NUMBER. J-90044
RANK. F/O
NAME. Bradley E.
SQUADRON. 405
AIRCRAFT. DT-808 LQ-V
TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. Halifax II
DATE OF LOSS. 3/4.4.1943
TARGET. Essen
HOW MANY OPS. 8
DUTY. Mid upper gunner
DATE OF INTERROGATION. 30.4.1945
INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM. POW report
NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FROM TAKEOFF TO LANDING.
Take off was good and the trip uneventful until was in sight and we were preparing to turn un for run over the target. Suddenly a great deal of flak opened up immediately below us. This was reported to the skipper by myself. He started violent evasive action and we thought that the plane was hit, but there was no fire and the controls were OK. Approximately 2 minutes later there was a terrific crash and the rest position burst into flames and the plane started to dive. The skipper called “bale out boys” over the intercom. I left immediately through the rear door. I saw no others bale out. when my chute opened i looked for the plane and saw it, in what appeared to be a vertical dive, burning furiously. I saw the plane crash but must of drifted a considerable distance before landing. My chute worked perfectly and i made a good landing unhurt. The weather was good with very little cloud. Informant was watching through under blister. He saw flak bursts near. He believes the crash felt was another hit and not an explosion following the first hit. The aircraft was not illuminated, type of evasive action was not known.
On the night of April 3 to 4, 1943, a large group of RAF bombers (348) took off from the English airfield at Leeming and the surrounding area in the center of England.
This also includes a Handley Page Halifax III, with an entirely Canadian crew, call sign LQ-V, Serial Number DT808 and belonging to the 405th Squadron.
The aircraft was part of a joint bombing raid and was hit by Major Werner Streib, stationed at Fliegerhorst Venlo, shortly before they were to fly to Essen to drop their bombs (2X1000lb + approximately 600 fire bombs).
The tactic used was Schräge Musik, where the bomber was attacked from below by the (night) fighter.
The two gunners were able to leave the burning aircraft in time.
Pilot - W/OII W.J. McAlpine, mil.reg. R/93277 PROFILE
Fl. Engineer - Sgt. H.J. McQueen, mil.reg. R/10748 PROFILE
Navigator - W/O II J.D. White, mil.reg, R/91819 PROFILE
Bomb aimer - F/Lt. F.E. Luxford, mil.reg. J/15434 PROFILE
W.op / airg. - W/O J.W. Halikowski, mil.reg. R/95419 PROFILE
M.U. Gunner – P/O E. Bradley, mil.reg. J/90044
R.U. Gunner – F/Lt. W.L. Murphy, mil.reg. J/15166
Profiles provided by "Faces To Graves"
Interrogation reports from the 2 survivors
NUMBER. C-15166
RANK. F/Lt
NAME. Murphy W.L
SQUADRON. 405
AIRCRAFT. DT-808 LQ-V
TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. Halifax II
DATE OF LOSS. 3/4.4.1943
TARGET. Essen
HOW MANY OPS. 24
DUTY. Rear gunner
DATE OF INTERROGATION. 9.5.1945
INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM. POW report
NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FROM TAKEOFF TO LANDING.
On the night of April 3rd, 1943, we took off and set course for Essen. We had an uneventful trip up to the time we were hit which was approximately 22:30, we had crossed the coast of Holland, south of the Zuider Zee and were hit southeast of the Zuider Zee. There was a severe shock to the aircraft when hit. I am quite sure i saw the flash of a gun from the ground a split second before the jar. After that the aircraft when out of control and on looking back i saw the whole centre section was on fire. Next i heard some one calling, help, help, the hatch won’t open. The aircraft was still diving and in flames, then there appeared to be panic as several voices started hollering over the intercom, then it went dead. I straightened my turret and with great difficulty opened my door and got my chute from inside the aircraft. The force of the dive made this difficult. Turning my turret to starboard i proceeded to get out, upon getting clear my body from the turret, my feet stuck, as i was attempting to release my feet from my boots, there happened something which i can’t describe, other than the aircraft blew up and i next found myself in mid air. I opened my chute and hit the ground within five minutes of the chute opening. One boot off, brown suede.
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RETURNED AIRCREW
Loss of bomber aircraft
MEMORIAL DT808, LQ-V
PARTS OF LQ-V
405 SQN HALIFAX DT 808/LQ-V MEMORIAL PLAQUE UNVEILING
APRIL 6, 2024