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ianh

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November 19, 2014 at 10:18 pm in reply to: Halifax HR980 #896205

ianh
Participant

Hi the aircraft is full submerged in a swamp, there is a small part of the plane exposed. Recent tests on the area have shown that the ground is very silty and as such needs different and more expensive pumping equipment the estimated cost has gone up to around C$300,000. The UK, Canadian and Australian governments at the moment will take over all funeral needs once the bodies are recovered and dispose of any live munitions. When the aircraft is lifted it will be exhibited at the Finowfurt museum and or parts will be used in the restoration on the Halifax in Canada. If anyone wishes to donate or has any knowledge or offers of help please contact Karl at Halifax 57 Rescue in Canada.
Thanks

Ian

April 11, 2014 at 12:15 pm in reply to: Halifax HR980 #936177

ianh
Participant

Hi Paul

No problem, An organisation called Halifax 57 Rescue in Canada (http://www.57rescuecanada.com) has got involved they have been over and are trying to fundraise to get the job done I believe they need to raise C$76,000 and have already reached C$20,000. This is a worthy cause and if anyone has access to any funds or anyone who may be able to help I suggest they contact Karl Kjarsgaard or they can donate on their website. As I said there are 5 crew still on board 1 Canadian, 1 Australian and 3 British. They are hoping to start work in October and they hope to be able to have some news by Armistice Day. It really is sad that the British Government wont get involved with this project, they are happy to help with other things all over the world but not to give 5 brave lads who gave the ultimate sacrifice the final resting place they deserve.
Ian

April 11, 2014 at 11:27 am in reply to: Halifax HR980 #936203

ianh
Participant

Hi I have been a little involved with this crash site, as the UK arm of the LAO in Germany. This is because they helped me search and find the crashsite of my Uncles Lancaster ED328SR-S last year. The back ground is the Halifax crashed on the same raid over Berlin as my Uncles, it crashed into a swap and sank. The Germans at the time managed to retrieve 2 bodies from it which are buried at the Berlin War Cemetery and I believe the head of another crew member, the rest were still on board and it sank into the swamp. Due to the swamp drying out the wreckage was pushed to the surface and a small part of the tail is partially visible. this was found in 2002 but it has taken this long to identify and then get permission to excavate. This is estimated to cost about 50,000 euros and hence another reason for the delay, but I believe that funding may have been found and work may commence later this year. The MOD will not get involved until the bodies have been exhumed then they will take over and give them a full burial at the Berlin War Cemetery. Neither the UK nor the German Governments will get involved in Archaeological digs, but if bodies are found they have a duty of care to arrange a fitting Burial. As for the plane itself, any remove artefacts will be taken to the Finowfurt Aviation Museum nr Berlin and put on display, I also expect knowing the guys from the LAO that a few pieces will be presented to the families of the Airmen

I hope this explains a little

Thanks

Ian Hill

December 19, 2013 at 9:43 am in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #942146

ianh
Participant

Just to let you all know I have this week been contacted by the families of the 2 remaining Australian Crew. this means we are only looking for the family of Sgt David Ellis of Pontypridd S Wales. So 6 from 7 families are in contact.
It is amazing that taking to the families they still all hold the lost airmen in great respect many keeping their names alive by calling subsequent children after them. In our family my Brother, my Cousin and my son all have the name John somewhere in their name. It was also amazing that very little was known about what had happened and it was as if the parents of the crew just blocked it out, I know this was the case in my family, my Grandparents never spoke about it.

Ianh

November 29, 2013 at 11:09 am in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #957416

ianh
Participant

Hi Bobkat

I will ring you, but I have been very busy at work and with the Press and talking to the family of Sgt Currey. The report I have I got from the RAAF is a P4 crash report.
On the AWM website you can find an immense amount of info the Australians are a lot more open than the MOD here in the UK and its free.
I can’t believe the interest it has created I hope we are able to find the family of Sgt Ellis and the other 2 from Australia.

Ianh

November 26, 2013 at 4:13 pm in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #959947

ianh
Participant

Hi all

I have a copy of the crash report for ED328. We have found that a lot of the facts were incorrect including the crash coordinates and even the church cemetery where they were initially buried. If it hadn’t been for Dr Hans Richter the eye witness we would have probably given up looking as the original coordinates were quite a few miles away from the actual site. It is amazing after 70 years how many people are searching for lost relatives and crash sites. We were a little lucky as the site was in a heavily wooded area in the former East Germany, I have to say we are most grateful to Christian Wengel and his team from the LAO, they are all volunteers and do it for fun. Up to know they have found a Focke Wolfe 190 with the pilot still on board, several Russian fighters, a B17 and a Liberator. I know they have a few more they are looking for at the moment, but it takes time. If any of you are in the Berlin area I would recommend the Finowfurt Aviation Museum it is a hands on museum on an old Soviet Mig base.
Ian H

November 26, 2013 at 10:20 am in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #960156

ianh
Participant

Hi Bobkat
Sorry for not replying sooner, I have been over to Berlin, to the museum and the crash site. They have managed to identify most parts, I have some which I am struggling with and at some point I will get round to looking harder. The main part of the plane was removed a few weeks after the crash but I am told from the eye witness Dr Richter that it wasn’t very carefully done and they have found a lot of smaller parts including flying goggles, instrument dials, buckles, fuselage, miles of hydraulic pipe, a watch, a whistle, oxygen release handles, parts of the bomb aiming equipment, earpieces from flight helmets, cockpit lamps, and importantly for me some air gunners tools. I will drop you a private message as you have said you may be able to help. You may have seen in the national press an article has been written (big feature in The Express 23rd Nov 2013) as we are trying to track down the families of the other crew members. To date and thanks to press there are 4 families from the 7 crew in touch and I am passing on the information I have found on to them.
Ian H

August 7, 2013 at 9:06 pm in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #992522

ianh
Participant

Hi I have been told today that the LAO have found lots of parts from ED328 SR-S. They have asked if there is a parts catalogue for the Lancaster as they would like to identify the parts found. they have also asked if there is a parts list for the Halifax for the same reason.
Ianh

July 18, 2013 at 3:53 pm in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #1011839

ianh
Participant

Since I posted the last message Christian from the LAO has email some images and a diary report about the crash from a Germany Guard. They have also started finding items such as helmet headphones and pieces of the plane. They plane to have a small display at the Museum.

Ianh

June 17, 2013 at 1:59 pm in reply to: Pictures of Lancaster ED328 SR-S #957970

ianh
Participant

Hi Just for your info. I have had the help of LAO Historic Crash Investigation Team based at Finowfurt Air Museum nr Berlin. Since we made contact they have been searching for the crash site of ED328 SR-S. I have been told over the weekend that they have found the crash site. It is actually 4 sites as they have also found an eye witness who told them that the plane exploded mid air and the debris including the crew were spread over 4 key areas close to Lanke, North of Berlin. I plan to visit in October.

Ianh
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Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)