______________________________________D.F.C. AWARDED TWO AIRMEN FROM TORONTOOttawa, July 9 - (Cp) - F/O. W.R. Breithaupt, 450 Russell Hill Rd., Toronto _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________ from "They Shall Not Grow Old" _____________________________________________ BREITHAUPT, F/O William Ransom (J17271) - Distinguished
Flying Cross - No.239 Squadron Cited together with F/O J.A. Kennedy (RAF). As pilot and observer respectively, Flying Officer Breithaupt and Flying Officer Kennedy have completed numerous sorties. They have displayed a high degree of skill, excellent co-operation and a fine fighting spirit, qualities which have enabled them to destroy four enemy aircraft at night within a period of a few weeks. Their achievements have won much praise. Award presented (pageantly) to Mr. W.W. Breithaupt (Father)
of 450 Russell Hill rd. Toronto) _____________________________________________ Thanks Stewart Breithaupt for sending me the photo of your uncle ! The following notes are from research done by Hugh Halliday. _____________________________________________ The search officer who found the remains of Breithaupt
and Kennedy was During a sweep, Ranschbach (7 km west of Landau) K50/R26 Cemetery and Town Hall were visited on 15.1.47, one grave with one cross marked: TWO UNKNOWN ENGLISH FLYERS SHOT DOWN 12.9.44 was located in the NW corner of the cemetery. This grave is not registered or numbered. The present Burgomaster BOSCH August was interrogated and stated that a twin-engined aircraft of wooden construction crashed between 2300 hours and midnight on the 12..9.44 one km west of Ranschbach. The aircraft exploded and burned on contact with the ground. This aircraft was shot down by a ME.110 which was also shot down by the English aircraft before it crashed. The crew of the ME.110 baled and confirmed that they had been shot down by this aircraft. It was also stated that red, white and blue roundels were seen on the wrecked pieces of aircraft. Two badly charred bodies were found in the cockpit and buried in the village cemetery. No military or religious ceremony was accorded, although there was an RC priest in the village named Father Seiller. No records were held in the Town Hall Records. The scene of the crash was visited; the only pieces of aircraft found was a piece of aluminum bearing the numbers L985024, DR21680, 689520. In conclusion it would appear that the English aircraft was a Mosquito (Twin engined wooden construction) and it would be much appreciated if the names of the crew could be obtained from the above information. It would appear that German Crash Report KE9682 refers to this case. Form 3372 has been duly raised and a request for exhumation made. Another letter says there is no German Crash report KE.9682 but that Report KE9704 refers. Exhumation took place on 13 August 1948 when Kennedy
ID disc. At ITS was 50th in class of 228, "Excellent appearance. Good personality. Good background. Keen and alert. Self confident" (W/C DD Findlay) At EFTS - Finch II, "A little young but is an excellent type and is a willing conscientious hard worker. General flying and aerobatics average, had some difficulty in instrument flying but is now showing satisfactory progress." (H.A. MacPherson, CFI, 20 December 1941) - "A capable hard working student. Re learns quickly and is a good average at ground school. He should make an efficient officer." (K.S. Hopkinson, CGI, 20 December 1941) - graduated 6th in a class of 26 He had flown 29.25 dual, 30.50 solo, 9.55 instruments. At SFTS - Anson "Flying progress slow at start, seems to retain knowledge. In GIS his work was satisfactory. Is rather immature and with experience should develop into good service pilot. Is cheerful and takes his duties seriously" Flew 49.50 day dual, 71.00 day solo, 9.40 night dual, 6.05 night solo, 28.10 instruments, 36.05 in Link. Further assessments: 11 July 1943, "A very keen, reliable and popular member of the squadron. A valuable officer" (No.409 Squadron) 14 September 1943, "A keen, alert and very popular man, he is thoroughly dependable and very interested in his work. With more commissioned experience he should develop into a fine leader. 17 October 1943, "A sound, steady officer" (409 Squadron) Sick (pneumonia, 8 November to 11 December 1943) following posting, and on 27 March 1944 W/C J.B. Schofield wrote "When fit he is an energetic and useful officer with sound technical ability". 22 October 1944, "A young Canadian with plenty of
dash." (Curious as this was an assessment drawn up more than a month
after he was reported missing). Victories and summaries from RAF Bomber Command intelligence reports: 26/27 April 1944 - one Bf.110 destroyed, Essen area (Mosquito W4078) 100 Group aircraft Mosquito “D” of 239 Squadron in the Essen area, at 0150 hours, height 16,000 feet identified a ME.110. The range was closed to 150 yards when the Mosquito fired, strikes being observed on the E.A. which burst into flames and dived down, to explode on the ground. The ME.110 is claimed as destroyed.
100 Group aircraft Mosquito “D” of 239 Squadron S.E. of Turnhout at 0120 hours, when a visual on a ME.110 was obtained. Range was closed to 150 yards and a 2 sec burst was fired, which set the E/A on fire. Burning furiously it crashed to the ground and blew up. The ME.110 is claimed as destroyed.
100 Group aircraft Mosquito “C” of No.239 Squadron over Bonn, at 0125 hours, height 10,000 feet, sighted a Ju.88 about to land at Bonn airfield. The Mosquito fired at 300 feet range, and the E/A’s starboard engine exploded. The E/A immediately dived, hit the ground and exploded. The Ju.88 is claimed as destroyed.
_________________________________________________ |
--- Canadian Aces ---
_______________________________________________
Thanks to nephew Stewart for the photos & infos !
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research (which includes info from numerous sources), newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC) as well as other sources both published and private |