Halifax crash nr Handcross (1942?)

Do please post them, Andy.

I will have the Police and other reports on this if it is of interest.

There’s a little more on this crash to be found at http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=760.0.

Baz.

This from Middleton’s Bomber Command War Diaries:

314 aircraft – 152 lancasters, 109 Halifaxes, 53 Stirlings. 11 aircraft – 6 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters – lost. 3.5 % of the force.

This raid was not successful. The Pathfinders claimed to have marked Stuttgart accurately but the Main Force is reported to have been late in arriving. The first use by the Germans of dummy target indicators is also reported. Most of the bombing fell in open country but the south-western suburbs of Vaihingen and Kaltental were hit. 118 buildings – nearly all houses – were destroyed, 112 people were killed and 386 were injured. The only industrial damage reported was to a small packing store at the Bosch factory.

Can’t see anything at all about Special Operations in the sources I have so would be interested to have a good look at the display you pictured in your first post. I think I’m right in saying that the Squadron was, at that time, commanded by Leonard Cheshire.

Be interesting if you or Stangman can find any reports in the local press of the period naming the maids who were killed and seeing what other details were given at the time.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

I suggest that you try looking at copies of the West Sussex County Times, the Evening Argus and the Crawley Observer for March 1943. These are available in microfiche format in Horsham, Brighton and Crawley libraries respectively. When I was looking for newspaper reports concerning another crash in West Sussex, those libraries were incredibly helpful and sent jpeg or pdf copies of the reports to me. Such assistance was invaluable to someone who doesn’t live in the UK!

Another Halifax MZ765 of 51 Squadron came down on the 16th fairway at Mannings Heath golf course 17.2.45. The starboard inner engine had caught fire and 5 baled out but sadly the pilot and bomb aimer didn’t get out in time. Auster spotter planes landed on the 18th fairway. There was a large crater and huge full grown oak trees were scattered like matchsticks onto the second and third fairways.
Very sad loss and highlights the sacrifice these young chaps made.

I think that my father – who used to be a member of the golf club – told me that there is now a display in the clubhouse at Mannings Heath concerning this crash.

Wartime Reporting

From The Times Saturday 13 March 1943 and understandably no mention of the cause of the fire.

The crater is still there and there is a memorial plaque on one of the trees. There were survivors, though, but cannot recall detail without looking at the file.

Another Halifax MZ765 of 51 Squadron came down on the 16th fairway at Mannings Heath golf course 17.2.45. The starboard inner engine had caught fire and 5 baled out but sadly the pilot and bomb aimer didn’t get out in time. Auster spotter planes landed on the 18th fairway. There was a large crater and huge full grown oak trees were scattered like matchsticks onto the second and third fairways.
Very sad loss and highlights the sacrifice these young chaps made.

Thanks T21… I thought Andy might comment on this thread,being very close to his home ground.
Ta for book info but not my sort of books,I generally stick to autobios and have run out of space for reference bks.

regards baz

edit… look at that ..he posted while i was typing the above 😀

Indeed so!

I do have a great deal of information on this incident filed away, including copies of the relevant Police Reports.

Blitz Over Sussex covers it, although I wouldn’t want to discourage you from buying the other volumes!

Pat Burgess and Andy Saunders wrote 3 excellent books on the Air war over Sussex, published by the Middleton Press in Midhurst circa 1990 -95.

Battle over Sussex 1940 ISBN 0-906520-79-7
Blitz over Sussex 1941-2
Bombers over Sussex 1943-45 ISBN 1-873793-510

Might be able to get them locally or try secondhand bookshops.

Had to go and sample some horrible carrot and walnut cake this time :D.Tough job but Kev wanted better pics 😀
As you can see from the pics I misremembered about the op,still not many details though.
Fortunately very close to a big scrappy so i got some bits for the old volvo as well 😀

cheers baz

Baz.

This from Middleton’s Bomber Command War Diaries:

314 aircraft – 152 lancasters, 109 Halifaxes, 53 Stirlings. 11 aircraft – 6 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters – lost. 3.5 % of the force.

