WE Branch Fanatic
16th Jan 2007, 15:41
From the RN website: here (http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7771).
The Ministry of Defence is appealing for help in tracing the family of one of the crew of a World War Two Halifax JP276 RAF plane which crashed in Poland on 5 Aug 1944 killing all seven crew.
Human and aircraft remains have now been found and we are trying to trace the families to inform them of the find. Attached is the history of the crash for your information.
We are trying to trace the family of Sergeant Frederick George Wenham who was the Flight Engineer. He was born in 1923 in Rye Sussex and his father was living in Southampton when he was tragically killed. His address was York Road, Freemantle, Southampton.
The rest of the aircrew were: Service number - J24323 Flight Lieutenant Arnold Raymond Blynn RCAF Pilot; R149946 Flight Sergeant Charles Burton Wylie RCAF Bomb Aimer; J91098 Pilot Officer George Alfred Chapman RCAF Navigator; J26853 Flying Officer Harold Leonard Brown RCAF Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; 1400534 Sgt Frederick George Wenham RAFVR Flight Engineer; 1796373 Sergeant Kenneth James Ashmore RAFVR Air Gunner; R195410 Flight Sergeant Arthur George William Liddell RCAF Air Gunner;
This aircraft from 148 Squadron took off at 7.56pm on 4 Aug 1944 to carry out a special operation over southern Poland. From the time of take-off nothing further was heard. On board were two British and five Canadian aircrew.
It was later reported from eye witnesses on the ground that this aircraft was in great difficulty near the town on Dabrowa Tarnowska, and was on fire and flying in the direction of the village of Morzychna. The aircraft was seen to suddenly stop in mid-air before crashing into the ground and exploding, killing all seven crew members instantly on 5 Aug 44. The burial of the seven airmen took place in the town on Dabrowa Tarnowska.
The airmen were later exhumed from the cemetery at Dabrowa Tarnowska and reburied in the Krakow War Cemetery, Poland.
Any help you can give will be most appreciated.
Please contact
Sue Raftree
SO3 Historic Casework, JCCC AFPAA, Rm 14 Bldg 182, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester GL3 1HW. Telephone: 01452 712612 ext 6303, fax: 01452 510813, [email protected]
The Ministry of Defence is appealing for help in tracing the family of one of the crew of a World War Two Halifax JP276 RAF plane which crashed in Poland on 5 Aug 1944 killing all seven crew.
Human and aircraft remains have now been found and we are trying to trace the families to inform them of the find. Attached is the history of the crash for your information.
We are trying to trace the family of Sergeant Frederick George Wenham who was the Flight Engineer. He was born in 1923 in Rye Sussex and his father was living in Southampton when he was tragically killed. His address was York Road, Freemantle, Southampton.
The rest of the aircrew were: Service number - J24323 Flight Lieutenant Arnold Raymond Blynn RCAF Pilot; R149946 Flight Sergeant Charles Burton Wylie RCAF Bomb Aimer; J91098 Pilot Officer George Alfred Chapman RCAF Navigator; J26853 Flying Officer Harold Leonard Brown RCAF Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; 1400534 Sgt Frederick George Wenham RAFVR Flight Engineer; 1796373 Sergeant Kenneth James Ashmore RAFVR Air Gunner; R195410 Flight Sergeant Arthur George William Liddell RCAF Air Gunner;
This aircraft from 148 Squadron took off at 7.56pm on 4 Aug 1944 to carry out a special operation over southern Poland. From the time of take-off nothing further was heard. On board were two British and five Canadian aircrew.
It was later reported from eye witnesses on the ground that this aircraft was in great difficulty near the town on Dabrowa Tarnowska, and was on fire and flying in the direction of the village of Morzychna. The aircraft was seen to suddenly stop in mid-air before crashing into the ground and exploding, killing all seven crew members instantly on 5 Aug 44. The burial of the seven airmen took place in the town on Dabrowa Tarnowska.
The airmen were later exhumed from the cemetery at Dabrowa Tarnowska and reburied in the Krakow War Cemetery, Poland.
Any help you can give will be most appreciated.
Please contact
Sue Raftree
SO3 Historic Casework, JCCC AFPAA, Rm 14 Bldg 182, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester GL3 1HW. Telephone: 01452 712612 ext 6303, fax: 01452 510813, [email protected]