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.

---

16/17.06.1942 No. 150 Squadron Wellington III Z1608 JN-M P/O. J.A. Myall

Operation: Essen

Date: 16/17th June 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 150 Squadron

Type: Wellington III

Serial: Z1608

Code: JN-M

Base: RAF Snaith, Yorkshire

Location: 2 km north east of Ouddorp, Holland.

Pilot: P/O. J.A. Myall RAFVR PoW. No: 293 Camp: L3 - Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria.

Obs: P/O. Anthony Edwin Collins 1284116 RAFVR PoW. No: 682 Camp: L3 - Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria. (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Franklin Haley R/60003 RCAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. D.J. Smith RAFVR PoW. No: ? Camp: No details, thought to have been repatriated.

Air/Gnr: Sgt. W. Cartwright RAFVR PoW. No: 1145 Camp: 357 - Stalag Kopernikus.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Leaving RAF Snaith at 23.20 hrs joining 105 aircraft dispatched to bomb Essen. The results were disappointing when repots received that only a small amount of bombs actually landed within the city.

Right: Observer for Wellington Z1608, P/O. Anthony Edwin Collins (courtesy Bazza Ladyman)

Wellington Z1608 was intercepted and shot down at 04.20 hrs by the Luftwaffe ace 23 year old Oblt. Reinhold Knacke (2) with his bordfunker, (radio operator) Uffz. Kurt Bundrock of Stab I.NJG1 his 2nd abschüsse of the night, the first a 35 Squadron Halifax (3). Z1608 came down some 2 km N.E of Ouddorp, Holland.

(1) P/O. Anthony Edwin Collins formerly served the RAFVR as a driver - joining aircrew due to shortages. Married in September,1946 to Ivy Beatrice Clayton. (see credits)

(2) Oblt. Reinhold Knacke went on to have a total of over 44 kills. He was killed on the 3/4th February 1943 from return fire from a Stirling near Achterveld/Ede. His bordfunker Kurt Bunrock survived by baling out.

(3) Halifax II W1117 TL-S, Flown by 24 year old Canadian, Fl/Sgt. Arthur Edward Hammond R/68734, killed with 5 other members of this crew, 1 taken PoW.

Extreme left: Oblt. Reinhold Knacke with right: Uffz. Kurt Bundrock (courtesy Kracker Archives)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Haley was originally buried at Hamstede, reinterred after end of hostilities in the CWWG plot as shown below. 

The grave photo shown left, has the incorrect date of death inscribed.

Fl/Sgt. James Franklin Haley. Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery. Grave 4.D.6. From Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. NoK details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Bazza Ladyman who holds details of P/O. Anthony Edwin Collins.

Further information: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vol's. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', ‘Bomber Command Database’ Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vol's. 1 and  2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries’ (Updated 2014 version) Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Tom Kracker - 'Kracker Luftwaffe Archives'. Aircrew Remembered own Archives. 'Paradie Archive’. Les Allison and Harry Hayward - 'They Shall Grow Not Old', Oliver Clutton-Brock - 'Footprints On The Sands Of Time'.

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: 30 July 2014, 21:18

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