Among all the bad news in the National Press today, a half-page article concerning the fate of Halifax III LW430, C8-T of 640 Sqn, Leconfield which disappeared on the night of 24/25 March 1944 - the 'night of the big winds', Bomber Command's last major attack on Berlin.

The Halifax is believed to have been shot down by the Me110 of Oberstleutnant Karl-Heinz Seeler, crashing in soft ground near Torgau.

The crew of seven were listed as 'missing' with no post-war investigation possible in East Germany. But the German Missing Persons Research Group investigated the crash site, finding remains of the crew among the wreckage. Two of the crew had been buried after the crash in a local graveyard.

Today, the crew are being interred together at the British Military Cemetery in Berlin, in a ceremony which will include 20 relatives of the lost crew, including the Navigator's brother.

The crew's names can now be removed from the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing.

[img]graemlins/poppy.gif[/img]

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

I wanted to read up on 640 squadron since it was about a Halifax and I came across this site for missing crew. I had NO idea so many people are still trying to find out what happened to their relatives in Bomber Command after all these years!! The one that caught my eye was Arthur A Frederick also of 640 squadron but a different shoot down date.
http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/Airc...ceboard29.html
You have been a busy beaver these last few weeks Martin with all the new stuff you bring to the forums. My computer needs a rest. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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I need a bailout of only $500,000

A Lt. Colonel Seeler ? interesting not listed at all for the night victory claims.

Martin what NJG if I may ask or do you know if possible ? Too many claims for the night....

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Ta

the only Hali knocked down was by the Bf 110G-4 of Oblt. Wilhelm Johnen of III./NJG 6 on 13 September 44.

Lancsters and two Mossies were claimed by single engine pilots of I./NJG 11 and 1./NJGr 10

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Erich, the newspaper report mentions only 'German records' as identifying Seeler, who is said to have visited the crash site on the following day. The report goes on to say that he was killed later in the war, and that ' one of his fellow-pilots is due to be present at today's ceremony...'

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

well Martin that is my point, I am using German claims records from Feiburg. guess I'll await Theo Boitens book on the subject instead of tons of listings on paper.........

would be curious whom the former Kamerad is ? this may help ID the pilt or at least the unit. Not real common in having a pilot at this stage of the war at colonel status still flying missions unless he was Geschwader Kommodore

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And to be fair, re-reading the report it doesn't actually say '110', just 'Messerschmitt'.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson