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462 Squadron RAAF LL-598 HALIFAX Z5-A Target: Special duties, bombing raid. Target: Mannheim Germany. LL-598 crashed in an area 2 miles west of RAF Shipdham on the 14th Jan 1945. The aircraft took off at 16.03 from Foulsham airfield and developed an engine problem at 4000 feet soon after takeoff. Flight Sgt Merv Isaac reported smoke coming from the outer starboard engine, Astill feathered the engine and operated the extinguisher, suddenly fire broke out which spread rapidly over the wing. The wing now weakened by the fire failed and broke off just next to the outer engine, the aircraft immediately turned starboard and dived into the ground some twelve miles from Foulsham at 17.03 hrs, killing Astill and five of his crew. Fortunately two members - Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant Neville Reed and Flight Engineer, Sergeant George Sanday managed to escape from the doomed aircraft and parachuted to safety just before the crash. Sgt. George Sanday's account of the crash I saw the flames spread back into the mainplane. I told the pilot to bail out at once. His words were 'Parachute, emergency, abandon aircraft'. I reached for his parachute as well as my own and when I turned around I saw Sergeant Miles (the special duties flight engineer) in the rest position and staring at me not on the intercom. I motioned to the pilot I was going back, then I pulled Sgt Miles to the rear entrance which I found blocked with bundles of 'window'. I cleared the 'window' away and got the door open. I found Sgt Miles parachute among the 'window' and passed it to him. I motioned to him to get out but he did not respond. I grabbed him by the arm and at that moment there was a terrific lurch to starboard and the nose went down, he was flung to the floor. I hung on to the floor and gradually pulled myself up to the entrance. I got partly out when something hit me. Next thing I remember was I was in the air so I grabbed for my ripcord. The parachute opened and I landed safely. Source - To See the Dawn Again - A History of 462 Squadron, RAAF 1945 - 2008 Mark Lax and Leon Kane-Maguire (Used with permission of authors) Under Construction - crew & crash being researched |
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(RAAF) F/O Alan Edwin Astill Service No: 421143 Age: 24 (Pilot) Son of James Edwin and Maud Astill, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Born 7th November 1920, Chatswood, NSW, Australia. Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 15723 Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. |
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(RAAF) Flight Sgt. Mervyn George Isaac Service No: 433727 Age: 19 (Mid Upper Gunner) Son of Ernest George and Mercy Marion Isaac, of Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. Born 8th March 1925, Young, NSW, Australia. Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 15721 Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. |
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(RAAF) Flight Sgt Philip Swarbrick Service No: 427410 Age: 32 (Navigator) Son of James and Beatrice Swarbrick, of Perth, Western Australia; husband of Edna Beryl Swarbrick, of Gwalia, Western Australia. Born 21st Oct 1912. Perth, Australia. Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 15724 Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. |
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(RAAF)
Warrant Officer Stanley James
Minett Service No: 423814 Age: 27 (Bomb Aimer) Son of John and May Minett, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Valentina Minett, of North Sydney, New South Wales. Born 20th March 1917, Eastwood, NSW, Australia. Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 15722 Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery. |
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(RAFVR) Sgt Leslie Edward Miles Service No: 1894484 Age: 20 (Flight Engineer / Special Duties) Son of William Lewis Miles and Emily Jane Miles, of Queen's Park Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 1295 Kensal Green Cemetery Sect R.S
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(RAAF) Warrant Officer Sydney Robert Fuller Service No: 432346 Age: 21 (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) Son of Richard and Doris Christina Fuller, of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. Born 11th November 1923, Chatswood, NSW, Australia. Died 14th Jan 1945 Grave Ref: 15720 Buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.
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Updates & News 23rd December 2009 - Research into the crash of LL-598 begins, emails sent off to members of the Shipdham community in the UK. 24th December 2009 - Webpage added, Phone conversation with Leon Kane-Maguire author of "To See The Dawn Again". Information gathered from the CWGC. 9th January 2010 - Email from Bob Collis suggesting LL598 crashed at Letton Hall which is just south of Shipdham airfield.
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