AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

143 Squadron crest
01.05.1943 No. 143 Squadron Beaufighter XI JL943 HO-Q W/O. Victor A. Bain

Operation: Shipping Strike.

Date: 1st May 1943 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 143 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Beaufighter XI.

Serial: JL943.

Code: HO-Q

Base: RAF North Coates, Grimsby

Location: In the Norwegian sea off Norway.

Pilot: W/O. Victor Albert Bain 741596 RAFVR PoW No: 1167 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6

Obs/W/Op: Sgt. Cecil A. Room 1189747 RAFVR PoW No: 1198 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - L6

REASON FOR LOSS:

This aircraft took-off from North Coates at 19:00 hrs, one of eight aircraft led by Squadron Leader P.J.E. Ritchie, to attack a German Naval Unit for a target called "Nuremburg" a code word used to describe a target off the South West coast of Norway.

The flight was attacked by a force of FW190s, and W/O. Bain’s aircraft was reported as “shot down at 23:15 hrs. in a blaze by FW190”, W/O. Bain baled out, later rescued after some 15 hours in the aircraft dingy by the Germans and became a Prisoner of War.

Above: W/O. Bain’s Goldfish Club card

A second Beaufighter was also lost in this action, aircraft ‘JM108 HO-U’, flown by Fl/Sgt. Joseph Foster who was killed as was his observer Sgt. Brinley Curnock.

Fl/Sgt. Joseph George William Foster, M.i.D. 1380014. RAFVR, was aged 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Foster, of Berrow, Burnham-on-sea, Somerset, the husband of Margaret Foster. He is buried at Sola Churchyard, Norway. British Plot. B. 8.

A third Beaufighter JL945 HO-W flown by Fl/Sgt. Ceybird, was also badly shot up by the FW190s and forced to land at Tealing near Dundee. Sadly his Navigator Fl/Sgt. Baker was killed.

Fl/Sgt. Jack Baker 1354329. RAFVR was aged 25. Son of Joseph and Ellen Baker, of Blackburn the husband of Ruby Baker, of Blackburn. Jack is buried at Blackburn Cemetery, Sec. M. C of E. Grave 7200.

Above left: Victor (back row 1st on the left) in Stalagluft 3, 1943. Right: W/O Bain.

Beaufighter Shipping Strike photos


Left: Beaufighter Cockpit


A: Reflector site socket / dimmer switch
B: Reflector Gunsite
C: Direct vision windows
D: Wing camera gun button (Independent)
E: Gun 'Fire' button and auto camera
F: Wheel brake lever



We appreciate the great assistance of Colin Bain, son of Victor Bain, for supplying us with a great deal of information and photographs. Also thanks to Mike Seymour for additional details of crew - September 2017.

KTY - 28.09.2017 Further details added

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to buy research books from Amazon •Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 21 March 2021, 19:40

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor