1944-04-08-Loss of Paul Kwast

1944-04-08 The Loss of Paul Kwast

Crash site: no crash. He was killed when trying to extinguish a Mitchell engine ablaze on RAF Lasham, Hampshire, GB. Or so it reads in the official version. It is also reported that he was killed on Saturday 8/4/1944 at 11.50 hours, when accidentally walking through the propellor arc of Mitchell Mk. II B-25C FR149 NO-D. The aircraft was reported back to base later that same day, making the engine-fire story unlikely.

Source: 6320 Service Echelon logbook, by Arnold Geudeker of 320 Sqn, the original found in Van der Kop's home, via Prudent Staal, email 22/12/2005

Mitchell NO-D on Lasham, 1943. Lasham 1943 by Kloos-4. Source: 8mm footage shot by J.P. Kloos.

RAF Lasham was the station for 320 (Dutch) Squadron, from 8/1943 to 10/1944. Mitchell FR149 was shot down by Flak on 12/6/1944, near the Forêt de Grimbosq, Calvados, France, 25 km SSW of Caen. The Dutch four men crew parachuted out, and was taken POW.

Name	Kwast, Paulus Brookwood 050618 Kwast
Rank	Vltg Maker 1kl z/m, Lac. Flight Mechanic E (Electrical)				Stb. Nr. 90118/Z, later 90332/Z
Decorations	None known
Born	30/6/1912		Place	Harlingen, NL
Squadron	RAF 320 (Dutch) Sqn Bomber Command				Ops/hr		n.a.
Aircraft	Mitchell Mk. II B-25C FR149 NO-D. No crash, ground accident
Base	RAF Lasham, Hampshire, GB
Mission	None, ground accident
Status	KIA, officially during extinguising the fire in a Mitchell engine, or in reality as a result of walking through the propellor arc of Mitchell Mk. II B-25C Nr. FR149 NO-D					age	31
Killed	8/4/1944		Place	RAF Lasham, Hampshire, GB
Buried	On 12/4/1944 at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, GB, RAF plot, grave 20/C/9
Known to	OGS	yes	CWGC	no
Remarks
GB arrival
Memorial	1. Mill Hill Memorial Table, London, GB 2. Memorial plate, former RAF Lasham, Hampshire, GB
Data confusion	OGS: died Lastram

Burial of P. Kwast at Brookwood Military Cemetery, 12/4/1944. Note: wooden crosses at the time. Source: Prudent Staal

Accident site data

Map 60. RAF Lasham, Hampshire, site of the accident that took the life of P. Kwast on 8/4/1944

Section of Lasham Airfield in 2007. The field is used as a glider field by the Lasham Glider Society. In a corner, the Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society has its trophies-to-be-restored on display in the field. Lasham 070123-5

Little remains of Wartime RAF Lasham. Here we see the entrance to a bomb shelter at the edge of farmland next to the current airfield grounds. Lasham 070123-1

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