RCAF, 440 Squadron, P/O E.T. Flanagan

[georgetanksherman]

Looking to see if anyone might know the serial number of P/O Flanagan typhoon aircraft

On January 1, 1945, the German Air Force did a "Last Ditch" effort called "Unternehmen Bodenplatte"

P/O E.T. Flanagan, 440 Squadron RCAF, was attempting to take off in a Hawker Typhoon when the attack on the airfield began. His aircraft was hit and the pilot was wounded, he was able to abort the take off and abandoned the aircraft wounded but alive. Does any one know what the serial number of his aircraft was ???

Any help would be appreciated !

Cheers !!!!

[Temujin]

Looking to see if anyone might know the serial number of P/O Flanagan typhoon aircraft

On January 1, 1945, the German Air Force did a "Last Ditch" effort called "Unternehmen Bodenplatte"

P/O E.T. Flanagan, 440 Squadron RCAF, was attempting to take off in a Hawker Typhoon when the attack on the airfield began. His aircraft was hit and the pilot was wounded, he was able to abort the take off and abandoned the aircraft wounded but alive. Does any one know what the serial number of his aircraft was ???

Any help would be appreciated !

Cheers !!!!

Only thing I could find. Unfortunately, because all the aircraft never left the ground, their is no record of any operations for that day, and hence no aircraft numbers tied to a pilot. I’ll see if I can find anything else

SIDE NOTE: I did check, the the 3 previous mission he flew, he used aircraft MN251.......BUT, that doesn’t mean he was using that aircraft on the 1st Jan 45

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[Temujin]

I went back in the records, at the end of Dec, the squadron had 16 Typhoon IB’s on strength. I looked thru the records and for the Nov and Dec and they had 16 serial numbers used by the pilots on all mission up to the end of Dec.

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MN380
MN940
MN984
RB202
MP139
MN251
JR530
MN942
PD589
RB201
MN641
MN626
PD497
MN777
RB203
MP138

After the attacK on the 1st Jan, the record indicates 12 aircraft were damaged

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On the 4th Jan, they flew ONE mission, using aircraft number:

RB203
MN777
MP138
PD497

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These aircraft were on Dec’s list, meaning they “survived” the attack PLUS the 4 aircraft that were damaged and sent to Maintenance.

So, that narrows down the search to the 14 aircraft on the list above in RED.......not that it helps, but its as “start”

[georgetanksherman]

According to records, On December 3, 1944, Typhoon MN251, Sqdn Ldr Monson of 440 Squadron wrote a letter to P/O A.W.E. Sugden's parents. "On the afternoon of December 3, 1944, your son took off on a bombing mission with other members of the Squadron over enemy territory, and before reaching the target, he was forced to turn back due to engine trouble, it is believed. On reaching base, he apparently was forced by necessity to make a landing in the opposite direction of that being used at the time. His aircraft [Typhoon 1B MN251] overshot the end of the runway and went into a canal. Unfortunately, the aircraft turned over and he could not effect an escape. Alfred had only recently been transferred from another Squadron -- this sortie was his first since joining this Squadron. It is known that he had an outstanding record to his credit, and I am certain his services would have been a valuable asset to this Squadron....Your son's funeral took place at the Woensel Cemetery in Eindhoven, Holland on the 5th day of December at 11 am, the service being conducted by the RCAF Protestant Chaplain, after which his body was interred in the RCAF plot."

Other Typhoons noted as attacked and destroyed on the ground

MN984
MP139
PD595
PD621
RB192

[Temujin]

According to records, On December 3, 1944, Typhoon MN251, Sqdn Ldr Monson of 440 Squadron wrote a letter to P/O A.W.E. Sugden's parents. "On the afternoon of December 3, 1944, your son took off on a bombing mission with other members of the Squadron over enemy territory, and before reaching the target, he was forced to turn back due to engine trouble, it is believed. On reaching base, he apparently was forced by necessity to make a landing in the opposite direction of that being used at the time. His aircraft [Typhoon 1B MN251] overshot the end of the runway and went into a canal. Unfortunately, the aircraft turned over and he could not effect an escape. Alfred had only recently been transferred from another Squadron -- this sortie was his first since joining this Squadron. It is known that he had an outstanding record to his credit, and I am certain his services would have been a valuable asset to this Squadron....Your son's funeral took place at the Woensel Cemetery in Eindhoven, Holland on the 5th day of December at 11 am, the service being conducted by the RCAF Protestant Chaplain, after which his body was interred in the RCAF plot."

