419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax DT616

Crew of Halifax DT616

Night of June 12/13 1943

The moon would play a major part in the loss of 419 Halifax VR-K. As the Kirkham crew returned from their operation on Bochum the position and brilliance of the moon was playing havoc with the rear gunners ability to see the whole of the sky he was scanning.
The moon was low and it's glare was causing blind spots as Gray looked out of the perspex turret. He passed on his problem of not being able to properly scan the skies a number of times to his pilot.
At around 0210 the worst he had feared occurred cannon fire was hitting the starboard inner engine as an ME110 came in from below astern. Hiding in the moons light much as the day time fighters used the sun as a hiding place. Sgt. Gray had no time to return the fire as the ME110 was seen then gone from view.
The engine was feathered as the flames became visible. Using the Graviner extinguisher system proved to have no effect the flames soon spread to the outer engine. Which too caught fire.
At this point Sgt. Kirkham called for everyone to bail out while he fought to keep the aircraft from flipping over. Kirkham struggled to free himself from the Halifax and as he managed to get out the aircraft started to roll over. The crew were all able to make it to the ground safely. Sgt. Taylor said it felt like it took fifteen minutes to reach the ground.
The crew were all captured and all went to Stalag Luft VI. It was their forth operation with 419 since their arrival on May 8th from 405 Squadron. Three of the crew were promoted while POWs, Kirkham, Mills and Gray.

Crew of Halifax DT616

Night of June 12/13 1943

Warrant Officer II

B.D. Kirkham

Pilot
POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

H.A. Taylor

Navigator
POW No. 262 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

D.B. Whittaker RAF

Bomb Aimer
POW No. 285 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

F.J. Callaghan RAF

WAG
POW No. 5 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

R.J. Hamilton

Flight Engineer
POW No. 158 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Pilot Officer

J.A. Mills

Air Gunner
POW No. 17 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Warrant Officer II

D.L. Gray

Air Gunner
POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Crew of Halifax DT616

Night of June 12/13 1943

Warrant Officer II

B.D. Kirkham

Pilot POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

H.A. Taylor

Navigator POW No. 262 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

D.B. Whittaker RAF

Bomb Aimer POW No. 285 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

F.J. Callaghan RAF

WAG POW No. 5 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Sergeant

R.J. Hamilton

Flight Engineer POW No. 158 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Pilot Officer

J.A. Mills

Air Gunner POW No. 17 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Warrant Officer II

D.L. Gray

Air Gunner POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Pilot
POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Navigator
POW No. 262 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Bomb Aimer
POW No. 285 Stalg Luft VI / 357

WAG
POW No. 5 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Flight Engineer
POW No. 158 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Air Gunner
POW No. 17 Stalg Luft VI / 357

Air Gunner
POW No. 15 Stalg Luft VI / 357