Handley Page Halifax III (RG347 ZL-G) on a mission to Mainz on 1945-02-26
On Tuesday, 27 February 1945, (a part of) the aircraft of the 427 squadron (RCAF), took off for a mission to Mainz in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Leeming.
One of the crew members was Flight Sergeant M J Brewer RCAF. He departed for his mission at 12:42.
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type III, with serial RG347 and code ZL-G). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Tuesday, 27 February 1945.
I have some interesting info on the crash of this Halifax for you. The info comes from the tail gunner on the aircraft for that mission. His name was F/Sgt. John Hugh MacEachern, RCAF 429 (Bison) Squadron, and he survived the crash which killed the other six crew members. The aircraft was actually on loan that day to 429 from 427 (Moose) Squadron. The bomber was fueled and bombed up for a mission to Mainz, Germany in the Rhine region and as it reached 100 miles per hour on take-off, the right side main wheel tire blew, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft slewed off the runway as the bombs and fuel exploded. John was thrown clear as the rear turret blew off of the airframe and was severely burned and injured but landed far enough away to escape the fate of his fellow crewmen. He recovered fully and lived until 2001. I currently work with John’s son, Neil.
- The pilot on that day was F/O Richard M. Scott
- Mid upper gunner was F/Sgt Morley J. Brewer
- Bombardier was F/O Kenneth F. Whitehouse
- Wireless Operator was P/O Angus Mackie
- Flight Engineer was F/Sgt Frederick G. Fisher
- Navigator was F/O Sidney T. Carson
- Tail Gunner was F/Sgt John H. MacEachern (survived)
Norm Sheppard, Sackville NB, Canada
Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.
This record can also be found on the maps of Back to Normandy with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.
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