Lancaster PB416 crash in Norway 1944

Could any info be shared on here if possible , it certainly sounds intriguing ,ta.

Hi Gunnerside

Are you still a subscriber

I have been doing some research in UK and have discovered some interesting information from recently released files

Please contact by email: mail@nigel26.plus.com

thanks

Nigel

Hi
Your article raises an interesting question
I am a relative of Charles Fox, one of the crew of PB416
I have found this document from www.flightsafety.org
This confirm 10 people on board
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 147447
Last updated: 15 July 2020
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
Date: 17-SEP-1944
Time:
Type:
Avro Lancaster Mk III

Owner/operator: 617 (Dambusters) Sqn RAF
Registration: PB416
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Nes – Norway

Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Yagodnik
Destination airport: RAF Woodhall Spa
Narrative:
Missing in transit. Crashed after participating in bombing of Tirpitz, and was making its way from Russia back to its base in UK. The captain was Frank Levy.
However, they went of course and without fuel they crashed in a mountain in the municipality of Nes. The crew were buried in the mountains, but moved down to the local churchyard after the war where they are honoured with flags, speeches and God Save the Queen every 17th of May on Norway’s national day.

There are 10 headstones on the churchyard and it was 10 nails in the wooden cross that the locals made where the plane crashed.
Sources:

https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?118555-Lancaster-PB416-c…
Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999

Revision history:
Date/time Contributor Updates
06-Aug-2012 06:35 gerard57 Added
13-Aug-2012 01:34 Nepa Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
19-Aug-2013 13:15 JINX Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Narrative]
27-Aug-2013 06:12 JINX Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
28-Oct-2014 15:47 Polish Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
09-Oct-2018 18:04 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]

Text taken from the book “No 617 `Dambuster´ Sqn” written by Alex Bateman (ISBN-13: 978-1-84603-429-9).
confirms the details of 9 people on board
the 10th headstone may be the extra person who was transfered to Oslo and did not appear on the schedule
It is interesting that of the 9 people listed 2 are registered as “passengers” who had missed an earlier flight to return to UK

Transfer from Russia to UK, 17th September 1944, Lancaster PB416/KC-V:
. . . the squadron was notified that Flg. Off. Frank Levy (in Lancaster PB416/KC-V) had flown into high ground near Nesbyn, about 100 miles north west of Oslo, with the loss of all on board. Amongst those killed were two members of Drew Wyness’ crew, who had been hitching a lift home as their aircraft was stranded in the USSR. It had been their first operation with No. 617 Sqn.

Frank Levy
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flying Officer (Pilot)
160142
April 1917
17 September 1944
27
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Haiavt and Marie Levy, nee Fermon.

Peter William Groom
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
1814429
abt. 1925
17 September 1944
19
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Arthur William and Ethel May Groom,
of Egham, Surrey.

Charles Lawrence Fox
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:

Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flying Officer (Navigator)
138131
June 1922, Hackney, Middlesex, UK
17 September 1944
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
formerly of 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn.
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Julius and Marie Fox,
of Wembley, Middlesex.
Captain of Latymer Upper School, 1940.
Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Southern Counties Junior Athletic record
for 440 yards, 1940.

R. A. F. V. R.
In unfading memory of
F/O Charles L. Fox
killed while flying, aged 22.
Buried in Norway.
Septr. 17th 1944.
“His sacrifice, our freedom.”
ש ל ר ט Cherished husband of Marie (Mim)
dear father of Donald and Charles
“Safe in God’s keeping.”

George Muir McGuire
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner)
1345937
01 January 1921, Paisley, Renfrewshire, UK
17 September 1944
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of George and Sophia McGuire,
of Paisley, Renfrewshire.

Eric Edward Stephen Peck
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)
1338511
16 September 1920
17 September 1944
24
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Stephen Charles and Victoria Dorothy Peck,
husband of May Peck,
of West Molesey, Surrey.

Allan Frank McNally
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Pilot Officer (Air Gunner)
J/88571
28 June 1923, Minaki, Ontario, Canada
17 September 1944
21
617 (R. A. F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Ben and Wanda McNally,
of Minaki, Ontario, Canada.

Daniel Goronwy Thomas
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner)
1499060
abt. 1921
17 September 1944
22
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of Elias and Rachel Thomas,
of Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire.

James Fraser Naylor (Passenger)
Rank:
Service No.:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flying Officer (Flight Engineer)
54372
abt. 1920
17 September 1944
24
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of George Henry and Elizabeth Bruce Naylor,
of Innerleithen, Peeblesshire.

Denis Charles Shea (Passenger)
Rank:
Service No.:
Awards:
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment:
Cemetery:
Add. Information: Flying Officer (Wireless Operator)
146633
Distinguished Flying Cross
abt. 1922
17 September 1944
24
617 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Nesbyen Churchyard, Norway
Son of John Henry Kilian and Mary Elizabeth Shea,
of Ilford, Essex.

I have a question: what was the name of the 95 year old who told you about the transfer of the body to the British Embassy ?
Have you asked anyone at the British Embassy in Oslo about this incident?

thanks

Nigel Austin

mail@nigel26.plus.com