I'm researching the life and death of an RAFVR airman, Wireless Operator Sgt. Charles Burton Hill, who lived in our wee Scottish village and died during air operations in 1944. His Lancaster was attacked by a German night fighter on the night of 29/30th August 1944 over the Baltic Sea and he, along with five other crew members, died in the cold waters 2 miles offshore from the village of Ahus.
The pilot remained at the controls until the crew were safely out, and his 'chute drifted ashore and he was interned in Sweden.
The last member of the crew was the Lancaster's tail gunner who was mortally wounded, probably unconscious and still in the turret of the 'plane as it plunged into the ground near Svenskop in Sweden, exploding on impact with a full bomb load aboard and more than half of their fuel load.
By sheer luck the 'plane missed the village by a few hundred metres, causing some roof damage to a nearby farm and no serious injury to anyone on the ground.
The Swedish research group 'Forced Landing Collection' did an excavation on the crash site a few years ago and have recorded their findings which helped disprove German claims that the 'non beligerent' Swedes brought the Lancaster down with anti aircraft fire, and we now have the night fighter pilot's records showing that it was indeed his aircraft which brought HK594 down.
Our local Heritage Centre would like to mount an exhibition of the story of Lancaster HK594 and it's crew, and I hope to be able to find images of each of the crewand I'm looking for help in tracing any information on the only crewman I've not found details for; Sgt. John Patrick Callan, 1777282 RAFVR, son of John and Annie Callan of Gateshead, County Durham.
John's family will be the last piece of the jigsaw as I have contact with family for the others in the crew and we'll meet up in August to commemorate their last take off from RAF Mepal.
I do so hope that someone will be there for John Patrick Callan, so if you think you know anyone who might be related I'd appreciate it if you would pass on my details.
