Halifax R9438 35 Sq Fitful Head, Shetland.
31/03/1942 This Halifax along with others of 10, 35 & 76 Squadrons was returning from a raid on the German battleship `Tirpitz` which lay anchored at Asenfjord off the Norwegian coast, the target was obscured by cloud and so reluctant crews made their way back home, it was a dreadful trip and four of the Halifax aircraft were shot down by AA fire while in the target area whilst two others,which according to `The Shetland Crash Log` by David Hanson, "were suffering icing problems and were short on fuel made their way back towards Shetland "hoping to land at Sumburgh , however the airfield was closed in by low cloud and so a landing could not be made. With regards to icing although this is possible given the time of year,there has been no evidence to prove this occurred in these aircraft, nor is there proof of the fuel shortage, for a Halifax II of this type could offer an endurance of over 1,600 miles depending on altitude,airspeed and handling, and the actual round trip would be 1,300 miles so leaving a margin of over 300 miles,roughly an hours flight time depending on how long was spent over the target area,deviation from track and what not.
Above: Left a 35 Squadron Halifax and right battleship `Tirpitz` at anchor in a Norwegian Fjord. Photos: Crown Copyright.
One Halifax R9453 of 76 Squadron and coded `MP-K` was being flown by S/Ldr A.P.Burdett flew south and had perhaps decided to try and make the Orkney Isles or Wick, however he had not flown far when the aircraft for reasons still not clear ditched, his body and a wheel being found 16 miles off Sumburgh Head,but none of his crew were ever found suggesting the aircraft sank very quickly. The other Halifax R9438 of 35 Squadron coded `TL-H` and being flown by F/Sgt J.B.Bushby had decided to do a circuit and it is said by a witnesses who found the bodies on two men with parachutes on that the crew were perhaps preparing to bale out should Sumburgh not be found, sadly they were too low anyhow, possibly due to icing or trouble with altimeter or baromic pressure guage? and while coming back towards Sumburgh from the West they flew into the 1,000 ft cliffs of Fitful Head, the aircraft exploded and all the crew were killed instantly. Due to the steepness of the cliff not all the bodies were recovered and it is a fact that one was buried on the side of the cliff and a priest was lowered by ropes to conduct a service. one more was washed up from the sea but was not positively identified and is buried in Lerwick Cemetery as an Unknown airman. and two identified Usher & Buckley were also buried in Lerwick,others are on Runnymede Memorial. Locals concerned that these men should not be forgotten funded a memorial stone tablet which was placed a the top of the cliff, it bears the names of all the crew.
Photo: Dave Earl
Above: The cliff at Fitful Head where R9438 crashed, nothing remains at the crash site as all the wreckage cascaded into the sea so no attempt should be made to climb down this dangerous spot, ARGOS would like to point out that as four of the crew members could not be recovered then strictly speaking this site remains a WAR GRAVE. .
Crew of R9438 :
Pilot: F/Sgt Joseph.B.Bushby. RAFVR.
2/Pilot: Sgt Anonthy J.Peach. RAFVR.
Nav: Sgt Geoffrey N.E.Powell. RAFVR.
F/Eng: Sgt Ronald Meredith. RAFVR.
W/Ag: P/O Moses L.Usher. RCAF.
W/Ag: F/Sgt John P.B.Buckley. RCAF.
.A/G: Sgt John A,Wood. RAFVR.
Photo: Dave Earl.
More information on the raid and this aircraft and crew and of others in the flight can be found in `Hell On High Ground - Volume 2`ISBN: 1-84037-082-3 and also on this excellent website http://www.archieraf.co.uk./archie/index.html tastefuly made by the grandaughter of one of the lost Halifax crew members, F/Sgt W.B.Archibald in R9496 that crashed in Norway. Linzee Druce has spent years researching these aircraft and travelled to Norway on numerous occasions to seek the truth.
Close up of the stone tablet which gives a brief discription of the crash the names of those lost. Photo: Dave Earl.
P/O Usher. Photo: Usher Family courtesy CVWM. Grave in Lerwick Cemetery. Photo: Dave Earl.
Wireless Op & Air Gunner P/O Moses Usher RCAF and the Unknown Sergeant in Lerwick cemetery buried next to Usher & Buckley who is certain to be either Sgt Peach,Powell or Wood from the Halifax.
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