Operation: Reconnaissance for Operation ‘Freshman’, Norway

Date: 17th October 1942

Unit No: 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), Coastal Command

Type: Mosquito PR.I

Serial: W4058

Code: LY:?

Base: RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland

Location: Near Oslo, Norway

Pilot: Flt Lt. Donald Higson 44660 RAF Age 27. KiA

Navigator: Plt Off. John Douglas Hayes 132171 RAFVR Age 25. KiA

Note: On the 19th October 1 PRU was disbanded and reformed as five (5) PR Squadrons .

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 17th October 1942 Flt Lt. Higson and Plt Off. Hayes took-off from RAF Leuchars at 09:30hrs on a Reconnaissance sortie over Oslo in Norway.

The aircraft failed to return at the expected time and was believed to be the first casualty of the upcoming Operation ‘Freshman’

The circumstances leading to the loss of the aircraft and crew are not known.

Mosquito PR (Photographic Reconnaissance)

On the 11th January 1941 the Ministry of Aviation placed an order with De Havilland firm to build a prototype and 19 production aircraft for the Photo Reconnaissance (PR) role. The prototype, serial W4051, was completed on the 24th May 1941, and on the same day the airframe for serial W4054 was submitted for final painting. All external surfaces of these aircraft were painted in a sky blue, which came to be known as "PRU blue". The first flight of W4051 was on the 10th June.

Above: Prototype Mosquito PR I W4051 LY-U in flight (Courtesy of World War Photographs)

In addition to the installation of cameras, the PR versions differed from the first Mosquito prototype in that the wing was extended by 508 mm, as well as changes in the hydraulic system. The PR versions, which received the official designation "Mosquito PR.Mk.I”, had short engine nacelles that did not protrude beyond the trailing edge of wing.

On the 12th June the Commanding Officer (CO) of No.1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), Wg Cdr. Geoffrey W. Tuttle OBE(M), DFC personally visited the De Havilland airfield and tested the prototype in the air.

W4058 was one of seven (7) production aircraft that were taken on charge by the RAF. After successful 88 sorties with 16 over Norway this was the first loss of a PR Mosquito.

Burial details:

Above: Oslo Western Civil Cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Flt Lt. Donald Higson. Oslo Western Civil Cemetery 1.C.2. Born during February 1915 in Bolton, Lancashire. Son of James Richard and Helen Arden (née Gregory) Higson of Kearsley, Lancashire, England.

Plt Off. John Douglas Hayes. Oslo Western Civil Cemetery 1.C.1. Grave Inscription: "HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY, HIS SOUL TO GOD". Born on the 12th August 1917 in Guildford, Surrey. Son of William John and Mary Elizabeth (née Barrington) Hayes of Woodley, Reading, Berkshire. Husband to Kathleen Mary (née Watts) Hayes of Staines, Middlesex, Berkshire, England.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Apr 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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 - 2026 Last Modified: 29 April 2025, 09:31