Mission: Bochum, Germany.

Date: 13/14th May 1943

Time: 03.07 Uhr. (German time)

Unit: No.78 Squadron RAF

Type: Handley Page Halifax II

Serial No: JB873

Coded: EY - J

Location: Crashed between the two villages of Oud-Heverlee and Haasrode, Belgium.

Pilot: Sgt Gerald. Herbert. Dane MID 146425 – Killed.

2nd Pilot: Sgt James. Howard. Body 658465 – Killed.

Sgt A. C. P. Minnitt – Captured POW.

Sgt R. G. Goddard 1333556 – Evaded capture and returned.

Sgt L. Adams 1390851 – Captured POW.

Sgt J. W. Pople 1388502 – Captured POW

Sgt A. Beatson 1698487 – Captured POW.

Sgt F. W. Webb 1388371 – Captured POW

Main image - The wreck of Halifax JB873 appears to be near a barn, above the rear turret (Horst Jeckle)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from its base at Linton-on-Ouse at 23.29 hours. Was attacked and shot down by a night fighter of Lt Wolfgang Schnaufer II./NJG1 and crashed between Oud-Heverlee and Haasrode (Brabant). Both pilots who were killed were laid to rest in the Haasrode Churchyard. The only evader, Sgt Goddard returned to the UK and was decorated with the DFM, details being gazetted 17th August 1943.

Burial detail:

Pilot: Sgt Gerald. Herbert. Dane MID 146425 Age 20
Haasrode Churchyard Belgium Grave 1.
Son of Herbert Victor and Beryl Florence Dane of Belvedere, Kent. His brother Eric John also died on service.

2nd Pilot: Sgt James. Howard. Body 658465 Age 21
Haasrode Churchyard Belgium Grave 2.
Son of Charles and Mary Ellen Body, of Frittenden, Kent.

Page constructed by Alexander King, Researched by Horst Jeckel & M.Brownless August 2013.
Special Thanks to Marcel Rosvelds. (Updated by David King May 2019)