The Operation Dark of the Moon FB group is dedicated to 148 (SD) Squadron RAF which flew out of Brindisi air-supplying partisans, military missions, dropping agents, etc. in Southern and Central Europe. This query originates from a member of the FB group researching Captain Julian Henry Hall, Intelligence Corps (and SOE). On the night of 11/12 September 1944, Halifax BB412 (O'Brien crew) was lost with a number of 'Joes' including Cpt Hall; there were no survivors. The a/c crashed on Monte Cavallaria at the mouth of the Aosta valley in NW Italy. Can anyone shed any light on the intended recipients/DZs that night? They were: Operation SILICA N Operation SEED Operation ACRE Typically, these code names referred to e.g. military missions, DZs, partisan groups, etc. Cheers, Pat
Hi Pat, SILICA II was a op to launch into Northern Italy and meet up with some Czech's who had been forced to fight with the Wehrmacht and pay them off. Hall was on this Op, and was due to meet up with the Czechs and turn them. I believe SEED and ACRE were DZs for partizans. HS 4/34 at TNA has the detail. Paul
Hi Pat, I'm not sure where the information on Captain Hall being aboard BB412 came from. He wasn't. The officer killed "Major Freddy" was 199620 Captain Charles Frederick Whitaker. The two "Canadians" in the attached report were Czech. Pg 418 of Oliver Clutton-Brock's "Trusty to the End" goes into the number of personnel aboard the a/c. Regards, Dave
