1666HCU Halifax JD386

[Honeybee]

Hi all

During my trip to France I was asked to build a model of a 1666HCU Halifax to be used at the dedication of memorial to a crew lost on a training trip in 1944. The information I was given was that the pilot was the only Icelandic Bomber Pilot lost during WWII. I looked up the Aircrew Rememberance society website and found that the a/c, Halifax JD386 of 1666HCU took of at 12.10hrs on the 29th February 1944 from RAF Wombleton for a one day navigation exercise. It was reported that whilst Flying at height the pilot, P/O Johann Sigurdson RCAF, lost control possibly due to rudder stall. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported that the pilot tried to be bringing the a/c under control by using the throttles but that at about 800ft the bomber entered a spiral dive from which it didn't recover, hitting the ground at 17.10 hours nr Bridge Farn nr Broughton, 4 miles ESE of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. All the crew died.

P/O J Sigurdson RCAF. Age 23

Sgt R Loughrin RAFVR Age 20

F/O G Muskett RCAF Age 31

F/O J Eaton RCAF Age 30

W/O1 J Healey RCAF Age 33

Sgt F Wilt RCAF Age 22

Sgt P Zayets RCAF Age 23

All are buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetry and I will be visiting to place crosses on there graves at the earliest oppertunity. As for the modelit is a straight from the box Matchbox kit. I was rather rushed to get it finished and rather than the usual three months or so it usually ttake me to finish anything I did it in four weeks. Kind of shows really, not my best build but it is destined for a family member who I hope will treasure it,

Regards

Paul

[bigbadbadge]

Looks great, nice to build something to be used at such an event too.

Thanks for sharing.

All the best

Chris

[Silver Fox]

Great work as usual and it looks like it'll end up in a good home.

[Thunderjug]

Nice one Kaja you can clean the graffiti of my cutting mat now.

[Skylark]

On 20/08/2012 at 20:02, Honeybee said:

Hi all

During my trip to France I was asked to build a model of a 1666HCU Halifax to be used at the dedication of memorial to a crew lost on a training trip in 1944. The information I was given was that the pilot was the only Icelandic Bomber Pilot lost during WWII. I looked up the Aircrew Rememberance society website and found that the a/c, Halifax JD386 of 1666HCU took of at 12.10hrs on the 29th February 1944 from RAF Wombleton for a one day navigation exercise. It was reported that whilst Flying at height the pilot, P/O Johann Sigurdson RCAF, lost control possibly due to rudder stall. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported that the pilot tried to be bringing the a/c under control by using the throttles but that at about 800ft the bomber entered a spiral dive from which it didn't recover, hitting the ground at 17.10 hours nr Bridge Farn nr Broughton, 4 miles ESE of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. All the crew died.

P/O J Sigurdson RCAF. Age 23

Sgt R Loughrin RAFVR Age 20

F/O G Muskett RCAF Age 31

F/O J Eaton RCAF Age 30

W/O1 J Healey RCAF Age 33

Sgt F Wilt RCAF Age 22

Sgt P Zayets RCAF Age 23

All are buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetry and I will be visiting to place crosses on there graves at the earliest oppertunity. As for the modelit is a straight from the box Matchbox kit. I was rather rushed to get it finished and rather than the usual three months or so it usually ttake me to finish anything I did it in four weeks. Kind of shows really, not my best build but it is destined for a family member who I hope will treasure it,

Regards

Paul

 

[Skylark]

Hi Paul 

I have a personal connection to this aircraft. My uncle, Philip Emms, was rear gunner on JD386 and was killed on a raid to Kassel on October 22nd 1943 when attacked by a night fighter. I am also planning to build a model of the aircraft and want to make it as authentic as possible. Could you please tell me where you obtained information on the squadron markings. From your photos it looks like DY T. Is this correct and are you certain that they are correct? I would really appreciate it if you could help me on this.

 

Many thanks

Trevor Emms

[keefr22]

Hello Trevor,

 

I hope Paul sees your question, however according to his profile he last visited in 2018. Looking at the pictures, I think he has the codes as QY-T. They might however be different from when your uncle was tragically killed, as I believe Paul has modelled it when on strength with a heavy conversion unit rather than an operational squadron?

 

Keith

 

PS  welcome to the forum

 

 

[keefr22]

hello again Trevor,

 

I just did a bit of googling on Halifax JD386 and found this page on a 77 squadron Halifax tail gunner;

 

https://tailendcharlietedchurch.wordpress.com/raf-stations/77-squadron-elvington/77-sqdn-aircraft/

 

This shows JD386 as having served with 77 in 1944, when the codes were KN, however it doesn't appear to give an individual aircraft letter for the aircraft. From that page;

 

Ted’s Op 26 – 26th April 1944 (Night Operation ‘Gardening’ Dutch Coast Frisian Islands) Halifax MZ803 KN-G
KN-H Reg No. W1141, JD383 Lost 2/08/43, JD747 Lost 19/11/43, HR941 Lost 20/02/44, JD162 lost 24/9/43 UK, LL127 lost 20/12/43 Frankfurt, HR949 lost 19/2/44 Leipzig, 28th Aug 1943 77 Squadron Halifax lost  Halifax – Serial Number JD383 KN-H of 77 Squadron was lost on Operations to Nuremberg on 27th/28th August 1943– Serial Range JD361 – JD386. 26 Halifax Mk.11. Part of a batch of 350 HP59 Halifax Mk.11. JB781-JB806, JB834- JB875, JB795 Lost 10/3/43 Munich, JB892-JB931, JB956-JB974, JD105-JD128, JD143-JD180, JD198- JD218, JD244-JD278, JD296-JD333, JD361, JD383 Lost 28/8/43 Nuremberg, JD386, JD405-JD421, JD453- JD476.

 

It also shows other JD serial aircraft serving with 77 in 1943.

 

HTH

 

Keith

[Skylark]

Thanks Keith, 

Seems rather doubtful that I will find the details for JD386 when it was with 428 squadron but I'll keep trying.

Happy Christmas

Trev.

 

 

 

[keefr22]

19 minutes ago, Skylark said:

Seems rather doubtful that I will find the details for JD386 when it was with 428 squadron but I'll keep trying.

 

Ah sorry Trev, I didn't realise you were looking for it with 428. If I come across anything else I'll let you know.

 

Merry Christmas to you too

 

Keith