys are doing a terrific job and should be commended for your efforts in returning the lost crews to their families if possible.
Regarding the halifax, would it not be possible to scan over the wreck wth sonar and then pick out certain areas to investigate?

Hmmm a lancaster centre section? I know someone who would be interested in that.

SO DO I!!!;) 😉 😉

Hi simfranck,

It could indeed be one of these but which one is difficult without any
part of a serial. Funny thing is that we have already recovered JB803
during 2003 and was even reported upon at flypast forum. it came down
very close to the lake near Muiden but the crew drowned after
baling out but were blown over the lake unfortunately.
Thats the problem with the lost bombers site and bomber command losses for instance where the info is only known from one side. We have a lot more
information about the other side. but its not easy
Thanks for your effort though
Cheers
Cees

Cees,

I’ve done a bit of research with the help of the excellent Lost Bombers website, and I think I have narrowed your Halifax down to one of six! All these are English Electric MKII and came down in the IJsselmeer. Here’s the list:

1) DT732 (Z-AX) 10 Sqd – crashed 13/14 may 1943

2) JD271 (NA-M) 428 Sqd – crashed off of Andijk 19/20 feb 1944

3) JB803 (KN-G) 77 Sqd – crashed 30 may 1943

4) LW286 (LK-H) 51 Sqd – crashed between Urk & Hindeloopen 22/23 nov 1943

5) W1217 (ZA-Z) 10 Sqd – crashed west of Makkum 23/24 may 1943

6) W1067 (EY-?) 78 Sqd – crashed 25/26 jun 1943

Hope these are of some use!!

Don’t worry Don,

we have a very large museum where all our recoveries including those in cooperation with the authorities are on display.

look at our site

www.arg1940-1945.nl

Cheers

cees

Cees,

You are doing a great job, more so if it leads to closure for the families of missing aircrew.

I have a question:
What happens to these wrecks, once they are recovered? Hopefully they find their way to museums?

Thanks!

Don

… and I will say it again, you guys are doing a terrific job and should be commended for your efforts in returning the lost crews to their families if possible.
Regarding the halifax, would it not be possible to scan over the wreck wth sonar and then pick out certain areas to investigate?

Hmmm a lancaster centre section? I know someone who would be interested in that.

Peter,

The lake is too shallow for sonar equipment, we do have a fishfinder but even then the use is limited. This is also the reason so many wrecks have remained untouched since the war.
Cees