Hi forum, Mosquito experts,

Completing my pilot records, Netherlands Air Force, Netherlands Navy and Netherlands East Indies Air Force.

On February 14, 1946 a Mosquito crashed, having departed from Croft, in the Northsea near West Hartlepool. The pilot, G. la Hei of the Netherlands Navy, drowned. Was wondering if a reader knows from what squadron the Mosquito was and what serial it had.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Regards,

Benno

As recorded in Colin Cummings publication ” Final Landings – A summary of RAF Aircraft and Combat losses 1946 -1949″ this accident befell de Havilland Mosquito Mk VI, serial number TA525, of 13 OTU. The circumstances quote “the pilot ignored the air traffic controllers instruction to climb and the aircraft crashed into high ground in cloud.” The location is given as Castle Bolton, Yorkshire. This location is some 5 miles to the West of the town of Leyburn, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire.

All the following comes from “The Blitz – Then and Now – Volume 3” published by After the Battle:-

“April 18th/19th 1944 – Junkers Ju188E-1, (Werk Number 260391), coded U5 + BN, of 5/KG2 Hit at 18,000ft by 3.7 ins AA fire from Gun Sites E1 (Chadwell Heath), E9 (Wanstead) and W1 (Enfield). Crashed into Number 14, Seven Kings Road, Ilford, Essex at 0118am.

Lt H. Schymczyk, Uffz H. Ziehm , Uberfw R. Rogner baled out and taken prisoner. Uffz J. Schultz baled out seriously injured and died of his injuries on 21st April. Obergefr A. Hoeke baled out but parachute failed to deploy and he fell to his death on the roof of a building in the Council yard at Ley Street, Ilford.

Four occupants at 14, Seven Kings Road, were killed in the incident – fuel from the crashed Ju188 ignited in their cellar shelter, where they were burned to death. They were Mr & Mrs Edwin Foyster, Mrs Winnifred Lee and Miss Stella Palmer.

Hope this helps? I’m sure other forumites will point you in the right direction when it comes to establishing the final fates of the surviving crew?

I think the first photograph in post #11 is of a 94 Squadron Hurricane – “The MacRobert Fighter -Sir Iain”. This was one of four Hurricanes operated by 94 squadron which were funded by Lady MacRobert in memory of her three son’s who lost their lives either just prior to or during WW2. In addition to “Sir Iain”, they were “Sir Alasdair”, “Sir Roderic” and “The MacRobert salute to Russia”. My father served with 94 squadron from 1940 until 1943 as a “Fitter-2e” and his photo album contains many images that are very similar to those posted here. It’s possible that, in the need to maintain operational status, aircraft in the same wing were operated by other Squadron personnel – which might explain this aircraft featuring in the album of a 238 Squadron pilot? My father also remembers the captured JU52 ” Libyan Clipper” which appears in post #12 which was “impressed” into RAF service as an “R & R Hack” running personnel to and from the forward operating airfields to the “comforts” of Cairo and Alexandria! I have a suspicion that this aircraft was involved in a fatal accident which claimed the lives of several airmen – possibly including that of F/Lt Nichols?