Operation: Patrol

Date: 11/12th March 1945 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 488 Squadron

Type: Mosquito NF.XXX

Serial: MT484

Code: ME-?

Base: Gilze Rijen Airfield Holland

Location: B77 - Gilze Rijen 2.5 km from runway

Pilot: P/O. Thomas Alexander Mallon NZ/415348 RNZAF Age 30. Killed

Nav: P/O. George Herbert Brock NZ/429138 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking of at 04:28 hrs but failed to clear a barn 1.5 miles from the runway, crashed and burnt out amongst trees further on.

Sadly the family of P/O. Mallon also lost his brother earlier in the war, flying a Blenheim IV T2036 PZ-K on 08th October 1940.

Burial details:

Initially the crew were buried at Princeenhage, Breda, but reinterred at Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery after the end of the war.

P/O. Thomas Alexander Mallon. Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.7. Son of Alexander and Dora Mallon (née Rogers), of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. 1175 hours log book recorded hours - 265 solo on Mosquito - thought to be his 37th operation.

P/O. George Herbert Brock. Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. Grave 4.A.8. Son of George Alfred and Amy L. S. Brock, of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand. 499 hours log book recorded hours - thought to be his 37th operation.

Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered - December 2015. Grave photo, documents and that of the pilot courtesy Vic Jay and Robert McAllister.