The Loss of KB761 - New Findings
The fact is what I am putting to print here is not a new finding. It dates back to August 12th. 1945
from a young friend of P/O Tulk, the rear gunner on F/O R.J. Hughes crew. Tulk's crew.
In one of the final paragraphs of a letter sent to the mother of Tulk, F/S "Woodie" Woodward relates
what he found out
about the disappearance of Lancaster KB761.
Tulk and the other members of the crew were on a sortie to Hamburg on the
day raid of March 31st 1945 when they lost. Most reference sources point
to the downing of the Lancaster to an attack by the Luftwaffe's high speed jet fighter Me262. In fact five out of the
eleven lost on that operation mention in their comments the jet fighter as possible cause.
F/S Woodward's Information
"On the way back to England about thirty miles from Norway over the North Sea the plane Selby was in and
another aircraft collided. Six parachutes were reported. That's all I'm sure of.
Eye Witness Accounts
F/L R.K. Mitchell DFC, 429 Squadron
"South of Heligoland two bombers collided and burst into flame. One exploded while the other spiralled
into the sea. Five parachutes were seen."
F/L E.L.B. Warrington 429 Squadron
"South of Heligoland two bombers collided and burst into flame. Five parachutes seen.
F/O R.P. Pike 429 Squadron
South of Heligoland two bombers collided and burst into flames. One exploded, the other spiralled down
into the sea. Five parachutes were seen.
Possible Other Aircraft
On that day as mentioned eleven aircraft were lost by the different squadrons involved. Of the eleven,
nine crews can be accounted for. Two crews are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, the crew of 419 Squadron
KB761 and crew of Halifax MZ922. It would appear that these two aircraft collided over the North Sea near Heligoland
and were not brought down by Me262.
Woodward's Letter goes to Dept. of National Defence
On October 23 1945, the mother of P/O Tulk wrote to the Department of National Defence for Air, sending the
letter written by F/S Woodward. Mrs. Tulk felt it was important to them to know this new information.
The reply from the RCAF on November of 1945 from the Chief of Air Staff's office was
"No information has been
received at these Headquarters concerning the above mentioned named since he was reported missing and we ask
you kindly advise us of any information received concerning Pilot Officer Tulk...."
More or less it says well you keep looking for information, we are too busy to care.