Archive Report: Allied Forces

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114 Squadron Blenheim IV V5645 P/O. John Joseph Fox

Operation: Intruder

Date: 30/31st May 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: 114 Squadron. 2 Group (motto: 'With speed I strike')

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: V5645

Code: RT-R

Base: RAF West Raynham, Norfolk

Location: Hohemoor near Marx

Pilot: P/O. John Joseph Fox 41320 RNZAF Age 24. Injured

Obs: Sgt. John Leonard 1365293 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Alfred Smithson 1306692 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 21:24 hrs on an intruder raid on a night-fighter airfield at Vecht in Germany in support of a massive operation against Köln.

V5645 was coned by the searchlight of 4./M. Flak Abt. 252 and hit by a light Flk battery of 4./M. Flak Abt 252. The Blenheim crashed in Hohemoor near Marx at 23:52 hrs (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (30 May - 31 December 1942) The Early Years Part 3 - Theo Boiten)Two of the crew were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.

He was taken to the Marine Hospital at Sonderbusch where he died of his injuries on the 1st of June 1942.

P/O. Fox survived a mid-air collision during training with 2 Service Flying Training School, sadly his fellow pilot was listed as missing. Further details here.

Above L-R: Sgt. John Leonard, ground crew, P/O. John Joseph Fox, ground crew, Sgt. Alfred Smithson, ground crew.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. Fox was initially buried at Wilhelmshaven but later reinterred with the other crew members at Sage.

P/O. John Joseph Fox. Sage War Cemetery 13.C.2. P/O. John Joseph Fox. Sage War Cemetery. Grave 13.C.2. Born on the 25th March 1918 in Glasgow, Scotland. Educated at St. Patrick's School. A programme organiser for the National Broadcasting Service in Wellington. Served 3 years in the territorial army. Enlisted at Levin on the 19th of January 1941 as a pilot under training. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 02nd March 1941. With No. 2 Flying Training School on the 12th April 1941.

Uninjured in a landing accident on the 29th of April 1941. Injured in a mid-air collision on the 15th of May 1941. The pilot badge was awarded on the 25th of May 1941 and commissioned on the 26th July 1941. Embarked for England on the 14th of August 1941. With No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on the 29th September 1941. Training on the Blenheim with 42 Operational Training Unit 28th October 1941. Joined 114 squadron on the 17th March 1942 and carried out 3 operational sorties. A total of 324 flying hours logged.

Son of John Joseph (died 08th December 1953, age 65) and Alexandrina Kerr Fox (née Archibald - died 15th July 1980), of Wellington City, New Zealand and husband of Mary Patricia Fox (née Pound and father of 1 son), of Wellington City, New Zealand.

Sgt. John Leonard. Sage War Cemetery 13.C.2. Born on the 07th December 1910 in Glasgow, Scotland. t Mungo's Academy, before enrolling at the University of Glasgow. He graduated MA from the University in 1933 and became a teacher. Before joining the RAF in 1940, he taught Latin at Holyrood Senior Secondary School in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sgt. Alfred Smithson. Sage War Cemetery 13.C.1. Born 10th April 1920, Morley, Yorkshire. Son of Ernest and Ethel Blanch (née Longbottom) Smithson of Morley, Yorkshire, England.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, Ralph Snape. Peter Geary, other sources as quoted below:

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