Date: 26/27th September 1942
Unit: No. 138 Squadron
Type: Whitley V
Serial: Z9275
Code: NF-G
Base: Tempsford
Location: Merville, France
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. David Harrison Freeland 979399 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed
Pilot 2: Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe 1290931 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed
Nav: W/O. J.H. Cox P.O.W. Stalag Kopernikus P.O.W. No: 42705
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green 618327 R.A.F. Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: W/O. Peter Gilbert Moore P.O.W. Stalg Luft Sagan and Belaria P.O.W. No: 27192
We are appealing for further information on behalf of Peter Green in particular the relatives of crew members who may have had information passed down to them.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Research carried out by Peter Green has contributed greatly to this loss. However some questions still remain and we would appreciate anyone having any further information to contact us and that will be forwarded to Peter.
Whitley Z9275 is believed to have been hit by flak at approximately 06.00 hrs and made a controlled crash landing avoiding workers cottages and high power electricity cables. It is also understood that the aircraft collided with a bank by a small stream which ripped the undercarriage off. (Eye witness reports) Both pilots and the wireless operator were killed during the crash landing but although some reports mention that the two survivors baled out this has been proven not to be the case and that they remained in the aircraft.
Above left: Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green probably taken whilst with 38 Squadron or 11 O.T.U, Right: Fl/Sgt. Green on the left shortly after joining the R.A.F. (Courtesy of Peter Green)
Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe (Courtesy Stuart Smith - relative)
Group picture showing Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green sitting right. Thought to have been taken during a training period. (Courtesy Peter Green)
Fl/Sgt. Freeland and Fl/Sgt. Hayhoe Grave (Courtesy Stuart Smith - relative) Fl/Sgt. Freeland Grave (Courtesy Peter Green)
Merville Communal Cemetery (Courtesy C.W.G.C.)
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. David Harrison Freeland. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 15.
No further details as yet.
Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 7.
Son of Edmund James Hayhoe, D.C.M., and Lillian Hayhoe, of Harrow Weald, Middlesex.
Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 6.
Son of Frederick George and Alice Green, of Liverpool.
For Peter Green - relative of Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green and for Stuart Smith - relative of Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe
