166 Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve

Hi All,
Im looking for some help tracing a friends relation.His name was Andrew Maitland and he was killed 13/09/44.As its his anniversary tomorrow his family are trying to find out how and where he died.Hes remembered at Runnymede.
If anyone can help with this or even some links that may be of help,myself and Andrews family would be most grateful.

Regards

John Mccann

 

Hi John, we have a 166 squadron specialist on this forum. I hope he will read your post. You probably already know this lanc was lost on an operation to Frankfurt. Did you try to trace the two Rcaf ex-pows F. McCahon and F. Walker (if still alive) ? They would be the ones to know where it crashed.

 

this was quite a busy evening in regards to Luftwaffe night fighters as they claimed 28 bomber command aircraft with several Mosquitos in that total.

Single engine Bf 109G's by NJG 11 were also successful against Lancasters with claims of 5 by I./NJG 11

 

thanks for that.i know virtually nothing about Andrew.didnt even know bout frankfurt.could you please tell me where info on this would be available.i really appreciate your help with this

John

 

thanks for that info Erich

John

 

John it was a two pronged effort attack on Frankfurt and one on Stuyttgart.

the Frankfurt mission invoved 378 Lancs, 9 Mossies of 1,3 and 8 Groups and this was the last major raid on the city by Bomber Command. 17 lancs were lost. Sever destruction to the city. interesting to note that the Frankfurt fire fighters/rescue personell had been moved to Darmstadt

this is from Martin Middlebrook/Chris Everitt's BC war diaries, 1939-45, operations. Skipper may have deduced his info from Chorleys works on RAF BC losses 1944 ?

NJG 11 was on a frei-jagd to hunt Mosquitos but found Lancasters instead.

Erich ~

 

Lancaster NF974 Information

Type Lancaster Serial Number NF974 Squadron 166 X1D AS-R Operation Frankfurt Date 1 12th September 1944 Date 2 13th September 1944
Further Information

"Serial Range NF906 - NG503 This aircraft was one of 400 Lancaster Mk.1s ordered from Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (Baginton) and delivered from Jul44 to Feb45 mainly with Merlin 24 engines from baginton and Bitteswell. NF974 was delivered to No.166 Sqdn 29Aug44. NF974 was lost on its first operation, with a total of 11 recorded hours. Airborne 1800 12Sep44 from Kirmington. Cause of loss and crash-site not established not established. Those killed are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/O A.G.S.Watkins KIA Sgt I.M.Morganstein KIA F/S H.G.Carson RCAF KIA F/S D.M.Barr KIA Sgt A.P.Maitland KIA F/S F.J.McCahon RCAF PoW F/S F.W.Walker RCAF PoW F/S F.J.McCahon was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.793 with F/S F.W.Walker, PoW No.1009. "



ripped from lostbombers.co.uk

 

my neighbour who lost a brother in December1943 in 166 squadron heard of a book called : on wings of war" with a picture of her brother.
Does anyone know if this book is available to buy somewhere ?
Thank in advance

 

Hi Kscholtz

I own a copy of this book.

Re-post this article on to ww2talk.com
(there is a link at the bottom of this page)
and I believe I can be of service
http://www.ww2talk.com/

Ron

 

Maitlands Lancaster was hit from below by a nightfighter in the viscinity of Mannheim.The plane went into a steep dive.Rear gunner and mid upper gunners got out of their turrets.Fuselage burning intensely ammunition exploding.Plane then levelled out briefly for unknown reason.The two gunners went out via rear door. Info from one of the survivors. All the best Mark

 

John, get the NOK to write to the "Ministry of Defence Air Historical Branch (RAF), Room 3.08, 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HW. Phone: 0171 218 5459 (Direct Dialling; 0171 218 9000 (switchboard); Fax: 0171 218 5927. Note that this was back in '95, so don't know if address & nos have changed.

 

HI John
I hope I am repling correctly. This is new to me. I was looking on the web for some info on my Uncle F/S W.R. Darling, Squadron 166, LM176 when I can across your Name. I have a picture of WO2 Garnet (Mickey) McCann son of Mrs Mary McCann from Windsor Ontario Canada in the box of stuff I got from my Grandfather. I know it is a long shot but any relation.

 

I am looking for any information regarding JOHN PETER VAN DER LINDE and his life as a member of 166 Squadron. He died in October 1944 - and I would welcome any further information on the mission he was on etc.

