WW2 Forum - View Single Post - Operation Thesis

Antipodean Andy · 27-03-2008, 07:05 AM

I'll see what I can do from the 454 point of view, Spidgeman (scanning, transcribing, whatever I have time for). Any other deaths on that date would be Beau crews or Hurris...maybe even some Spits (80 Sqn) that covered the withdrawal but not as likely.

If other Aussie deaths/burials for that date, I can cross-reference Beaus with potential comments in Nesbit's The Armed Rovers.

As the Allies were operating on double summer time, there was a slight stuff up as the plan was to hit at breakfast time. However, the Germans were not on daylight savings so were well and truly passed brekky when the Baltimores arrived. They arrived first, rather than the Beaus and Hurris "sweeping" ahead of them because it had taken too long to get the 90+ Hurris organised. Hence, the Baltimores arrived low and fast but were met by alert gun crews.

One of the Baltimores (S/L Folkard) shot down skipped across a mine laden beach, explosions going off behind the aircraft as it went along. The crew extricated themselves, two, including Folkard, were quite banged up, and managed to move away before the bomb load went off. Can you imagine a bombed-up Baltimore with more than half its fuel remaining skipping across a minefield?! Yikes! Hutchinson, the WOP/AG in the turret pulled fellow WOP/AG Wedgwood out of the broken fuselage but he had already died.

Five Baltimores were lost over/around Crete (one bombed a bridge, dropped short and bomb bounced off river bank and exploded under aircraft - Akhurst's crew, flying number two to Folkard, gave that explanation re Folkard's downing so perhaps not the entire bombload on board when she blew up - cheated and looked in the book for this bit!) and the sixth aircraft, F/S Akhurst, lost a motor over Crete and flew back to Gambut III on one engine. Apparently, with all the vibration, everyone's intercom jacks had come out so Akhurst couldn't communicate with the nav in the nose (nav could tap him on the foot to pass message at the best of times if intercom out). If he had, they would have ditched off Crete. So, they flew home and ditched just short of the coast as they couldn't climb to the 500 feet of the airfield and couldn't land on the beach due to obstruction by ship wreckage. The aircraft floated into shore the next day complete with its two homing pigeons! Akhurst got an immediate DFM.

Given my dribble above, probably only need to post details about any of the crew lost! Spidgeman, let me know if there's any Aussies lost from the Beaus and Hurris (losses of Hurris was in the teens, IIRC)

27-03-2008, 07:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Antipodean Andy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Outer reaches, Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 3,443 You're Top Poster: #2 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 5	I'll see what I can do from the 454 point of view, Spidgeman (scanning, transcribing, whatever I have time for). Any other deaths on that date would be Beau crews or Hurris...maybe even some Spits (80 Sqn) that covered the withdrawal but not as likely. If other Aussie deaths/burials for that date, I can cross-reference Beaus with potential comments in Nesbit's The Armed Rovers. As the Allies were operating on double summer time, there was a slight stuff up as the plan was to hit at breakfast time. However, the Germans were not on daylight savings so were well and truly passed brekky when the Baltimores arrived. They arrived first, rather than the Beaus and Hurris "sweeping" ahead of them because it had taken too long to get the 90+ Hurris organised. Hence, the Baltimores arrived low and fast but were met by alert gun crews. One of the Baltimores (S/L Folkard) shot down skipped across a mine laden beach, explosions going off behind the aircraft as it went along. The crew extricated themselves, two, including Folkard, were quite banged up, and managed to move away before the bomb load went off. Can you imagine a bombed-up Baltimore with more than half its fuel remaining skipping across a minefield?! Yikes! Hutchinson, the WOP/AG in the turret pulled fellow WOP/AG Wedgwood out of the broken fuselage but he had already died. Five Baltimores were lost over/around Crete (one bombed a bridge, dropped short and bomb bounced off river bank and exploded under aircraft - Akhurst's crew, flying number two to Folkard, gave that explanation re Folkard's downing so perhaps not the entire bombload on board when she blew up - cheated and looked in the book for this bit!) and the sixth aircraft, F/S Akhurst, lost a motor over Crete and flew back to Gambut III on one engine. Apparently, with all the vibration, everyone's intercom jacks had come out so Akhurst couldn't communicate with the nav in the nose (nav could tap him on the foot to pass message at the best of times if intercom out). If he had, they would have ditched off Crete. So, they flew home and ditched just short of the coast as they couldn't climb to the 500 feet of the airfield and couldn't land on the beach due to obstruction by ship wreckage. The aircraft floated into shore the next day complete with its two homing pigeons! Akhurst got an immediate DFM. Given my dribble above, probably only need to post details about any of the crew lost! Spidgeman, let me know if there's any Aussies lost from the Beaus and Hurris (losses of Hurris was in the teens, IIRC) __________________ http://www.454-459squadrons.org.au/. http://www.awm.gov.au/index.asp Aircraft from No. 60 Squadron levelling out for the "run in" to make a mast-head attack on a Japanese coaster off Akyab. Courtesy AWM. Last edited by Antipodean Andy; 27-03-2008 at 07:30 AM.