WIX Archives

Hamdpen's of 144 Sqn and 455 Sqn

Posted by Paul McMillan on Sat Dec 01, 2001 11:25:10 AM

All

I promised a list for Christer

A total of 32 Hampden aircraft of No. 144 and 455 Sqn left Sumburgh in the Shetlands on the 4th and 4th Sept bound for Vaenga in Russia. 8 crashed on route and one ditched in a lake after being shot down by Russian fighters:

1) P1273/PL-? 144 Sqn. Missing (Set on fire by fighters; abandoned and crashed in swamp near Petsamo, Finland (now in Russia)- Could this one be the one listed in Lake ARVIDSJAUR?) 5 Crew POWs. Note this website has Lake Arvidsjaur as an ice-fishing location, so how much of a swamp is it??

http://www.arvidsjaur.com/natur-fritid/eng2.htm

2) P1344/PL-? 144 Sqn. Missing Crashed near Petsamo airfield, Finland (now in Russia), weckage recovered, now with RAF Museaum, for restoration). At least 3 crew killed, one source says 4.. The pilot was listed as POW. But that leaves 1 crewman un-accounted for

F/Sgt G E Miller (RCAF)
Sgt J M Robertson
Sgt D C Garrity

3) P5304/UB-H 455 Sqn. Crashed in Sweden. Flew into mountain Avastotter, Sweden) (see Christer's posting). Crew of 5 all killed, buried Kviborg:

Sgt E J Smart RAAF
F/Sgt T G Nichols
F/Sgt L A Biggin
Sgt J N O Harris RAAF
Cpl D H Nelson RAAF

4) P5323/UB-L 455 Sqn. Force-landed in wood at Afrikanda Russia, ran out of fuel and crashed, Kandalashka. Crew of 5 all unhurt.

5) AE310/PL-? 144 Sqn. Crash-landed near Afrikanda, ran out of fuel in fog. Crew of 5 all unhurt,

6) AE356/PL-? 144 Sqn. Shot down by Russia fighters into sea near Murmansk. 1 Crew killed, 4 unhurt

Sgt W T Tabor

7) AE436/PL-? 144 Sqn. Crashed in Sweden. The two crew who survived made it to civilisation after a horrendous trip through snow and mountains. (Discovered in August 1976 on a rocky plateau jsut below the west side of the 6,076 foot peak on the Tsatsa mountain, Kvikkjokk, Sweden, wreckage is now at East Kirby). 1 crew injured, 1 OK and 3 killed, buried Kvilberg Cemetery, Gamlestaden, Sweden

P/O W H Bowler RCAF
F/Sgt J S Jewitt RCAF
F/Sgt J P Campbell RCAF

8) AT109/UB-C 455 Sqn. Missing. Hit by flak and crashed near Vardo in Norway. (I have seen a photo of this aircraft in Flypast a couple of years ago, complete and being inspected by German personnel. So should be force-landed/captured). Crew of 5 all POW

9) AT138/PL-? 144 Sqn. Missing - Shot down by two Bf 109's over North Finland (The aircraft was found a few years ago, close to the village of Alekurtii, near Lake Vikurij in Russia and the remains of 4 of the crew were recovered and buried in Archangel, the pilot survived.

Sgt J Smith
Sgt G Kirby
Sgt R S Otters
AC2 L Mallinson


Sources:

a) Hampden Crash Log. Midland Counties
b) The Times Newspaper. (Date unknown)
c) Wrecks and Relics (17th Edition)
d) The Hampden File. Air Britain
e) They shall not grow old. CATPM



Follow Ups: