Fl/Sgt Victor Hugh BINCH

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by flyingshottsman, Jan 10, 2015.

  1. flyingshottsman

    flyingshottsman Junior Member

    I just keep finding Family with R.A.F. connections, I think this is No 19.
    CWGC INFO:
    Fl/Sgt Victor Hugh BINCH
    ser. no. 1580691
    death: 4/3/1945
    No 227 Sq.
    Bur: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

    Any info on crew and mission would be appreciated.

    flyingshottsman
     
  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Details of the above loss .....

    3-4 March 1945

    227 Squadron
    Lancaster I NG170 9J-S
    Op. Ladbergen

    Took off from Balderton at 1852 hours to bomb the Dortmund - Ems Canal near Ladbergen. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Altenberge.

    Crew.

    F/O. J M. Johnston RAAF +
    Sgt. P. Mahon. pow
    WO1. P D. Ross-Ross RCAF +
    F/S. V H. Binch +
    W/O. P J. Buckman RAAF +
    F/S. G A. Jeans. pow
    F/S. J B. Gayland. pow

    Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.6 - W R. Chorley.

    The target was the Ladbergen aqueduct which was breached in two places and put out of action.
     
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  3. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    With there being a couple of RAAF casualties if you need more background info to the loss it might be worth checking out any available files held by the National Archives of Australia (www.naa.gov.au).

    Just type Johnston's service number into the search field in the top RH corner of the main page. Being a casualty file it is best to read it from the highest number folio downwards as that is the folio that started the file.


    W/O. P J. Buckman RAAF + (BUCKMAN, PATRICK JOHN 428753 - no files digitised by NAA)

    F/O. J M. Johnston RAAF + (JOHNSTON, JAMES MALCOLMSON 427098 - casualty file has been digitised by NAA)
     
  4. Jeans1975

    Jeans1975 New Member


    Just come across this page after a little research on my grandfather he was on the above flight
    G A jeans ... thought I would say hello and ask if you have anymore information on their crew .
    Many thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon
    Michael jeans
     
  5. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Hi Michael,

    The flight engineer, Sgt Mahon, survived this crash.

    Attached is his report on the circumstances of the loss.

    Regards,

    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. Jeans1975

    Jeans1975 New Member


    Many thanks Dave ,

    I must admit I wasn't expecting a reply so soon.
    Totally new to this but have found a few things so far , photo of their plane in flight on this mission I believe. And the graves of the crew . Would you know how I would be able to locate the crash area ?
    Many thanks for replying.
    Michael
     
  7. Jeans1975

    Jeans1975 New Member

    Hi Flyingshottsman ,

    My grandfather was G A JEANS, also in the crew ,just found this site tonight , hope to hear back from you .

    Regards

    Michael
     
  8. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Michael,

    The town Mahon was speaking about was Altenberge. This was the place of first burial. As you can see they were exhumed and reburied at Reichswald on 4 May 1948.

    As far as the place the aircraft crash goes there may be a few clues. Usually the Luftwaffe showed up, kept the civvies out and moved the wreckage. This forum is full of stories like that.

    But as the local police are mentioned you may want to write to the "stadt arkiv" for Altenberge and ask them for a copy of the polizei report. Gemeinde Altenberge

    I've attached a copy of a report which is in the service file of the pilot. No information on crash site but will give you some idea of what was done post-war to ID and properly bury our dead. If you want to read the whole file, page 10 and page 31 are of interest. Sgt Mahon makes quite a few appearances: View digital copy

    Regards,

    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Jeans1975

    Jeans1975 New Member

    Hi Dave,

    Many thanks for the information above very helpful and interesting.
    I am very grateful full .

    Many thanks and regards
    Michael
     
  10. Jeans1985

    Jeans1985 New Member

    Hi Mick I remember dad telling me a few things when we went to visit the war graves of grandads crew. They were a mixed crew. Australians Canadians and British. I also believe it was supposed to be grandads last air raid to. He got a lot of info through the war graves commission. Speak soon mate Luke
     

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