LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 455 Squadron Beaufighter aircraft NE959), off Heligoland, 10 August 1944
Beaufighter NE959 took off from RAF Langham on 10 August 1944 to carry out a reconnaissance in force. Thirteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the mission and three of these including NE340 failed to return. The No. 455 Squadron aircraft were accompanied by 12 Torbeaus of No. 489 Squadron (RNZAF) and 15 anti-flak Beaufighters of No. 254 Squadron (RAF). Six of the No. 455 Squadron Beaufighters each carried 8 x 25 lbs (pound) (11 kg) rockets and the other seven cannon only. At 2106 hours an enemy convoy of 5 motor vessels and 10 escort vessels was sighted and attacked. One motor vessel was hit by 2 torpedoes and burned fiercely. Two ‘M’ mine sweepers were on fire and one ‘M’ was burning fiercely. One ‘M’ was sinking and an Artevelde” escort vessel blew up from rocket attacks. Three No. 455 Squadron aircraft were shot down. Two of them went in on the starboard and one on the port of the convoy.
The crew members of NE959 were:
Pilot Officer Geoffrey Edwin Batchelor (185232) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Harold Richard Morris (179196) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
No. 455 Squadron lost Beaufighter KW277 (Flying Officer Leo Albert Kempson (409476) (Pilot)) on 10 August 1944.
No. 455 Squadron lost Beaufighter NE340 (Warrant Officer William Thomas Jones (413618) (Pilot)) on 10 August 1944.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Bibliography:
Gordon, I. (Ian) Strike and Strike Again: 455 Squadron 1944-5, Banner Books Belconnen ACT 2616, 1995
Lawson, John Horwood Wightman (251634) The Story of No. 455 Squadron (RAAF), Wilke and Company, Melbourne VIC, 1951