R. Collings                                                                                             Updated: 06 OCT 2021

Airman:
 o888334.htm Surname: Collings Init: R Rank: Sgt Service: RAF Sqdn: 466

P_link: p256.htm Plane: HAL HX294 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Langelandsbælt

Crash_d: d290144 Buried_d: o888 C_link: o888.htm At_Next: POW

Den 29. januar 1944 styrtede HAL HX294 i havet øst for Langeland, i forbindelse med et bombetogt til Berlin. Se p256MACR og Flyveruten.
Se Google Map p256 HAL HX294 med angivelse af hvor flyverne landede. 1 mand omkom. 6 flyvere
blev ført til Tyske krigsfangelejre.  (Kilde: En dråbe i havet)

Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift skriver:
"Flyet blev skudt ned af en tysk natjager, og hele besætningen sprang ud med faldskærm. Piloten, Squadron Leader Alan Ower McCormack og en anden flyver
landede på Langeland, to flyvere landede ved/Tåsinge, medens to landede Strynø og Siø. - - -" (FT 85-78-20)
Smith landede i vandet omkring her i nogen afstand fra Siø. Han gik i land og til Siøgaard her, hvor gårdejer Peter Hansen Petersen straks gik ud for at lede efter flere overlevende og fandt Collings i vandet omkring her. Tyskerne blev informeret, men da de ankom, insisterede gårdejeren på, at flyverne skulle have morgenmad, inden
de blev ført bort!  (Kilde: En dråbe i havet)

"Sgt J.R.Clark blev interneret i lejrene L6 Heydekrug / 357 Thorn-Fallingbostel med Sgt R.Collings, F/S S.L.Smith, F/S G.Walker og F/S R.A.Whitfield.
S/L A.O.McCormack i L3 Sagan." (Lost Bombers) 7 flyvere.

On 29 January 1944 HAL HX294 crashed into the sea east of Langeland, in connection with a bombing raid on Berlin. See p256MACR and Flight Path.
See Google Map p256 HAL HX294 with indications of where the airmen landed. 1 man perished.
6 airmen
were taken to German POW-Camps. (Source: A drop in the sea)

(Danish) Aviation Historical Review writes:
"The plane was shot down by a German night fighter and all of the crew bailed out. Pilot, Squadron Leader Alan Ower McCormack and another airman landed on Langeland, two airmen landed on/near Taasinge while two landed on Strynø and Siø. - - -" (FT 85-78-20)
Smith landed in the water about here in some distance from Siø. He walked ashore and to Siøgaard here where farmer Peter Hansen Petersen immediately went out
to search for more survivors and found Collings in the water about here. The Germans were informed, but when they arrived the farmer insisted that the airmen were to
have breakfast, before they were taken away! (Source: A drop in the sea)

"Sgt J.R.Clark was interned in Camps L6 Heydekrug / 357 Thorn-Fallingbostel, with Sgt R.Collings, F/S S.L.Smith, F/S G.Walker, and F/S R.A.Whitfield.
S/L A.O.McCormack in Camp L3 Sagan." (Lost Bombers)

See 466 Sqn RAAF - Wikipedia * Australian War Memorial has Halifax crew of No. 466 Squadron RAAF.
Halifax * Halifax-BC Museum.Canada * Halifax-RAF Museum * Halifax-The Yorkshire Air Museum. See Halifax Print and Halifax - Bless 'Em All.
Halifax III HX294 HD-A
took off from RAF Leconfield at 00.07 on 28 JAN 1944. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.)   7 airmen.