Remembering Today 21/22 June 1943 Halifax HR735 crew

Remembering tonight the crew of 159 Squadron Halifax Mk II (with Merlin engines, not radials) HR735 coded NP-N.
HR 735 took off from Lissett at 23.18 on an operation to Krefeld, Germany. 705 aircraft took part and 44 aircraft were lost, mostly due to German night fighters. 214 crew were killed and a further 65 being made P.O.W.'s.

After being shot down by a night-fighter flown by Hptm Hans-Dieter Frank, of 2./NJGI, with combat taking place at 01.37 hrs. at about 17,000 ft, the aircraft crashed at 01.58 hrs. at Kaathoven, near Vinkel, Holland.

This weekend, the 70th annicersary of the crash, the people of Vinkel are unveiling a Memorial to the crew (and also for that of DK141 lost in the near vicinity the very next night). They have managed to contact relatives of some of the crew, but still would want relatives of Sgt Ernest Fisher to get in touch, if possible.

HR735 crew:-
ROBINSON, COLIN HARBEN. Rank: Pilot Officer. Trade: Pilot. Service No: 415786. Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 25.
Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force. 158 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Awards: D F C.
Grave Reference: 25. B. 2. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Walter Francis Robinson and Emily Robinson, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

HILL, GEORGE ALEXANDER. Rank: Sergeant. (Navigator) Service No: 1526249. Date of Death: 22/06/1943.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Panel Reference: Panel 153. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Robert and Mary Eleanor Hill, of St. Pancras, London.

BARHAM, HARRY FREDERICK. Rank: Sergeant. (W/Op) Service No: 1270788. Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 22.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Panel Reference: Panel 141. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Harry Ottawa Barham and Florence Beatrice Barham, of West Hill, Hastings, Sussex.

HAYES, STANLEY GEORGE BENJAMIN. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Flt. Engr. Service No: 1269598.
Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 24.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 5. E. 8. Cemetery: UDEN WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Frederick Hayes, of Finsbury, London.

DUNNING, WALTER THOMAS. Rank: Sergeant. (Bomb Aimer) Service No: 1435865. Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 33.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Panel Reference: Panel 148. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Dunning, of Loughborough, Leicestershire.

CUTHBERT, DAVID DUNCAN. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Air Gnr. Service No: 1573822.
Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 28.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 25. B. 1. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of David James Wilson Cuthbert and Isabella Dorothea Cuthbert.

MYCOCK, GEORGE BEARDMORE. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Air Gnr. Service No: 1078078. Date of Death: 22/06/1943. Age: 20.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 25. B. 3. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Frederick Arthur and Olive Anne Mycock, of Buxton, Derbyshire.

FISHER, ERNEST HERBERT. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Pilot. Service No: 1332036. Date of Death: 22/06/1943.
(2nd pilot, perhaps gaining experience)
Age: 21. Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 158 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 25. B. 4. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Herbert Francis Fisher, and of Rosa Lydia Fisher, of Newington Butts, London.

It might be that the "missing" members of the crew were unable to be identified and may be buried near their crew mates as "Known Unto God".
I was able to trace relatives of Harry Barham and they will be attending at Vinkel on Saturday, the first chance they have has to visit the scene and meet other crew relatives.

Not forgetting the 427 (RCAF) Sqdn crew of DK141 :-

HAMILTON, JAMES DOUGLAS. Rank: Flight Sergeant. Trade: Pilot. Service No: R/102390. Date of Death: 23/06/1943. Age: 22.
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 427 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 11. F. 8. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of James and Alice I. Hamilton, of Kenaston, Saskatchewan.

REANSBURY, JOHN JOSEPH. Rank: Warrant Officer Class II. Trade: Nav. Service No: R/90121. Date of Death: 23/06/1943. Age: 22.
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 427 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 11. F. 10. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Hugh and Winifred Reansbury, of Brantford, Ontario.

WHITING, NORMAN GEOFFREY. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: W.Op./Air Gnr. Service No: 1199977. Date of Death: 23/06/1943. Age: 21.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference: 27. A. 11. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Harry Marshall Whiting and of Nora May Whiting (nee Featherstone), of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire; nephew of John Featherstone, of Mansfield.

SPENCER, J A. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Flt Engr. Service Number: R/60309.
Royal Canadian Air Force 427 Squadron. Prisoner of War PoW No. 255 in Stalag/Oflag L6.

SHARP, GERALD DAVID. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Obs. Service No: 629132. Date of Death: 23/06/1943. Age: 25.
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force. 427 (R.C.A.F.)
Grave Reference: 25. A. 4. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Harold Sharp, and of Ada Mary Sharp, of Marnhull, Dorsetshire.

DENNIS, PIERCE JAMES AXEL. Rank: Flight Sergeant. Trade: Air Gnr. Service No: R/151903. Date of Death: 23/06/1943.
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 427 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 11. F. 12. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY.

TYRONE, GORDON LOUIS. Rank: Flight Sergeant. Trade: Air Gnr. Service No: R/147160. Date of Death: 23/06/1943. Age: 23.
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 427 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: 25. A. 3. Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of C. Bruce Tyrone and Reid B. Tyrone, of Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Still trying to trace relatives of Hamilton and Whiting, so if you're out there, please get in touch.

We will remember them