Crash Location Halifax II DT784 ZA-M

The crew took off on the 3d of July 1943 at 11.03 pm from Melbourne airfield (GB) for a bombing mission on Köln, Germany. The aircraft was shot down by night fighter pilot Leutnant Johannes Hager on the 4th of Juli 1943 at 1.35 am.
Apart from the two airman killed, Flight Sergeant Arthur Morley (Piloot, RAAF) and Sergeant Frank Sadler (Air Gunner, RAF), the crew was made up of Sergeant W.R. Readhead, navigator, Sergeant R.L. Watson, Sergeant R.J. West, Sergeant J.R. Barlow. All four ere detained at Kopernikus Stalag camp 357. Sergeant R.C. Samways was detained at camp L7, Bankau Kreulberg Polen.

Initially the crew of Halifax II HR734 of 158 Squadron was commemorated here. That something was wrong is evident from the fact that this crew is also commemorated with a monument in Loncin (Ans). In 2017, the inscription on the memorial was adjusted with the correct information.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Hans Tasma