Halifax JB803 recovery

Sorry for bumping this topic.

We are erecting a monument for the crew of JB803, more here: https://davevancoolwijk.wixsite.com/halifaxmonument

Currently we are looking for relatives who may have more information about the crew. I have found family of the pilot and Parsons.

Those are great pics Cees – thanks for posting them.

How far down the the Merlin? Do you know how the a/c came to crash? Did it dive in or stall, crash land etc?

Cheers

Elliott

Elliott,

The engine was found at 4,5 metres depth, the aircraft had been damaged by a German nightfighter but had circled the area for 20 minutes before suddenly diving nose first into the ground. The recovery took place on august 16th last year.

Cheers

Cees

photo 1: before (note the “stain” in the grass)
Photo 2: port inner Merlin after recovery
Photo 3: another photo of the same Merlin

Cees

Those are great pics Cees – thanks for posting them.

How far down the the Merlin? Do you know how the a/c came to crash? Did it dive in or stall, crash land etc?

Cheers

Elliott

Cees
Many thanks for these pictures in this and the other threads. A real insight to an area we don’t get to see too much on here. It also enforces how much and how many fell in continental Europe fighting for what we now all too often take for granted. These pictures and those of the Stirling recovery show as well often what horrid and brutal way many met their end.
OAW

Peter,

You couldn’t be more wrong. Although the pic shows a lump of clay with a Merling embedded in it, after cleaning the engine was in very good and complete condtion. In fact the paint was still very fresh and it is now one of the star exhibits in the collection.

Cheers

Cees

Wow
that third pic says alot about the loss of aircrew and aircraft, not much to look at ?