Halifax Memorial

I have information and a photo of the crew of Sgt Hudema.
klaas

halifax 405 sq

Hi all.
I would like to get in contact with thr relative of J.A.Kaucharik and the man who knew Sgt Mike Hudema.
Currently I am working on a book “The 4405 squadron war diaries”.
kind regards,
Klaas.

The memorial is sited near the roadside adjacent to the field in which the crash occured…..on Langham Road in the parish of Mumby.

From the East Lindsey Target Newspaper Wed’ Aug’18th 2004 before the memorial dedication it reports that the rear gunner is thought to have drowned…two crew landed in the sea but made it safely to shore. The third survivor landed in a field near the crash site and was able to raise the alarm at a nearby farm. It is thought that the wireless operator escaped from the aircraft too late to save his life. The pilot and mid upper gunner perished in the crash.

Thank you for your replies and thoughts,
Clive.

Well done sir, I salute you.

first dedication ive been to quite a moving experience

What a nice tribute! My Uncle lost a friend from 405 Squadron. He was flying Halifax II
LQ-Q (RCAF Sgt. Mike Hudema). They were low on Petrol after an ops and attempted to land at West Malling and failed, so on the go around they lost engines and crashed 7 miles north of Sevenoakes. This is the information I found at the Public records office in May.

Thanks for posting the photos Clive and for spreading the word about this memorial. Many thanks and congratulations to the people who were responsible for organising it.

Some additional information from W R Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses 1942

Took off 2303 from Topcliffe on op to Saarbrücken. While crossing at 2344, the port outer engine caught fire and although the blaze was quelled, structural failure of the port wing followed and the order to bale out was given. At least two airmen fell into the sea and drowned, while the Halifax crashed 2358 at Chapel St. Leonards.

Onboard that night:
Sgt N A MacKenzie RCAF – +
Sgt J R Alexander – inj
P/O L B Mason – inj
Sgt Kaucharik – inj
Sgt C G Eagles RCAF – +
Sgt H Stone – +
F/S L D Dawdy RCAF – +

Another photo……