Ross A. Whitfield                                                                                   Updated: 06 OCT 2021

Airman:
 o888335.htm Surname: Whitfield Init: R A Rank: F/Sgt Service: RAAF 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) Se

Agterskytte F/S R.A. Whitfield landede på en mark her hvor Ringvejen nu munder ud i Brovejen. (Langelandsbroen indviet 1962.) Han fandt Nørrebro 207 (207B her)
men hønsene lavede så meget larm, at ejeren Rudolf Navne fandt ham. Navne fik fat i nogen, der kunne tale engelsk, og i løbet af kort tid vidste en del mennesker hvor
flyveren var, så Navne fandt det nødvendigt at tilkalde dansk politi. (Kilde: En dråbe i havet s. 145-146.) Se McCormack-Whitfield kort.

"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) See McCormack-Whitfield Maps.

Rear Gunner F/S R.A. Whitfield landed in a field here where Ringvejen now meets Brovejen. (Langelandsbroen opened 1962.) He found Nørrebro 207 (207B here)
but the hens made so much noise that the owner Rudolf Navne found him. Navne got hold of people who spoke English, and in a short while a number of people knew where the airman was, so Navne found it necessary to call Danish police. (Source: A drop in the sea p. 145-146.)
 

"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.