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Liberator BZ992
B.VI; ex 42-64088; dld Dorval 29.11.43; via Azores to India, arr Karachi 17.12.43; 159 Sqn [E] Earthquake McGoon; emblem of 'prehistoric' man holding bomb on forward fuselage with name and four-leafed clover; FTR from raid on Burma/Siam railway 6.10.44; SOC 10.10.44. More information in: The Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service by James D. Oughton , John F. Hamlin, Andrew Thomas |
Incidents/Accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Unit | Pilot Name | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Oct 44 | Liberator VI BZ992 | 159 Sqdn | WO Leo Arthur Barr (417002) | Burma |
| Remarks | Missing from attack on Siam-Burma railway . (MPoole) Takeoff 0001hrs. Detailed to attack Bangkok-Chiang Mai railway targets in daylight at low level. At approximately 0615 hrs ground fire from the defense of Ban Dara Bridge, Siam ignited the aircraft. The skipper, 417002 W/O Leo Arthur Barr RNZAF, gained height to about 800 feet and five, including W/O Barr, were able to bail out and land safely. The other four members either died in the aircraft or in the resultant crash; they have no known graves. Local villagers turned the five survivors over to the local police, with no ill treatment. Japanese soldiers tried to persuade the Thai police to turn over the prisoners, but in the confusion of a Liberator attack the police spirited the airmen to safety. Turned over to the Siamese army on 7 Oct, the men were sent to internment in Bangkok where they were released on 20 August 1945. They were treated well in Thai custody | Matt Poole | ||
Crew and Passengers for Liberator VI BZ992
| Rank | Name, Number, Trade & Details | Date | Unit | Fate | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Died | |||||
| Flight Sergeant | John Arthur NELSON (423854)  | 1944-10-06 | 159 Sqdn AIR27 | Died | Commemorated Singapore Memorial, Singapore |
| Flight Sergeant | John Squire RATCLIFFE (1894746) | 1944-10-06 | 159 Sqdn AIR27 | Died | Commemorated Singapore Memorial, Singapore |
| Warrant Officer | Clive Symes SWAN (416627) | 1944-10-06 | 159 Sqdn AIR27 | Died | Commemorated Singapore Memorial, Singapore |
Related Posts in RAF Commands Forums - Exact Search
| Thread | Post Text |
|---|---|
| Liberator serial BZ978 by Graham Boak on 01 Jul 2008 08:56 | My source is the recent Air Britain "The Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service" by James Oughton, John Hamblin and Andrew Thomas. It gives a complete (as far as is known) individual history of all such aircraft. A must-buy for all B-24 enthusiasts. I only needed to look at a few pages.... but some queries just light up the curiosity. However, I repeat that it does specifically state that the sequence of MCns did not always align with the serials. B.VIs would not wear Coastal Command camouflage - those were GR Mk.VIs. If the photo was taken in the Azores, that was not BZ989, because she was delivered via Prestwick. BZ988 Dorval - Sydney 22.12.43, Sydney - Gander 25.12.43, Gander - Lagens 27.12.43 via Azores (isn't Lagens the capital of the Azores?),Lagens - Rabat Sale 28 ....Read More. |
| POWs held in Thailand - 1944/45 by Matt Poole on 22 Sep 2019 03:32 | Hi, Geoff, Can you provide any details on names, dates of Liberator losses, Lib serial numbers, or the like? I might have a tiny bit of info, if any of your info pertains to 159 Sqn Liberator BZ992 or 355 Sqn Liberator EV940, both downed over Siam on 6 October 1944. Men from these aircraft were captured, held in Bangkok, and survived. Sorry...haven't had time to delve too deeply into my files. Cheers, Matt ....Read More. |
| POWs held in Thailand - 1944/45 by Matt Poole on 24 Sep 2019 03:24 | Hi, Geoff, Hmm...doofus did something wrong (that's ME) and failed to post the reply I'd written earlier this evening. I'll send you an email with some attachments, not that any of it will have great value to you, but I was in touch with Dave Bruce's younger brother (21! years younger) back in 2009, and he sent me some nice telegrams and such. Nothing enlightening about the name of the POW camp/school, but good stuff anyway. Also, in quickly reviewing some materials for you, I see that another RAF Liberator, EW174 of 358 Sqn, went down in Thailand on 29 May 1945, and some men ended up in Bangkok. I have at least two memoirs -- Harry Smith and Bill Pugh. The Pugh one even mentions Dave Bruce. Yes, it was late in the war, but there were dangers galore for the men who survived the do ....Read More. |
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