Other Typhoons noted as attacked and destroyed on the ground

MN984
MP139
PD595
PD621
RB192

Hmmmm, I know that MN251 was flown on a mission the day before (31 Dec 44) by P/0 Flanagan.......here’s the record

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Let me check this out for you

[Temujin]

According to records, On December 3, 1944, Typhoon MN251, Sqdn Ldr Monson of 440 Squadron wrote a letter to P/O A.W.E. Sugden's parents. "On the afternoon of December 3, 1944, your son took off on a bombing mission with other members of the Squadron over enemy territory, and before reaching the target, he was forced to turn back due to engine trouble, it is believed. On reaching base, he apparently was forced by necessity to make a landing in the opposite direction of that being used at the time. His aircraft [Typhoon 1B MN251] overshot the end of the runway and went into a canal. Unfortunately, the aircraft turned over and he could not effect an escape. Alfred had only recently been transferred from another Squadron -- this sortie was his first since joining this Squadron. It is known that he had an outstanding record to his credit, and I am certain his services would have been a valuable asset to this Squadron....Your son's funeral took place at the Woensel Cemetery in Eindhoven, Holland on the 5th day of December at 11 am, the service being conducted by the RCAF Protestant Chaplain, after which his body was interred in the RCAF plot."

Other Typhoons noted as attacked and destroyed on the ground

MN984
MP139
PD595
PD621
RB192

Yes, I found the record.P?0 A.W.E. Sugden was flying MN351 when he overshot the runway

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I did a zoom in on the number. If you compare the number you can see it clearly is the number MN351, I think???

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MN251 was on two missions that day (flown by another pilot) and flew again on the 22th Dec 44.

[Temujin]

Side note, here’s a photo of P/0 Flanagan in 1992

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Pilots from the Typhoon and Tempest association at one of our annual lunch gatherings. This one was held on October 14, 1992 at the Mississauga Golf and Country Club. Standing are Jack Cook (439 Sqn), Ed Flanagan (440), Jim Ruse (439), Jim Beatty (439), Ed McKay (438), Staff Marlatt (247, 439), George Lane (198), Jack Brown (193), John Flintoff (440), Harry Hare (175), Al McMane (182, 274), Murray Hallford (439), John Friedlander (181), Norm Howe (175), Clayton Leigh (182) and Bill Baggs (164). In front are Bill Clifford (439), Frank Johnson (174), Norm Dawber (438) and Rod Davidge (193). (Larry Milberry)

[Temujin]

According to records, On December 3, 1944, Typhoon MN251, Sqdn Ldr Monson of 440 Squadron wrote a letter to P/O A.W.E. Sugden's parents. "On the afternoon of December 3, 1944, your son took off on a bombing mission with other members of the Squadron over enemy territory, and before reaching the target, he was forced to turn back due to engine trouble, it is believed. On reaching base, he apparently was forced by necessity to make a landing in the opposite direction of that being used at the time. His aircraft [Typhoon 1B MN251] overshot the end of the runway and went into a canal. Unfortunately, the aircraft turned over and he could not effect an escape. Alfred had only recently been transferred from another Squadron -- this sortie was his first since joining this Squadron. It is known that he had an outstanding record to his credit, and I am certain his services would have been a valuable asset to this Squadron....Your son's funeral took place at the Woensel Cemetery in Eindhoven, Holland on the 5th day of December at 11 am, the service being conducted by the RCAF Protestant Chaplain, after which his body was interred in the RCAF plot."

Other Typhoons noted as attacked and destroyed on the ground

MN984
MP139
PD595
PD621
RB192

Yes, I found the record.P?0 A.W.E. Sugden was flying MN351 when he overshot the runway

E9AAC1E7-6142-4225-B19F-055552F6524C.jpeg
A117759A-A2DA-431E-9CC0-9D777DB75FBD.jpeg

I did a zoom in on the number. If you compare the number you can see it clearly is the number MN351
F42E1378-8BF8-473E-82A6-0609DC6C6F49.jpeg

MN251 was on two missions that day (flown by another pilot) and flew again on the 12th Dec 44.

Hey George. This is another strange one. I found the “court of inquiry” documents and they list the aircraft as MN251.....and that it landed with “bombs on”, which all the pilots had been instructed NOT to do.....so it’s landing speed was much higher. Having said that, it reported the aircraft was upside down in the canal, with damage to the engine and the record says “serious” damage to the air frame.

The operational log, I posted indicates the aircraft was MN351 ??? And the records show MN251 flew again on the 22th Dec........this is one of those ones could they have “repaired” MN251 and got it ready to fly again......possible, if only the engine was damaged and they changed it out but it did say it had serious airframe damage.

So, I’m not sure if it WAS MN251 or MN351. I would THINK the inquiry would have the correct aircraft number??? And the Operational Log may be incorrect

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[Temujin]

Follow up George. I thought I would check 439 Squadrons records......as they were co-located with 440 Squadron (all in the same Wing)

There records had a lot of info on the raid, and then they stated that 6 aircraft from 440 Squadron were “transferred” to them temporarily after the attack. The records for 440 Squadron tell us that they were “taken out of service” after the raid, due to so many of their aircraft being lost......so at least 6 x 440 aircraft remained on 439 Squadrons strength until new aircraft could be brought in for 440 Squadron

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[IgorColin]

Found many years a photo on Ebay.uk of MN251 lying on the bank of the Wilhelmina canal just which I would like to share with P/O E.T. Flanagan and or his family.

Regards,
Adrian