Aerei perduti

22 febbraio 1945 - Boston V nr. BZ661 - Cesenatico (FC)

Operation Records Book (RAF Form 541): Falconara Night 21/22 Feb. Boston V BZ661 - F/L F. Finney - P/O J.G. Graham - F/O R.W. Goldsmith - Sgt. W.H. Walklate - Up 23.40 - Down 03.40 - TO BOMB S. GIOVANNI M/YARDS AND RECCE MESTRE-LIVENZA. Dropped bombs on M/Yards, and straffed barges near Latisana. Met scant LAA Buttrio. While W/Op was dropping flares over San Donna di Piave, a/c caught fire, exact cause unknown. Intercomm. became u/s, but it is believed W/Op and Nav/B parachuted safely in San Donna di Piave area. Pilot brought burning a/c back to land at CESINATICO L.G.

Operation Records Book (RAF Form 540): Falconara 21.2.45 - Nine aircraft operated, attacking SAN GIOVANNI and BUTTRIO Marshalling Yards. Two aircraft, piloted by W/O Graham and F/S Lane, did not return. A third, piloted by F/L Finney, caught fire in San Donna di Piave area (cause unknown but not enemy action). Communication was broken off in the a/c, and it is believed that F/O Goldsmith and P/O Graham, WOp/Air and Nav/B respectively, parachuted safely in this area. F/L Finney brought the burning a/c to CESINATICO LG, where the body of Sgt. Walklate, the A/G, was discovered, burnt and death, under the ruins of the turret.

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html: Douglas A-20K-15-DO Havoc 44-817 to RAF as Boston V BZ661. Caught fire in air Feb 22, 1945, landed safely at Cesenatico, Italy but DBR

L'episodio del Boston BZ661 non fa che incrementare oltre il pesante tributo pagato dai Night Intruders nella notte tra il 21 ed il 22 febbraio '45. Cinque aerei abbattuti da flak e uno incendiatosi in volo per cause ignote. Con le fiamme a bordo, senza interfono e isolato nella sua cabina di guida, il pilota F/L Finney riuscì a riportare il suo aereo in una base amica, atterrando a Cesenatico. A bordo non c'era più nessuno, solo il corpo bruciato e senza vita del mitragliere Sgt. Walklate, ancora nella torretta. Senza alcuna retorica e senza alcun dubbio è sicuramente una vicenda tragica e terribile, ma che ci fa ben comprendere il livello di coraggio e di abnegazione di questi uomini, quasi ragazzi.

Nel libro Keep them flying scritto dall'ingegnere motorista Richard Los, in forza allo Squadron, viene sommariamente descritto l'episodio: "On 24 Feb Flight Lieutenant Finney's aircraft was hit, and caught fire over the target during a night operation. He ordered the crew to bail out. The Wireless Operator Air Gunner left the aircraft with his parachute on fire and was killed. Flying Officer Graham the navigator landed safely by parachute. With all communications with the crew severed, Flight Lieutenant Finney was unaware how many crew were still in the aircraft, possibly injured, so he was not prepared to abandon the aircraft to save himself. He managed to land the aircraft at Cesenatico, an airfield forward of ourselves from which SAAF, RAF, and RAAF Squadrons operated. The body of the Air Gunner back in the fuselage was unrecognisable. Captain Vracaric flew me up next day to examine the aircraft, which was a burnt out shell with virtually no controls remaining. Flight Lieutenant Finney, on the recommendation of Wing Commander Leon and AOC Desert Air Force, Air Marshal Foster, received an immediate award of the D. S 0. The CO sent Flight Lieutenant Finney down to Rome for a few weeks leave, but he was soon back, eager to continue Flying."

Il Boston BZ661 fu radiato dal servizio e demolito a causa dei gravi danni subiti dall'incendio.

Il Sgt. William H. Walklate riposa al Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. Il F/O Reginald V. Goldsmith precipito' con il paracadute in fiamme e riposa all'Udine War Cemetery.