Handley Page Halifax III (NA629 PT-W) on a mission to Kiel on 1944-09-16

On Friday, 15 September 1944, (a part of) the aircraft of the 420 squadron (RCAF), took off for a mission to Kiel in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Tholthorpe.
One of the crew members was Flight Lieutenant V G Motherwell RCAF. He departed for his mission at 21:56.
He flew with a Handley Page Halifax (type III, with serial NA629 and code PT-W). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Saturday, 16 September 1944.

Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.

Bob Hickson, P. Eng. retired : Halifax III NA629 PT-W was ditched into the North Sea on its return from the bombing mission to Kiel. They were hit by flax over Kiel with damage to the hydraulic systems. Started for home with the bomb doors, landing gear and flaps jammed in the down position. They ran out of fuel over the North Sea and F/L Motherwell ditched the aircraft. The entire crew of 8 were rescued the next day and the crew flew another 17 missions. My Uncle F/O Joe Hickson was the tail gunner on this aircraft and told me the story. Photos: Joe Hickson's Halifax crew and Alley Oop at dispersal at Tholthorpe

The crew are Pilot F/L V G Motherwell RCAF, Sgt J Porter, F/O I E McGown RCAF, F/O A J MacDonald RCAF, Sgt L K Engemsen RCAF, Sgt T J Bibby, RCAF, Sgt J A Wigley RCAF, Sgt J L Hickson RCAF. 

This record can also be found on the maps of WW2 History Europe with Google coordinates. You can find the maps by clicking on this link on this location.

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