The Wartime Memories Project - 578 Squadron RAF

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Information. 578 Squadron was formed in January 1944, flying Halifax mkIII They flew from the following airfields: Snaith. from 14 January 1944 to 6th Feb. 1944 Burn. from 6th Feb. 1944 to 15 April 1945. As a 13-year old Dutch lad, I witnessed the downing of a bomber early in 1944 during a nighttime bombing raid on Germany, with parts of the plane falling on our farm property near Asten in southeastern Holland. This crash was never fully documented, nor had any information about the fate of the crew come to light. Only after extensive research has it become apparent that it concerned a Halifax III of 578 Squadron that was on a bombing mission to Dusseldorf when its crew abandoned ship when one of its engines was set on fire on being hit by flak. All members of the crew survived with three evading capture. The others were imprisoned. I may even have seen them bail out of their burning aircraft. My quest is to discover who helped those three from being captured. Their names are: Flight Sergeant S. Sparks; Sergeant M.F. Williams; and Sergeant J.W. Frith. The others were: Sergeant F.E. Woods; Flight Sergeant L.C. Kelly; Flying Officer L.G. Matthews; and Flight Sergeant ! L. Haley. To contact anyone of them or their descendants would be a dream come true as I wish to record this event in detail for my descendants and family. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served with 578 Squadron. Sergeant J.W. Frith. Read his story Flight Sergeant L. Haley. Read his story Flight Sergeant L.C. Kelly Read his story Flying Officer L.G. Matthews Read his story Flight Sergeant S. Sparks. Read his story Sergeant M.F. Williams Read his story Sergeant F.E. Woods Read his story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to a soldier or regiment please get in touch. Add Your Story Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII-MMIXI - All Rights Reserved