Spitfire crash landing in Scotland WW11
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Wonder if this is the same person.
POW's held in Shumen POW-Camp 1943/1944 lists a
POW's held in Shumen POW-Camp 1943/1944 lists a
O-715095 Raasch, Harold Arthur
There's a Harold K. Raasch with the same number as the POW above, listed as bomber crew here - Official Home of the 450th BG Association
Could these all be the same guy?
Could these all be the same guy?
Thread Starter
Good bit of digging Lono.
Tha landlady is adamant she recieved a letter from his daughter advising her of his death in 1990
I also turned up the Shumen connection and contacted Mark LaScotte to no avail.
If it is same guy, he sure got around !!
Tha landlady is adamant she recieved a letter from his daughter advising her of his death in 1990
I also turned up the Shumen connection and contacted Mark LaScotte to no avail.
If it is same guy, he sure got around !!
Indeed.
There's a 1990 Raasch, Harold A. Lt. Col., U.S. obituary linked from here - Harold Raasch Newspaper Obituaries - Genealogy Records - GenealogyBank - it's subscription site, only a few dollars though.
There's a 1990 Raasch, Harold A. Lt. Col., U.S. obituary linked from here - Harold Raasch Newspaper Obituaries - Genealogy Records - GenealogyBank - it's subscription site, only a few dollars though.
Quote:
Nothing in the paper yet, presumably.
Yep. Published today ! Read my post !
Nothing in the paper yet, presumably.
Yep. Published today ! Read my post !
Thread Starter
Sorry, I have no date !
A few people have come forward with information and memories.
Most of whom are cofusing this situation with these two supplied by an intersted party:-
14.04.43
Bristol Beaufighter IIF V8206 54 O.T.U. Charterhall
F/Sgt Haley – pilot ok
F/Sgt Fairweather – navigator radar ok
Aircraft abandoned by the crew after an engine failure and it then crashed at Drydens Farm near Selkirk, Roxburghshire
I’ve had a good look through my records and the only other wartime crash I have come up with is a Mosquito at Lindean a little further to the north of Drydens, here are the details:
30.08.44
D.H. 98 Mosquito BXX KB207 1655 M.T.U. Warboys
122956 F/Lt Ivor Alcuin-Jones pilot (K)
129448 F/Lt Douglas Augustine William Clarke navigator (K)
Pilot lost control of the aircraft after it was hit by lightning and then crashed at Lindean near Galashiels, Scottish Borders.
A few people have come forward with information and memories.
Most of whom are cofusing this situation with these two supplied by an intersted party:-
14.04.43
Bristol Beaufighter IIF V8206 54 O.T.U. Charterhall
F/Sgt Haley – pilot ok
F/Sgt Fairweather – navigator radar ok
Aircraft abandoned by the crew after an engine failure and it then crashed at Drydens Farm near Selkirk, Roxburghshire
I’ve had a good look through my records and the only other wartime crash I have come up with is a Mosquito at Lindean a little further to the north of Drydens, here are the details:
30.08.44
D.H. 98 Mosquito BXX KB207 1655 M.T.U. Warboys
122956 F/Lt Ivor Alcuin-Jones pilot (K)
129448 F/Lt Douglas Augustine William Clarke navigator (K)
Pilot lost control of the aircraft after it was hit by lightning and then crashed at Lindean near Galashiels, Scottish Borders.
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My father has checked his database on Spitfires for any losses in the area that might be suitable as well as checking for the name Raasch (Rasch).
As far as he can see there was no Spitfire crash in the area. Hence why the question about a date as that would enable him to check that way.
Maybe it wasn't a Spitfire after all.
As far as he can see there was no Spitfire crash in the area. Hence why the question about a date as that would enable him to check that way.
Maybe it wasn't a Spitfire after all.
Thread Starter
To be honest, databases are clearly incomplete.
Here is one less than 16 miles away :-
This one came down at Glentrees, Peebles.
25 June, 1944. EP276, FLS, (Flight Leaders School),a Spitfire V I belive. Listed as, "Ran out of fuel, belly-landed." Another ref' states, "Engine cut, crashlanded."
Here is one less than 16 miles away :-
This one came down at Glentrees, Peebles.
25 June, 1944. EP276, FLS, (Flight Leaders School),a Spitfire V I belive. Listed as, "Ran out of fuel, belly-landed." Another ref' states, "Engine cut, crashlanded."
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I totally agree with you about database being incomplete but the aircraft you are quoting is not relevant to this thread. From what I can see Peebles is in the wrong direction and not near the place where the man said he crashed.
Thread Starter
My father has checked his database on Spitfires for any losses in the area that might be suitable
Out of interest, did his search turn this one up at all ?
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Not as far as there is no link to the locations you gave. He has searched using Selkirk, Hawick, Dryden, Raasch, Rasch, Headshaw or Ashkirk.
I will ask him if he has any details on the one you mentioned.
I will ask him if he has any details on the one you mentioned.
Thread Starter
It just helps to establish what is recorded and what is not.
The problem with this incident is that is not so much a crash, as an engine out, belly landing.
The fact the the pilot walked away, suggests that the aircraft was probably recovered in some sort of reasonable state.
Quite how this would be recorded in time of war is anybody's guess !
Thanks for your help.
El G.
The problem with this incident is that is not so much a crash, as an engine out, belly landing.
The fact the the pilot walked away, suggests that the aircraft was probably recovered in some sort of reasonable state.
Quite how this would be recorded in time of war is anybody's guess !
Thanks for your help.
El G.
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Paper is the Southern Reporter
Mystery of vanishing Spitfire pilot - Local Headlines - The Southern Reporter
Mystery of vanishing Spitfire pilot - Local Headlines - The Southern Reporter
I think you`re actually Bernie Ecclescake ,in disguise....
Thread Starter
Thanks for that November.
So far the only positive response from the newspaper article is from somone who wants to supply me details by letter. That will take some time !!
So far the only positive response from the newspaper article is from somone who wants to supply me details by letter. That will take some time !!