Operation: Training

Date: 30th June 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 42 Operational Training Unit (38 Group)

Type: Whitey V

Serial: BD351

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Location: St. David Head, Pembrokeshire

Pilot: F/O. Brian Maurice Hynes NZ/415971 RNZAF Age 25. Survived injured (1)

Air/Gnr: P/O. Albert Frederick Prosser AUS/418877 RAAF Age 21. Survived - no injuries (2)

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Thomas 1331892 RAFVR Survived - no injuries

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Taylor 1315337 RAFVR Survived - no injuries

REASON FOR LOSS:

Very few details available on this loss. We welcome any new information.

During a cross country training exercise one of the engines failed and the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft in St. George's Channel / Bristol Channel off Pembrokeshire. The skill of the pilot making the ditching successful with all the crew escaping injuries apart from the pilot who suffered an injury to his foot. All four crew received the Goldfish club membership.

(1) F/O. Brian Maurice Hynes was later shot down whilst with 115 Squadron on the 28th October 1944. Flying Lancaster NF960 KO-R, he survived baling out with two other crew but all three captured very quickly. 3 others missing believed killed with the 4th member killed. F/O. Hynes whilst en-route to Odenthal Police Station was removed from the custody of his escort by a small group of the SS and some youths from a local army camp. Taken to some woods and shot twice and buried at the same spot. After the war in June 1948 two of the perpetrators were convicted of his murder and executed. See Vitz Archive on this site.

(2) The then F/O. Albert Frederick Prosser, born on the 19th April 1912. Enlisted on the 17th June 1942, went on to serve with 88 Squadron under Fl/Lt. Garston.

He undertook 3 Operational sorties: 07th May 1944 - Target, Medium Coastal Battery at Ault. 29th May 1944 - Target, Marshalling yards at Charleroi. 30th May 1944 - Target, Gun positions at Catteville.

A total of 250 flying hours logged, 5 hours 40 minutes of these on operations. He was sadly taken off aircrew as he suffered severe air sickness. Passed away on the 23rd September 2003.

Burial details:

None all the crew survived this ditching. Details on the later murder of the pilot:

F/O. Brian Maurice Hynes. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 31.G.14. Born in Hong Kong, the son of Thomas George Hynes and of Rosita Amelia Hynes (née Romero), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

For further details our thanks to Ian Webley - F/O. Prosser was his father in Law. Australian Archives, New Zealand Cenotaph. Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand. Contact now made with a relative of the pilot.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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