Memorial Halifax III HX313 QB-B van 424 Squadron RCAF

In the night 27/28 May 1944 330 Halifaxes and Lancasters flew over Knokke, through a corridor between Brussels and Antwerp, to bomb the ‘camp of Beverlo’ near Leopoldsburg.
Above the target area, the Halifax III HX313 QB-B ‘Blonde Bomber’ of the 424th Squadron was unexpectedly shot by a night fighter. Flight Lieutenant Eric Mallett could still keep the machine under control. But after unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the fire on board, he gave up the burning bomber.
The Halifax bomber crashed in Oostham on the hamlet of Langven, adjacent to Olmen (Leopoldsburg).

The crew consisted of:
F/L Eric L. MALLETT (pilot, escaped)
F/O William J. 'Bill' ELLIOTT (co-pilot, escaped)
Sgt Maurice MUIR (flight engineer, escaped)
F/O Robert A. 'Bob' IRWIN (navigator, killed in crash)
WW2 Kenneth C. SWEATMAN (air bomber, escaped)
Sgt Wilf G. WAKELY (radio operator, killed in crash)
Sgt George F. 'Hank' FREEMAN (air gunner, killed in crash)
P/S Victor 'Pop' POPPA (air gunner, prisoner of war)

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge