| Date: 1942 Jul 04/04 | A/C Type: Boston III | SN: AL677 | Code: MQ - P | A/C Nickname: |  |
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| File: 678 | Airforce: USAAF | Sqn/Unit: 226 (RAF) Sqn | Mission/Raid: De Kooy Airfield, Den Helder. | |||||||
| 1 | Pilot | 2Lt. Frederick A. Loehrl MIA | 9 | |||||||
| 2 | Co-pilot | 2Lt. Marschall D. Draper POW | 10 | |||||||
| 3 | RO/Gunner | Sgt. Robert L. Whitham KIA | 11 | |||||||
| 4 | Gunner | Sgt. James W. Wright KIA | 12 | |||||||
| 5 | 13 | |||||||||
| 6 | 14 | |||||||||
| 7 | 15 | |||||||||
| 8 | 16 | |||||||||
Was shot down in flames by German light Flak during the bomb-run over the Kooy Airfield, Den Helder, occupied Holland. Crashed on sand bank 'Balgzand' in the Wadden Sea, east of the airfield. It was high tide at that time and the sandbank was under water. Crew may have parachuted out before crash. Germans recovered wreck on 7 July 1942. |
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One of the first American raids in Europe. American crews were flying as guest with RAF 226 Sqn. Occasion was 4th of July 1942.
The current moves east here and the body of Sgt. Robert L. Whitham was recovered 24 miles east from crash position in the Wadden Sea in the ferry route between city of Harlingen and the Frisian Island Vlieland. This was a week after the crash on 11 July 1942. He was buried on the Allied plot in Harlingen. He was exhumed after the war and probably reburied in Neuville-en-Condoz (Neupré) American Cemetery 'Ardennes'. 1950 reburied in the USA.
The remains of Lt. Loehrl must have followed the same route east as Sgt. Whitham, but Lt. Loehrl was not recovered. He can have washed ashore and initially buried on the Eastern Frisian Isles or Frisian Coast, German Bight, West Coast of Denmark or south of Norway. Probably lost or post war identified as American. Not identified in the ID-centre in Neuville-en-Condroz and possibly buried there as not identified American airman.
File on "Ardennes": http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/958.html
The Germans recovered the wreck on 7th July 1942 and found the body of Sgt. James W. Wright. They buried him with military honor near their base Den Helder, in the military plot in Huisduinen Cemetery on 10 July 1942. Post war he was reburied in Neuville-en-Condroz "Ardennes" and rests there today.
File War Graves Den Helder Huisduinen Cemetery: http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/902.html
Sources:
- Internet forums
- Book 'Opgegraven Verleden' by Jan Carsjens and Piet Riteco.
© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air war)