Squadron 432 (RCAF)

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Ray148ca, Dec 7, 2012.

  1. Ray148ca

    Ray148ca Junior Member

    My uncle "Rheal Robineau" :poppy: was shot down over Germany in February 1944. After the war the RCAF did some research in the crash area and prepared an investigative report, which is excerpted below. I have more information on this specific crash onmy blog at Robineau Family Genealogy | robineau.ca

    I am looking for anyone with more information, perhaps relatives ofthe crew members who survived. Ironically, i just got in touch with the sone of RA Richards a few weeks ago and found out that RA Richards died in 2010 and lived within 20 minutes of my house. The other crew members listed as "safe" all spent the rest of the war in Stalag III.

    I also have to think that the Germans investigated the crash, wrote reports and perhaps even took pictures. Where would those reports and pictures be today?

    Thank You:)

    Investigation Report prepared by the RCAF in 1947
    Date: 20th January, 1947……Investigation Officer: F/Lt. McKitrik……..Section: 17
    A.M. File Reference: P.414208/44/RCAF Eng. A.M/ Cas. Enquiry No: G.1176
    Unit Reference:………. Section Reference: 17MRES/G.1176
    Aircraft Type and Number: Halifax LW. 597 Date and time: 0200hrs. 26.2.1944
    Position of Crash: 1 1/2 km S.W. of Frankenhofen
    Map Reference: Sheet N.48/X377.713
    Crew………………………………………………………….Particulars of Burial
    Sgt. Robineau, G.E. A/G (Can) Mass grave. Joint cross. No inscription
    Sgt. Thompson, W. A/G (Eng) Mass grave. Joint cross. No inscription
    1st Lt. Lubold A.L. Pilot (Amer.) Safe
    F/O Richards, R.A. A/B (Can) Safe
    Sgt. Cannon, J. WOP/AG (Eng) Safe
    F/O Torton, A.G. Nav. (Can) Safe
    Sgt. Bean, L. F/E (Eng) Safe
    Cemetery and Map Reference: Cemetery at Frankenhofen. “X” 385.720.
    Articles Found: Nil
    Results of Investigation and Finding:
    Exhaustive investigations in the Ersingen-Risstissen areas revealing no trace of any aircraft. I proceeded to the Rathaus Ehingen (“X” 47.67) and i examined the relevant files for the whole of Ehingen landkreis. The only incident recorded there which refers to British aircraft was a report from the Buergermeister at Frankenhofen (“X” 38.72) concerning a supposedly American 4 motored bomber which crashed near there on the night 25/26:2:1944. Heir Reisch, clerk to the Landrat, who is at this moment engaged in compiling a record of Allied Personnel buried in this area for the French Authorities, assured me that this was the only aircraft to crash at that time in the whole Ehingen area. The following is a report i took from from Hernn Eierstueck, Buergermeister of Frankenhofen: “ About 02:00 hours on the night of 25/26.2.1944 I was standing outside my home watching the air attack against Augsburg, when suddenly i noticed an aircraft approaching me in flames, flying from the direction of the target. When over our village it commenced to make large descending spirals and in all it circled Frankenhofen three times before it finally plunged into the woods about one and a half kilometers S.W. of the village. Search parties immediately went out to look for any fliers who might have parachuted in our parish and also to visit the scene of the crash
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Ray

    ROBINEAU, GILBERT EUCLIDE RHEAL

    Rank:
    Pilot Officer
    Trade:
    Air Gnr.
    Service No:
    J/91090
    Date of Death:
    26/02/1944
    Age:
    23
    Regiment/Service:
    Royal Canadian Air Force

    432 Sqdn.
    Grave Reference
    1. D. 28.
    Cemetery
    DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information:
    Son of Leonel and Leda Robineau, of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada.
    CWGC - Casualty Details

    hopefully a forum member will be able to add more

    regards
    Clive
     
  3. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Hi Ray,

    I see you made it over here from bombercrew.com forum. Good stuff.

    Have you approached the Air Historical Branch and asked them what they hold?

    If you have been through your uncle's service file you may have seen a German totenkarte, usually pink or beige, with a "KE" and 4 or 5 digits after that. There's an example of one here:

    434 Squadron - Documents - 'KE Report' German document

    We captured a lot of this stuff intact at war's end. From time to time the AHB release things to family members which could only have come from these KE Reports.

    That may be the way forward here.

    Regards,

    Dave
     
  4. Ray148ca

    Ray148ca Junior Member

    Thanks for that information. I will follow-up.

    Yes, i just discovered this site a few weeks ago.
    I was actually contacted by a German fellow who takes pictures of crash sites and he sent me some pictures. He also sent me pictures of small pieces of machinery which he states is from the plane. It is not recognizable and i appreciate his picture, but it could also be old tractor parts. ;)

    Roger Robineau
     
  5. Mr.Bunny

    Mr.Bunny New Member

    Hi Ray,

    are you still intrested about informations of the crash of Halifax Lw 597 ?

    I am live 20 Miles away from the crashplace, i read some Books about crashes near
    Stuttgart and find the LW 597 crash in Frankenhofen in the Book of Otmar Gottererbarm. (Maybe the man who contacted you.)

    "Die Abgestürtzten, der Luftkrieg 25. und 26. Februar über Augsburg und der Schwäbischen Alb"

    He investigate this 3 Crashes in the night of 25. to 26. february.

    1. Halifax LW 597 in Frankenhofen
    2. Halifax LW 420 in Großengstingen
    3. Lancaster DS 791 in Seeburg

    For LW 597 he find a lot of informations and wrote 65 pages. He investigate in britisch and german records.

    I attach a picture of the front of the book, this shows the
    crashed LW 597.

    Regards,

    Thomas
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page