Kenneth John Skinner died 26 June 1944

I look forward to hearing how comprehensive you find the records…….when you finally get them….Good luck

Be prepared for a lengthy wait, I think some people are waiting about 8 months. It’s 4 months so far for me and still nothing!!

I have had a think about all of this and have come to the conclusion that my best bet is to wait until after Christmas and then save some pennies and send for his records from the War Office. I hope that that way I will get a clearer picture. I have no idea how encompassing they will be but it is well worth a try.
Glenis.

Glenis, from my rough understanding, Pathfinders were extremely good crews, particularly at navigation, who were tasked with leading the waves of bombers on targets, especially over Germany in Bomber Command.
Germany only invaded Hungary in March 1944 and I suspect that there were missions to drop agents to link up with resistance partisans to arrange for weapons to be dropped to aid the resistance to the Germans. I doubt that it would have been a flight to somehow help the Jews in Budapest, more likely that a supply drop near Budapest and getting hit by flak. It must have been a long flight there and either supply drops or bombing targets identified by the partisans such as marshalling yards etc.
It is possible that they crashed some way from Budapest, as it would be known to be heavily defended. My guess would be that it crashed quite far away, but Budapest was a “convenient” collection point for aircrew and other servicemen killed in Hungary.
The CWGC may have details of their initial burial place, which might be of some comfort.

The reference to JP107 in the other thread is simply one of the crew who flew it out to the Mediterranean, which is how it came to be in 614 Squadron. It might be that he’d recollect whether JP107 had a K gun in the nose or not!!

Should you feel the need, this company (no connection, just have corresponded with them previously) can make a model Halifax etc, to your specification, should you so desire. Nice Airplanes niceairplanesAThotmail.co.uk (remove the AT sign)

Thank you very much for your reply. I had found the crew and that they were all buried in the same cemetery, although the fact that they were all buried in the same “plot” I hadn’t realised, and would not have known the implication. I have found reference to it being a “sort of pathfinding mission”. Have you any idea what that might mean? I have discovered that at that time the Germans were rounding up the Jews from all around Hungary, and wonder if it was something to do with that. Thank you for the hint about JP137, I will have a hunt and see what I can find.
Jack was my Uncle and I was very fond of him.
Glenis

You may already have the full crew details

BROWN ASH 1812632 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
CATER S 1212653 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
GITTINGS EG 177678 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
SHAW A 1673517 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
SKINNER KJ 1425972 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
WILLIAMS GM 175554 614 SQDN 26/06/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE
who are all buried together in Collective Plot III B 1 to 6, being 6 graves. The usual complement of a Halifax (a Series II Mk 1 a in this instance, but don’t ask about the nose glazing!) was 7 and I would have thought that a supply drop would have required a full crew.
As buried together, it seems as if individual identification wasn’t possible, indicating a sudden and catastrophic crash out of control whereby none of the crew were able to escape.
I’m sorry but I don’t have further details. If you Google JP107 you may find some peripheral mention in a thread relating to JP137 crash.