Relic From RAF Halifax LL276-Operation Osric 74. 01/06/1944.

[Falschirmjager]

Thought id share this very interesting relic brought back from a European militaria show a year ago. Its a blower induction piping section fromone of the Merlin engines of RAF Halifax LL276 of the 138 Special Operations Squadron. The aircraft was enroute to a drop zone in Holland where British S.O.E agents were to parachute from the aircraft on Operation Osric 74. The Halifax was picked up on the radar of an Me.110 which soon closed the range and found the bomber. Seconds later it was shot down. There were eight crew onboard LL276 on the night of 01/06/1944 and of the eight only three managed to parachute to safety the other five perished in the crash. The survivors were the S.O.E agents who had allready had their parachutes on in preperation for the drop and would have been able to get out quicker than the other crew of the bomber. This is quite a sizeable lump and with a great story to it. Thanks Tim.

[Whitehunter]

That's a nice piece of history always nice to have a story with it. Just out of intrest how much did you pay?

[Falschirmjager]

That's a nice piece of history always nice to have a story with it. Just out of intrest how much did you pay?

Hi there mate! It worked out at £40 which i thought was a fair price as not many relics surive from this crash as most went to a museum in Belgium. Regards, Tim.

[big ned]

Here's a bit more info, it was a tough week for 138 Sqn. They lost another aircraft the same night in southern Holland (no survivors, cause unknown) and another the next night over France. All crews were very experienced.

"Serial Range LL270 - LL312. 43 Halifax Mk.V. One of a batch of 480 HP Haloifax MK.V/111. LK890-LK932; LK945- LK976; LK988-LK999; LL112-LL153; LL167-LL198; LL213-LL258; LL270- LL312; LL325-LL367; LL380-LL423; LL437-LL469; LL481-LL521; LL534- LL542 Mk.V; LL543-LL559; LL573-LL615 Mk.111. Delivered by Rootes Securities Ltd (Speke) between 7Feb44 and 19Mar44. LL276 was one of two No.138 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this night in two separate operations. See: LL419. Airborne from Tempsford on OPERATION OSRIC 74, setting course for the DZ in Belgium. Near to the Island of Tholen in southern Holland they were shot down by a Me110. The Halifax crashed near Halsteren, 4 km NNW of Bergen op Zoom, where those killed are buried in the local cemetery. Three of the crew were able to bale out and were taken into captivity. This was a very experienced crew that had operated from Tempsford since 17Nov43, F/O Solomon was flying as an additional Navigator. Source: 'Agents by Moonlight' F.Clark. w/O H.F.G.Murray KIA Sgt T.McCluskey KIA F/O J.Pearcey RCAF PoW F/O L.J.Solomon KIA F/S L.P.Notton PoW Sgt F.Stead PoW Sgt A.P.Cliff-McCulloch KIA Sgt R.Robinson KIA Sgt L.P.Notton was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.93 with Sgt F.Stead, PoW No.98. F/O J.Pearcey in Camp L3, PoW No.5791. "

Courtesy of 'Bomber Command Losses.'

Regards, Ned.

[Falschirmjager]

Here's a bit more info, it was a tough week for 138 Sqn. They lost another aircraft the same night in southern Holland (no survivors, cause unknown) and another the next night over France. All crews were very experienced.

"Serial Range LL270 - LL312. 43 Halifax Mk.V. One of a batch of 480 HP Haloifax MK.V/111. LK890-LK932; LK945- LK976; LK988-LK999; LL112-LL153; LL167-LL198; LL213-LL258; LL270- LL312; LL325-LL367; LL380-LL423; LL437-LL469; LL481-LL521; LL534- LL542 Mk.V; LL543-LL559; LL573-LL615 Mk.111. Delivered by Rootes Securities Ltd (Speke) between 7Feb44 and 19Mar44. LL276 was one of two No.138 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this night in two separate operations. See: LL419. Airborne from Tempsford on OPERATION OSRIC 74, setting course for the DZ in Belgium. Near to the Island of Tholen in southern Holland they were shot down by a Me110. The Halifax crashed near Halsteren, 4 km NNW of Bergen op Zoom, where those killed are buried in the local cemetery. Three of the crew were able to bale out and were taken into captivity. This was a very experienced crew that had operated from Tempsford since 17Nov43, F/O Solomon was flying as an additional Navigator. Source: 'Agents by Moonlight' F.Clark. w/O H.F.G.Murray KIA Sgt T.McCluskey KIA F/O J.Pearcey RCAF PoW F/O L.J.Solomon KIA F/S L.P.Notton PoW Sgt F.Stead PoW Sgt A.P.Cliff-McCulloch KIA Sgt R.Robinson KIA Sgt L.P.Notton was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.93 with Sgt F.Stead, PoW No.98. F/O J.Pearcey in Camp L3, PoW No.5791. "

Courtesy of 'Bomber Command Losses.'

Regards, Ned.

Cheers for that one Ned and i have copy of the above data and trying to locate photos of crew and/or the crash site as im sure there will be photos somewhere. Regards, Tim.