The Mystery of John Robert Brodby

174035 F/O John Robert Brodby of 16 Squadron crashed in Hees, Nijmegen on 20 September 1944 in his PR Mk.XI Spitfire PL896 whilst on a photo-reconnaissance mission out of RAF Northolt in support of Operation Market Garden.

Nobody seems to know where.

However, he has a grave.

What happened?

There's an eyewitness report (the date has later been corrected elsewhere) from Nicolaas Lambrechtsen of Hees that Brodby's plane almost crashed into his house…

http://www.netherlandsfoundation.org.nz/our-stories/read-our-stories/nicolaas-lambrechtsen/

There's a new post on my blog about the work of 16 Squadron and about Jimmy Taylor, who knew John Brodby…

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/

Please say what needs adding or changing.

Thanks!

 

We're in the press for Nijmegen's province, Gelderland !

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/

 

The plot has thickened on this one. The movement cards for PA893 and PL896 don't agree with the 16 Squadron ORBs. See this post on my blog…

http://hewasahero.wo...-serial-number/

Also, the fine book "One Flight Too Many" by Jimmy Taylor (see blog post)…

http://hewasahero.wo...light-too-many/

has on page 281 "…The sad news was received today that P/O J. R. Brodby is dead. His grave has now been located at Wychen in Holland. He was reported missing on 20.9.44 whilst on detachment at Northolt on special duties…".

It's not at all clear why he would initially have been buried in Wijchen if he did indeed crash in Hees. The two are several miles apart.

I'm putting out feelers to see if there are records in Wijchen which make reference to the crash, but so far we're still here…

http://hewasahero.wo...-robert-brodby/

If this is intriguing anyone else, please feel free to speak up. Fruitful collaboration welcomed.

Thanks!

 

There's news of out Wijchen's archives…

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/

 

Kind of suspected this lead would be ruled out, and it does make Wijchen look more like a wrong turn in general. Any info is good info, though…!

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/wijchen-airman-identified/

 

This one has some real twists and turns! 542 Squadron's ORBs have numerous entries for 'PL896' after Brodby crashed, and these entries fit with the Movement Card for PL896, but not the single entry in the 16 Squadron ORBs, which now looks wrong…

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/pl896/

 

Also, the serial number PL893 looks wrong for Brodby's crash plane, due to many later entries in the 683 Squadron ORBs…

http://hewasahero.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/683-squadron-and-pl893/