No further messages were received from the aircraft, which did not return from the patrol." 20 hrsgiving a first sighting report of 3 enemy destroyers, and 2 E boats. The aircraft took off from St Davids at 21.35hrs on 10th June 1944, and was detailed to an anti submarine patrol in the area southof the Brest Peninsula.A message was received at 00. "Our records show thatF/Lt Ash was the navigator on HalifaxJP167which was operating with No 58 Squadron. I have re read the letter that was sent by the Ministry of Defence to me when I asked for my Fathers records. Perhaps the other researchers here can add to this, please bounce back with any further info you have and we can help fill in more info for you. Preston, Thomas Baxter - father/mother John + Margaret of Edinburgh Hopkin-Hill, James no address - Squadron leaderĭouglas, Philip Hulme - wife was Agnes Davis Douglas of Edinburgh With regard to your fathers crew and their relatives I found the following: This must be part of the story of the loss of JP167 and her crew. It should be pointed out that after mid-1943 the Uboat crews were told by their command to shoot it out with the Allied submarine partol aircraft and not to dive underwater when the aircraft attacked. I will look further on his missing Halifax. In my record sources I find at least five 58 Squadron Halifaxes that were shot down by U Boat crews so this was dangerous duty.īUT none of these Halifaxes that were recorded as shot down by the Uboats fit the date and time of the patrol of your fathers Halifax. RAF 58 Squadron was used for anti-submarine duties to hunt down U-boats. My Father joined the RAF straight from school at 17 in 1936 and went right through the war until1944 when he was reported missing I need to find out more about his career and especially his death.ġ304764 Sgt PHĝouglas Wireless Operator/air gunnerġ374970 Sgt TB Preston Wireless Operator/air gunnerĪ.425345F/S HMĜrostie Wireless Operator/air gunnerġ567900 Sgt Wğarquharsonğlight Engineerġ524740 Sgt HĜhadwick Wireless Operator/mechanic/air gunnerĭear Christine, I have just checked my sources and found out your father was on a Coastal Command Halifax and not a Bomber Command Halifax. Why was it that no messages were received from the aeroplane after the 1st one at 00 22 hrs giving a first sighting would they not have radioed to say they had been hit or wouldn't some of the other planes have seen what happened to them ? He was a navigator on a Halifax No JP.167which was operating with 58 Squadron(whatever that means) His name was Reginald Geoffrey Ash( known as Geoff)and he was a Flight Lieutenant He never returned from this flight and nothing was heard of him again Is there anything anyone can tell me about this battle what it was called and how many planes were lost how many came back Was the weather to blame or were there too many German submarines. The aircraft took off from RAF St Davids at 2135 hrs on the 10th June 1944 and was detailed to an anti submarine patrol in the area south of the Brest Peninsula. It would not have been possible to progress this project without the help of a large number of individuals who contributed information, photographs and drawings for inclusion on the site.I am trying to find out about the last flight my father made and also to find any relatives of the missing crew. Just key their name in the Search Box and see what comes up It is hoped that the information that has been collated together, when used in conjunction with other material, will help you establish more details about your friends or relatives who served with the squadron. 35 Squadron, from its earliest beginnings during World War I, through to its latest disbandment in 1982Ī change in circumstances means that the editor is only able to do limited updates to the site. Help us build up a unique collection of information relating to the history of No. Please click on the following link to access the Facebook Group that has been set up for those that have an interest in the squadron: The following provides a broad summary of the armament fitted to the versions used by the squadron: The Air Gunner positions changed significantly during the development of the Halifax. The primary role of the Air Gunners was to “be the eyes and the sting of the aircraft, by warning the pilot of approaching enemy aircraft, telling him what tactics to adopt to evade action, and, if combat does develop, to destroy or drive off the enemy”.
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