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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.
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610 Squadron Crest
18.12.1944 No. 610 Squadron Spitfire F.XIV RM736 Fl/Lt. Madden

Operation: Patrol

Date: 18th December 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 610 Squadron. 127 Wing. 83 Group. ( motto: Alifero tollitur axe ceres - 'Ceres rising in a winged chariot')

Type: Spitfire F.XIV

Serial: RM736

Code: DW-?

Base: B56 Evère, Belgium

Location: Rabotrath

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Brian Minden Madden NZ/41521 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 09:20 commanding 'B' Flight. Once over the patrol split up after becoming under attack from both flak and enemy fighters.

The aircraft was later found in the Rabotrath area, but buried in the village of Henri-Chapelle - later buried at Hotton War Cemetery after the end of the war. (note: others list a different serial number and also place of the crash)

The remainder of the squadron returned at qaround 11:00 hrs.

Another pilot from the squadron was lost later this day, 23 year old, W/O. Thomas Francis Higgs 657789 RAF flying Spitfire RM746 suffered icing problems and crashed into high ground.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Brian Minden Madden. Hotton War Cemetery. Grave VIII.B.12. Born on the 02nd November 1919 at Wellington, the son of John and Mildred Grace Madden (née Fish), of Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 563 flying hours logged. He also served on operations with 130 squadron. so his total of operational sorties are not known.

Other:

W/O. Thomas Francis Higgs. Hotton War Cemetery. Grave VIII.F.7. Son of Thomas and Ada Higgs and husband of Phyllis Evlyn Barbara Higgs, of New Cheriton, Hampshire, England. Grave inscription reads: "Tranquil You Lie Your Knightly Virtue Proved" Loving Wife And Daughter Sandra".

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of these pilots with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 07.08.2019

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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.
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