61 years ago, at around 11am on 14th February 1943, two NCO pilots of 609 (West Riding) Squadron were shot down into the Channel by Focke-Wulf 190’s of 3./JG2.
Their names were John Wiseman and Alan Haddon.
Please take a moment tomorrow to reflect on their sacrifice.
At the going down of the sun and also in the morning, we shall remember them.
By: Snapper - 14th February 2004 at 19:01
The poppies from Remembrance Sunday are still there, and the flowers were left this morning by someone not known to me or John’s sister. It was very pleasing to see that somebdoy had made the effort to pay their respects.
By: Andy in Beds - 14th February 2004 at 00:20
Thank You.
Both sets of photographs were wonderful and very moving.
thanks for posting them and they will be remembered.
All the best
Andy
By: Dumbspar - 14th February 2004 at 00:04
Valentines Day
Snapper
Very Poignant.
By: kev35 - 13th February 2004 at 23:26
Snapper and Dan.
I will definitely spare a thought for all of them tomorrow. For many, tomorrow holds a significance for a very different and much happier reason. It bodes us well to remember that all those brave young men died in the service of their respective countries. I wonder whether their wives or sweethearts were waiting for a gift or a card which never came, or whether they died without knowing there was a card, letter or gift waiting for them on their beds?
Regards,
kev35
By: Snapper - 13th February 2004 at 19:45
The same day, in 1945, also saw the loss from 609 Squadron of F/Lt Raymond Gibson, who is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
The Form 540 Records:
“Gibson, De Bruyn, Pagnam and Mountjoy were off at 09.30 and were given atarget as C.21 – Mortar positions in orchard. Traget could not be found and while orbiting intense light accurate flak came up from the area of Goch. Gibby was hit in the starboard tank and immediately burst into flames and crashed. Gibby did not have a chance and we have lost one one of our best and most popular pilots. Some guns were seen firing in edge of wood at 939447 and were attacked without results being observed.”
By: Snapper - 13th February 2004 at 19:37
Thank you Dan. I don’t mind at all.
By: Dan Johnson - 13th February 2004 at 19:26
Will do Snapper. Not trying to hijack your thread but I hope you don’t mind if I ask the same for ‘my’ crew
I’ve spent the better part of the last 10 years researching the crew of a B24 that was shot down over Vienna on February 14, 1945.
Captain Richard Fry and crew were a Lead crew for the 454th BG that day flying Deputy Lead at the front of the formation off the right wing of the lead ship. A flak burst went off in the cockpit of their B24 killing Richard Fry (top left) and Al Brody(2nd from the left) instantly. With no pilots and damaged beyond control, the plane fell out of formation with the rest of the crew stunned and then struggling to survive. Five men made it out to become POWs, one survived the crash only to die as a POW. Three others, besides the two pilots died in the crash. Waist Gunner Earle Kulhanek(Bottom right), the youngest of the crew was last seen with his chute on, radioing the pilots for permission to jump. He wouldn’t go without the ok he was never going to get. Radio man Don Bucholz(top right) was trapped in the radar well of the B24 and failed to get out. Radar Bombardier Albert Bender(Bottom left) managed to bail out but either had his chute fail or was killed on the ground. All five of these men are still MIA. Portraits of Richard Fry and Al Brody stare at me daily from frames above my computer. It’s my job to make sure they aren’t forgotten.
Dan
By: Merlin3945 - 13th February 2004 at 18:54
Take it as done Mark,
I must congratulate you on a very effective and moving collection in your photo. Nice composition.
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February 13, 2004 at 6:46 pm