Halifax Mk.III
MZ575
76 Squadron
MP-W
Operation Hasselt 12/12 May 1944
Airborne 2225 12May44 from Holme-on-Spalding Moor to attack the railway yards. Shot down by a night-fighter ,Oblt Tober, 111./NJG2,( . With the combat taking place at 3,800 mtrs. time: 00.37 hrs.) crashing near the hamlet of Hadschot (Antwerp), 3 km N of Geel, Belgium. Those killed were buried at Antwerpen-Deurne 15May44. Their graves are now located in the Schoonselhof Cemetery. This entire crew were on their second operational tour, S/L Shove being ‘C’ Flight Commander. F/O Crouch had previously served with No.10 sqdn, his DFM being promulgated 13Jul43. F/O J.Newcombe MiD KIA F/O A.J.Crouch DFM KIA S/L N.L.Shove DFC (P2) KIA F/O C.H.Stewart DFC KIA F/O H.D.Reeder Inj F/S R.Reading Evd F/O C.W.Saunderson KIA F/O H.D.Reeder was confined in Hospital due injuries. No PoW No. ”
F/S Reading was hidden in Turnhout until liberation in sept ’44
We are planning to put up a memorial for this crew in Sept. 2014 ,we are still searching for family members of the crew.
Special thanks to Neil and Pete from 51 Sqn. History Society,Air crew remembered for the research in this project. And the families of the crew fore the photo’s and information
See also this link
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/raf1944/2/newcombejack.html
Regards Benny