 

Hi, wk4191.
It doesn't seem that johnsammc has been on the forum since Sept 2008.
You may do better by starting a separate thread asking for information for J P Van Der Linde.
I'm sure you already have this from Googling:-
166 Squadron Lancaster PD239, Coded: AS-Z
Operation to Emmerich on 7th /8th October 1944
Airborne: 1155 7 Oct 44 from Kirmington. All are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
F/L G.U. Fulford KIA
Sgt D.M. Hughes KIA
Sgt J.W. Barnden KIA
Sgt W.F. W.Jones KIA
Sgt R.E.T. Burns KIA
Sgt W. Skea KIA
Sgt J.P. Van Der Linde KIA

This would indicate he was the rear gunner.

Name: VAN DER LINDE, JOHN PETER
Initials: J P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 1869498
Additional information: Son of Gerhardus Daniel and Bertha Mary Van Der Linde, of South Norwood, Surrey.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 27. D. 12-18 (i.e. for all 7).

The rest of his crew:
Name: FULFORD, GEOFFREY UNDERHILL
Initials: G U
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 115221
Additional information: Son of George Underhill Fulford and Doris Wreford Fulford, of Okehampton, Devon.

Name: HUGHES, DAVID MAURICE
Initials: D M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 570033
Additional information: Son of David Hughes, and of Caroline Hughes, of Birkenshaw, Yorkshire.

Name: BARNDEN, JOHN WALTON
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 1800728
Additional information: Son of James and Grace Bertha Barnden, of Brighton, Sussex.

Name: JONES, WILLIAM FREDERICK WHITEHOUSE
Initials: W F W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 1602237
Additional information: Son of William Charles and Polly Jones; husband of Dorothy Agnes Ellen Jones, of Brixton, London.

Name: BURNS, RAYMOND EDMUND THOMAS
Initials: R E T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W. Op.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 1606652

Name: SKEA, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 166 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 07/10/1944
Service No: 1825534
Additional information: Son of William and Mary Ann Skea; husband of Jane Thomson Skea, of Westray, Orkney.

The Bomber Command campaign Diary states:-
7 October 1944

351 aircraft - 251 Halifaxes, 90 Lancasters, 10 Mosquitos - of Nos 3, 4 and 8 Groups to bomb the small German town of Kleve which, together with Emmerich, stood on the approach routes by which German units could threaten the vulnerable Allied right flank near Nijmegen which had been left exposed by the failure of Operation Market Garden. Visibility was clear and the centre and north of the town were heavily bombed, although some crews bombed too early and their loads actually fell in Holland near Nijmegen. 2 Halifaxes lost.

340 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups carried out an even more accurate attack on Emmerich. 3 Lancasters were lost.

121 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitos of No 5 Group continued the attack on Walcheren Island, without any aircraft losses, and the sea walls which were breached near Flushing.

The Kembs Dam. This was another No 617 Squadron special operation. The Kembs Dam on the Rhine, just north of Basle, held back a vast quantity of water and it was feared that the Germans would release this to flood the Rhine valley near Mulhouse, a few miles north, should the American and French troops in that area attempt an advance. The Squadron was asked to destroy the lock gates of the dam. 13 Lancasters were dispatched. 7 aircraft were to bomb from 8,000ft and draw the flak, while the other 6 would come in below 1,000ft and attempt to place their Tallboys, with delayed fuses, alongside the gates. American Mustang fighters would attempt to suppress flak positions during the attack. The operation went according to plan. The gates were destroyed but 2 Lancasters from the low force were shot down by flak.

5 RCM sorties, 2 Ranger patrols, 2 Hudsons on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the day: 846 sorties, 7 aircraft (0.8 per cent) lost.

There were no nightfighter claims so presumably lost to flak or unknown cause.

Trust this helps, but posting as a separate topic will get you more.

 

I am the second cousin of Geoffrey Underhill Fulford

 

It seems like your relative was the pilot of Lancaster PD239


http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_uknowncrashsites.pdf

 

Yes, I have a photo of him in uniform in my hall, and was named after him, his sister is my godmother. I am glad that all these brave crews who gave their lifes for what they believed in are not forgotten.

 

Hi all

As someone who spends most of his time posting stuff on ww2talk I thought I give this thread a bit of a bump.

I own a copy of this book.

Re-post this article onto ww2talk World War 2 Talk
and I believe I may be of service

Ron

 

Hi Ron,

Hope this works: is there anything in the book 'On wings of war' about Lancaster R5552, a/c AS-P2 ? It crashed near where I live, killing all seven crew. We are making an information panel on the crew.

Kees

 

Hi Ron,<br><br>Hope this works: is there anything in the book 'On wings of war' about Lancaster R5552, a/c AS-P2 ? It crashed near where I live, killing all seven crew. We are making an information panel on the crew. <br><br>Kees