My latest addition to the British/Commonwealth Bomber display. This Halifax joins a Lancaster, a Whitley and a Hampdem, for a very impressive display.
You have seen the TGM stock images which are wonderful. I will add a little of the story of this illfated bomber and some other images to this post:
The mighty and impressive Halifax bomber in the markings of ‘O for Oscar’ flown by Paul Hugli RCAF who was killed along with most of his crew in April 1944 whilst on a bombing mission to Germany. It was estimated that Allied bomber crews had only an 8% chance of surviving the minimum 30 missions over enemy territory required, if they were then be posted to less dangerous tasks.
Archive Report: Aircrew Remembered
OPERATION: KARLSRUHE
Date: 24/25[SUP]th[/SUP] April 1944
Unit: 424 (‘Tiger”) Squadron (RCAF)
Type of Aircraft: Halifax III
Serial: HX318 (“OSCAR”)
Code: QB – O
Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire
Location: Bingen, Germany
Pilot: Pilot Officer Paul Hugli RCAF Age:24 KIA
Flight Engineer: Sgt. William Docherty RAFVR Age ? KIA
Navigator: Flight Officer George Stehphen Coleman RCAF Age:27 POW #4458
Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belleria
Died: Calgary 1999
Air Bomber: Flight Sgt Harold Edward May RCAF Age: 27 POW #55413
Camp: Stalg Luft Sagan and Belleria
Died: Ontario 1990
Wire Operator/ Air Gunner: Sgt. George Albert Alexander Pound RAFVR Age: 23 KIA
Air Gunner: Sgt. ‘Red” George William Mayor RCAF Age: 23 KIA
Air Gunner: Flight Officer Robert Scott Chapman RCAF Age: 21 KIA
Reason for loss:
The Halifax III took off at 21:43 hrs from RAF Skipton-on-Swale in Yorkshire. Hit by flak while flying at 20,000 feet over the town of Waldalgesheim, Germany. Moments later the Halifax blew up, ejecting the two survivors in the blast. It is believed Flight Sgt May was badly hurt and is thought to have been repatriated in September 1944.
After the war the report of the investigation stated tht a 4 engine bomber exploded in mid air over the village of Waldalgeshein on 25.4.1944. The wreckage of the aircraft was spread over 5km. Five bodies were recovered by the Whermacht and buried in the civil cemetery of the town. Each body was identified and marked with a simple white cross.
You have seen the TGM stock images which are wonderful. I will add a little of the story of this illfated bomber and some other images to this post:
The mighty and impressive Halifax bomber in the markings of ‘O for Oscar’ flown by Paul Hugli RCAF who was killed along with most of his crew in April 1944 whilst on a bombing mission to Germany. It was estimated that Allied bomber crews had only an 8% chance of surviving the minimum 30 missions over enemy territory required, if they were then be posted to less dangerous tasks.
Archive Report: Aircrew Remembered
OPERATION: KARLSRUHE
Date: 24/25[SUP]th[/SUP] April 1944
Unit: 424 (‘Tiger”) Squadron (RCAF)
Type of Aircraft: Halifax III
Serial: HX318 (“OSCAR”)
Code: QB – O
Base: RAF Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire
Location: Bingen, Germany
Pilot: Pilot Officer Paul Hugli RCAF Age:24 KIA
Flight Engineer: Sgt. William Docherty RAFVR Age ? KIA
Navigator: Flight Officer George Stehphen Coleman RCAF Age:27 POW #4458
Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belleria
Died: Calgary 1999
Air Bomber: Flight Sgt Harold Edward May RCAF Age: 27 POW #55413
Camp: Stalg Luft Sagan and Belleria
Died: Ontario 1990
Wire Operator/ Air Gunner: Sgt. George Albert Alexander Pound RAFVR Age: 23 KIA
Air Gunner: Sgt. ‘Red” George William Mayor RCAF Age: 23 KIA
Air Gunner: Flight Officer Robert Scott Chapman RCAF Age: 21 KIA
Reason for loss:
The Halifax III took off at 21:43 hrs from RAF Skipton-on-Swale in Yorkshire. Hit by flak while flying at 20,000 feet over the town of Waldalgesheim, Germany. Moments later the Halifax blew up, ejecting the two survivors in the blast. It is believed Flight Sgt May was badly hurt and is thought to have been repatriated in September 1944.
After the war the report of the investigation stated tht a 4 engine bomber exploded in mid air over the village of Waldalgeshein on 25.4.1944. The wreckage of the aircraft was spread over 5km. Five bodies were recovered by the Whermacht and buried in the civil cemetery of the town. Each body was identified and marked with a simple white cross.
