AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

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.

239 Squadron Crest
25/26.02.1944 No 239 Squadron Mosquito DZ270 HB-Q F/O. "Tex" Knight

Operation: Bomber Support

Date: 25/26th February 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit: No. 239 Squadron

Type: Mosquito NFII

Serial: DZ270

Code: HB-Q

Base: RAF West Raynham, Norfolk, England

Location: English Channel

Pilot: F/O. ‘Tex’ Earl Allan Knight 52153 RAF Age 27. Killed

Nav: F/O. Desmond Patrick Doyle 128562 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF West Raynham in Norfolk at 21:34 hrs on a bomber support operation

At 01:20 hrs, a very weak message was picked up by RAF North Weald from this aircraft, “Vectoring 300 – still being fired at". Nothing more was heard and it is thought that they came down in the English Channel.

This pilot had two claims to his credit, the last last a few nights previously on the 21st February 1944 - BF110. His first, whilst with 151 Squadron over Lincoln, England a Dornier 217E U5+KR of 7./KG2, flown by Lt Gunther Wolff.

Another Mosquito from 239 Squadron was also lost this night:

Mosquito II DZ247 crashed on return to RAF Raynham near Wellingham, Norfolk - the pilot, 21 year old F/O. Neil Munro 132760 RAFVR of Southgate Middlesex was killed, his Navigator, 28 year old F/O. Alec Richard Hurley 156012 RAFVR of Raynes Park, London died later - despite receiving treatment at the 53 Mobile Field Hospital at Weasenham from injuries received.

No night fighter claims for Mosquito DZ270 found to date.

Burial details:

F/O. Earl Allan Knight. Thorpe Acre Churchyard (All Saints). Husband of Margaret F. Knight (née Bullock), of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, father to Richard Allan. Originally from Arbilla, Ontario, Canada.

F/O. Desmond Patrick Doyle. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 205. Son of Thomas Patrick and Mary Doyle, of Clapham, London, England.

Researched for Aircrew Remembered - July 2016 by Michel Beckers. With thanks to Michel Kevin for grave photo. Others the Michel Beckers collection.

MB - 16-07-2016

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 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: 29 March 2021, 19:41

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