Thursday, September 6, 2018

On This Day: September 5/6, 1943: Halifax HR 810 Crashed

Sergeant James H Briggs PoW No.43105 and headstones for three deceased airmen: J.M. Broderick, G.I. Agate, and A.C. Brunton

I received this email from Alec Briggs this morning:

Hi Cindi
Thinking of you today, this is a copy of the posting on my Facebook page today.
Take Care
Alec

Halifax HR 810 Crashed at Nussloch on 
5th/6th September 1943


Alec posted the following:
"At 2:30 am on the 6th September 1943 having completed their mission over Mannheim, 405 Squadron's Halifax HR 810 crashed at Nussloch, 9 kms SSE of Heidelberg.
Sgt Brunton, Sgt Broderick and Sgt Agate were killed in the crash, they were buried in the local cemetery and remained there until after the war when they were reinterred in CWGC's grave concentration program.
The survivors were taken prisoner and held overnight in the town hall at the nearby town of Walldorf.
Sgt C.Hewitson, PoW No.222824.was imprisoned at Camp 4B, along with PoW No.222773, Sgt R.Thomson. Sgt Vidler was confined to hospital until he was repatriated to Liverpool on board SS Letitia which arrived in Liverpool on 2nd February 1945. 
Sergeant James H Briggs PoW No.43105 was initially hospitalised as he had suffered leg injuries, a damaged spine and had lost his left eye when his wireless equipment exploded. He served the rest of the war as a prisoner in various camps including 357,ending the war in Stalag Luft VI.
The cause of the crash was never established and HR810 was the last Halifax reported missing from No.405 Sqdn.

I have located the field where HR810 crashed and have some small pieces of the plane which were recovered by some very kind German lads. I know Jim would have landed elsewhere, having parachuted from the falling plane. (I have the silk worm "caterpillar", issued by the Irvin Air Chute Company to all those whose lives were saved by a parachute).

Jim, my Dad, came home, three of the crew who boarded HR810 with him at Great Gransden and were airborne at 19:25 on 5th September 1943 were dead 7 hours later and now lie in adjacent graves in the CWGC cemetery at Durnbach.

Having visited the graves of Jim's mates, maybe between now and the 75th anniversary of him getting home, I may follow my Dad's Journey to Heydekrug and Stalag Luft VI, (Now Silute in Lithuania). 
He did say in the POW debriefing documents that he had been treated very well, particularly by the medical staff who tended to him. A lesson to us all."
Remembering Them:
The Seven Men Aboard the HR 810
Sgt J.H.Briggs 1082027 RAFVR  
Sgt J.H.Briggs 1082027 RAFVR (WOp Gunner)

Sgt A.C.Brunton 658381 RAFVR
  • Sgt A.C.Brunton 658381 RAFVR (Pilot)
 Sgt G.E.Agate 1391419 RAFVR
Sgt G.E.Agate 1391419 RAFVR (Mid Upper Gunner)
 W/O L.J.M.Broderick R/109822 RCAF
W/O L.J.M.Broderick R/109822 RCAF (Bomb Aimer)
My cousin Leo Joseph Martin Broderick (1919-1943)
 The Other HR810 Airmen
  • Sgt J.E.Vidler (Rear Gunner) 
  • Sgt C.Hewitson 535857 RAF (Flight Engineer) 
  • Sgt R.Thomson 1550695 RAFVR (Navigator)

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