This raid was not successful. The Pathfinders claimed to have marked Stuttgart accurately but the Main Force is reported to have been late in arriving. The first use by the Germans of dummy target indicators is also reported. Most of the bombing fell in open country but the south-western suburbs of Vaihingen and Kaltental were hit. 118 buildings – nearly all houses – were destroyed, 112 people were killed and 386 were injured. The only industrial damage reported was to a small packing store at the Bosch factory.

Can’t see anything at all about Special Operations in the sources I have so would be interested to have a good look at the display you pictured in your first post. I think I’m right in saying that the Squadron was, at that time, commanded by Leonard Cheshire.

Be interesting if you or Stangman can find any reports in the local press of the period naming the maids who were killed and seeing what other details were given at the time.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

Hi Kev
Will take my camera next time and try and get some readable shots,I may just be misremembering what was on the board,I didnt pay too much attention as I thought the phone pics would be better.

regards baz

Baz.

This from Middleton’s Bomber Command War Diaries:

314 aircraft – 152 lancasters, 109 Halifaxes, 53 Stirlings. 11 aircraft – 6 Halifaxes, 3 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters – lost. 3.5 % of the force.

This raid was not successful. The Pathfinders claimed to have marked Stuttgart accurately but the Main Force is reported to have been late in arriving. The first use by the Germans of dummy target indicators is also reported. Most of the bombing fell in open country but the south-western suburbs of Vaihingen and Kaltental were hit. 118 buildings – nearly all houses – were destroyed, 112 people were killed and 386 were injured. The only industrial damage reported was to a small packing store at the Bosch factory.

Can’t see anything at all about Special Operations in the sources I have so would be interested to have a good look at the display you pictured in your first post. I think I’m right in saying that the Squadron was, at that time, commanded by Leonard Cheshire.

Be interesting if you or Stangman can find any reports in the local press of the period naming the maids who were killed and seeing what other details were given at the time.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

DT492 Halifax of 76 Squadron returning from an operation to Stuttgart coded MP-H. The aircraft was severely damaged by flak shortly after bombing.
Edited to add: Airborne 1915 11th March 1943, crashed 0206 12th March 1943.

Regards,

Kev35

Could have sworn the plaque said special ops (ish) still the info probably came from the Lincs Echo newspaper 😀

Damn will have to go back to check and try some more of that horrible coffee walnut cake 😀

Took off on my birthday too !!

cheers baz

Of course! 1943 ! Late night finger trouble.

DaveW

Isn’t amazing what happens in your backyard [by a couple of miles ]that you have never heard of before ?
Obviously living in the South-East there were a lot of WW2 crash sites but to hear of one almost on your doorstep is fascinating.

I know just what you mean,I didnt know about it either and I live fairly close by,real bad luck the house being hit…mostly open countryside round there,but of course would have been even worse if the a/c went down in Handcross.

cheers baz

Isn’t amazing what happens in your backyard [by a couple of miles ]that you have never heard of before ?
Obviously living in the South-East there were a lot of WW2 crash sites but to hear of one almost on your doorstep is fascinating.

Many thanks Kev,I never seem to have much luck looking for ww2 crash info,good job you know what you are doing.
Shame about the fatalities,and also it was a lovely house/location.
The gardens and food are really good,nice place to visit if anybody ever in the area.

thanks baz

DT492 Halifax of 76 Squadron returning from an operation to Stuttgart coded MP-H. The aircraft was severely damaged by flak shortly after bombing. Too seriously damaged to return to Linton On Ouse, the aircraft succeeded in crossing the South Coast where the aircraft was successfully abandoned. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed onto High Beeches House, the family home of Colonel Loder MC, the High Sheriff of Sussex. He and his family survived but three maids living at the back of the house died. The house itself was destroyed. The crew of the Halifax were F/Sgt T Gallantry, Sgt. Middleton, Sgt. Webster, Sgt. Myers, Sgt. Exton, Sgt. Whitmore and F/Sgt Farrer.

Edited to add: Airborne 1915 11th March 1943, crashed 0206 12th March 1943.

Information from Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses and the Lost Bombers website.

Regards,

Kev35