Operation: Ramrod

Date: 06th January 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 91 Squadron (motto: 'We eek alone')

Type: Spitfire XII

Serial: EN223

Code: DL-?

Base: RAF Tangemere, West Sussex

Location: St. Riquier-en-Plains, France

Pilot: F/O. Harold Frederick Heninger J/16209 (R/92530) RCAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 09:30 hrs flying EN223 with F/O. Raymond Stanley Nash (1)119808 RAFVR flying Spitfire EN625 on a weather reconnaissance flight to the area around Cherbourg. F/O. Heninger returned early at 09:50 presumably with engine problems. F/O. Nash continued and landed back at base at 10:20 hrs.

Taking off again at 11:30 hrs with the squadron to provide cover to bombers en route to the Rouen area.

F/O. Patrick Alfred Schade (2) 147354 RAFVR flying Spitfire XII EN621 experienced engine problems and was instructed to return to base with F/O. Heninger to escort him. Prior to crossing the French coast F/O. Heninger called F/O. Schade and informed him that he was also experiencing engine trouble and was having to bale out. F/O. Schade noticed puffs of black smoke coming from the engine of EN223

It was later established that the Spitfire suffered a fuel problem which caused the engine to seise up. The pilot did bale out but it seems that his parachute became entangled with the tailplane and the pilot was killed when the aircraft struck the ground.

This rare Spitfire XII was included In a September 2011 edition of the BBC programme 'Dig WW2' presented by Dan Snow. Only 100 Rolls Royce Griffon II powered Spitfire first flown on the 04th December 1942 at the Vickers Supermarine High Post factory. Delivered to 91 squadron on the 20th November 1943.

(1) Fl/Lt. Raym(1) ond Stanley Nash DFC 119808 RAFVR became a V1 ace with 17 + 3 shared. He survived the war.

DFC Citation: 'This officer is a most capable flight commander. He has completed a large number of sorties and throughout has displayed great skill and keenness. He has destroyed 2 enemy aircraft,. 2 locomotives and a number of flying bombs.'.

(2) F/O. Patrick Alfred Schade was killed on the 31st July 1944. Whilst with 486 squadron flying Tempest V EJ586 collided with a 91 squadron Spitfire XIV RM654 flown by P/O. Alexander Alfred Wilson NZ/422336 RNZAF, also killed.

Burial details:

F/O. Harold Frederick Heninger. Grandcourt War Cemetery. Grave D.7. Born on the 09th April 1921 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Enlisted on the 11th February 1941 Pilot badge awarded on the 24th October 1941 and promoted to sergeant. Promoted to pilot officer on the 28th November 1942 and to flying officer on the 28th May 1943.

Son of Ellis Abijah Heninger (died 13th February 1950, age 64) and Alice Mabel Heninger (née Wood - died 01st June 1921, age 28).of 3505 4th Avenue,, Portland, Oregon, USA. Husband of Joanne Mary Heninger (née Murray - later Todd of 812-4th Avenue, North West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Married on the 30th October 1941. Brother of Donald Woodroe (died 18th December 1994, age 81), Raymond Ellis (died 20th July 1984, age 66), half brother of Red and Elaine.

F/O. Patrick Alfred Schade. DFM. Hillingdon And Uxbridge Cemetery Row J.D. Grave 18. Son of Fredrick Augustus and Mary Gladys Schade;. Husband of Helena Mabel Schade (died 15th February 2014, age 88), of Uxbridge.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archives Kew, AIR-27-741-1/2 Paradie RCAF archives, Government of Canada WW2 Archives, Jonney McNee Aviation archaeologist, BBC - 'Dig WW2'. UK Airfields and Airports.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1944 losses

Pages detailing RCAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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