419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Halifax LW328

Crew of Halifax LW328

Mannheim November 18/19 1943
In what appears to be the crews first operation together, they met with disaster not far from their target. The facts of the events of that night come from the reports of the survivors many months after it happened. This may be why the discrepancies appear in the different reports.

Outward Bound to Mannheim

All reports confirm that there were no incidents along the way, no attacks by night fighters or flak damage, even though the Halifax had crossed near several well defended sectors along the route. LW328 had arrived twenty minutes late over the target completed their bomb run then ran into heavy flak. They may of been the only aircraft in the skies and had drawn the attention of many of the searchlight and flak batteries

Returning to Base, Two Versions

While one crew member mentioned things happening after leaving the target area. Which could mean within seconds or minutes later, no way of telling exactly when they had thought the problem occurred.

A second crew man had actual times for the way he remembered the events taking place. He set the time table to be 15 minutes after altering the course to head for base. when the Flight Engineer made adjustments to change fuel around within the tanks from the controls on his console.

His time table then moved ahead 10 minutes at this point the engines failed. Starting with the starboard outer engine then continuing to the left, with the starboard inner engine and so on.

How Many Engines Failed

The reports by the six airmen who had escaped the Halifax, were written in the middle of May 1945.
Although three of the crew stated that all four engines failed, the remaining three survivors had thought it was only two engines which cut out. And of those three, two thought it was the two starboard engines. Which would indicate that the third crew man of this group remembers it as the port two engines.

The confusion in the reports continued as Sgt. Canny the Flight Engineer thought only one engine had cut out.
More than one of the crew mentioned that after the failure occurred the Halifax went into a steep dive.

There is no mention why the changes were being made in the distribution of the fuel within the tanks. It is thought that flak had hit the fuel supply system, in the tanks, or lines of cross over values. The hit may have been in such a location where what little fuel was able to reach the engines allowed the Halifax to continue on for the additional 10 minutes mentioned. The way the engines were described to have stopped would indicate fuel starvation.
But all the variations on what happened did not matter as the pilot now called for a bailout. (Which would seem to indicate a multiple engine failure.)

Abandoning Halifax LW328

With Sedgwick fighting to keep control, the Navigator F/O Hoe and Pappas tried in vain to open the front escape hatch so the three of them could escape. The hatch was jammed. With the ground nearing they decided to move back and exit by the rear hatch.
Sedgwick remained at the controls to steady the aircraft as Bomb Aimer Sgt. Pappas and P/O Hoe jumped. Within 10 to 15 seconds after he jumped F/O Hoe reported seeing the Halifax on fire then explode.

Crew of Halifax LW328

Mannheim November 18/19 1943

Outward Bound to Mannheim

Returning to Base, Two Versions

How Many Engines Failed

Abandoning Halifax LW328

Flight Sergeant

Arthur Louis Sedgwick

Pilot Age 23
Killed in Action November 18th 1943
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Neil McVicar

Air Gunner
POW #263494 Stalag IVB

Flying Officer

Edgar Robert "Red" Hoe

From London Ontario
Navigator
POW #1549 Stalag Luft I

Sergeant

James "Jim" Pappas

From Toronto Ontario
Bomb Aimer
POW #263502 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

W.K. "Ken" Dingley RAF

From Birmingham England
WAG
POW #263469 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

E.K. Canny

Flight Engineer
POW #263461 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

D. Murray Johnston

Air Gunner
POW #263484 Stalag IVB

Crew of Halifax LW328

Mannheim November 18/19 1943

Outward Bound to Mannheim

Returning to Base, Two Versions

How Many Engines Failed

Abandoning Halifax LW328

Flight Sergeant

Arthur Louis Sedgwick

Pilot Age 23Killed in Action November 18th 1943 From Toronto Ontario Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Sergeant

Neil McVicar

Air Gunner POW #263494 Stalag IVB

Flying Officer

Edgar Robert "Red" Hoe

From London Ontario Navigator POW #1549 Stalag Luft I

Sergeant

James "Jim" Pappas

From Toronto Ontario Bomb Aimer POW #263502 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

W.K. "Ken" Dingley RAF

From Birmingham England WAG POW #263469 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

E.K. Canny

Flight Engineer POW #263461 Stalag IVB

Sergeant

D. Murray Johnston

Air Gunner POW #263484 Stalag IVB

Pilot Age 23
Killed in Action November 18th 1943
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Rheinberg War Cemetery

Air Gunner
POW #263494 Stalag IVB

From London Ontario
Navigator
POW #1549 Stalag Luft I

From Toronto Ontario
Bomb Aimer
POW #263502 Stalag IVB

From Birmingham England
WAG
POW #263469 Stalag IVB

Flight Engineer
POW #263461 Stalag IVB

Air Gunner
POW #263484 Stalag IVB