sandy stafford

And another one, 3.6km from my house:

 

14-07-1943, 0130, Vorstenbosch, Halifax II, HR720, 158 Sqdn, F/Sgt G.R.J. Duthie

 

The pilot was killed, 4 men were taken prisoner but Sergeant Jack Hampstead was hidden by the local population and made it back to England.

Sergeant J N Hempstead was my partners Uncle.

Name: DUTHIE, GEORGE ROBERT JAMES

Initials: G R J

Nationality: New Zealand

Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)

Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force

Unit Text: 158 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Age: 21

Date of Death: 14/07/1943

Service No: 415298

Additional information: Son of Robert McCabe DUTHIE and of Hilda Eva DUTHIE (nee Davis), of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. E. 9.

Cemetery: UDEN WAR CEMETERY

 

158 Squadron:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h158.html

 

Found a website with the following information who shot it down:

Translation:

 

 

Hauptmann Dieter Frank was 23 and from Köln and flew in a Heinkel He 219A-O with serial G9CB.

http://www.veteranen-online.nl/won/lek.htm

 

Found another website which lists Heinker HE 219A-O which crashed but the above serial is not in the list.

http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/heinkel_he_219.htm

I am currently writing the story of Sgt Hempstead and his time in Holland during hostilities. I have a lot of information and know the name of the boy that helped him leave the corn field. I know Jack spent some time in den Hague and have the names and addresses of some of the houses he stayed in. The story is almost finished but any further information would be welcome. I plan to have the book published this year [or early next year] with 10% of the royalties going to the Dutch air museum and 10% to Yorkshire air museum,

Would be very interested to anything you have to add ,

Sandy

Hi all

Have just joined this site, so thought I might tell you a bit about myself.

My name is Sandy and I am interested in all historic Vehicles, my partner owns a 1939 Singer Le-mans, I owened [until last year] a BSA M20, just found it too hard to kick over. I am currently writing the story of J N Hempstead, Flt Eng on the Halifax that crashed over occupied Holland in 1943. The pilot G R Duthie died in the crash, the other crew members were captured but John Hempstead made it back to England. If any of you know any details or in fact any of the crew I would be delighted to hear from you. The book is almost finished, but always room for more details.

I also do 1940 re-enactions