Halifax MZ341 Z5-P "Peter Rabbit"

Photo P01523.004 used with the permission of the Australian War Memorial.

AWM photo description: Foulsham, England, April 1945. Handley Page Halifax B Mark III Aircraft, 'P for Peter Rabbit' (No. MZ-341), of No. 462 Squadron RAAF. Harry Brown inspects the bomb bay while incendiaries are ready to be loaded.

Note artwork of 'Peter Rabbit' on nose.

Crew flight details are as for the 2 photos immediately above.
Return to top of page

Halifax III, LL599, Z5-E "Easy" in flight over land.

This photo was received from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009383, with the caption ....
"462 Squadron, RAAF, England, c.1945. Halifax B.MK.III LL599/Z5-E".

That suggested date of c.1945 is incorrect, as this aircraft was lost on 23/10/1944, during an Op from Driffield. Please refer to details with the photo below, of the same aircraft over the North Sea. This photo over land may have been taken on the same flight, for publicity purposes.

As in the photo below, the tails fins of Z5-E have not yet been painted with the vertical yellow stripes which later identified 462 Squadron aircraft, and the ventral H2S radome has again been removed by the Censor.

The Serial Number LL599 is clearly visible in the enlarged original.

 

Halifax MZ296 Z5-L

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the family of Rear Gunner Neville Owen Reed.

Halifax MZ296 was one of nine aircraft used by the newly reformed 462 Squadron on its first Op from Driffield on 25 August 1944, and was flown regularly on Ops during September and early October 1944.

MZ296 was lost over Belgium on the night of 14/15 October 1944 after an Op to Duisburg by Pilot Cookson and Crew 23. All of the crew survived, and returned to the Squadron. More details of that event are on the crew page.

The distinctive nose art may also be seen in the following photo, or an enlargement on the Thomas crew page (i.e. Tommo's Mob")..

The nose art, Serial No. MZ296, and aircraft code Z5-L are visible.

(Note: the words "OUR LAST" as written on the tail fin, refers to the last Op for Crew 6, Pilot/Captain Thomas, which actually occurred on 27 August 1944; not the last flight for Cookson's crew.)

 

An identical photo at the Imperial War Museum, UK with ID No. MH6838 had the following caption .... "Halifax B Mark III, MZ296 'Z5-L', of No 462 Squadron RAAF, about to take off from Driffield, Yorkshire, on the crew's last operation of their tour, (note the chalked message on the tail fin). The aircraft was lost near Brussels the following month while flown by a different crew."

 

 

Halifax MZ296, Z5-L

Left, photo from the Australian War Memorial collection, ID number UK1917, Copyright expired, public domain; Yorkshire, England, UK; with caption ......... (quote)

"A Handley Page Halifax B.III bomber of 462 Squadron RAAF taxiing at its base at Driffield. The aircraft, MZ296 (Z5-L), was lost on 15 October 1944 while returning from a raid on Duisburg. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire and low on fuel, the crew successfully baled out over Allied territory. The pilot on the final trip was New Zealander 413028 Flying Officer (FO) W B Cookson. The crew included three Australians: 427168 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) W F Tolhurst (Bomb Aimer), 436481 FO L J Power (Wireless Air Gunner) and 435209 Flt Sgt N O Reed (Rear Gunner). FO Cookson later received the DFC for his actions. The aircraft's name was "Lili Marlene" and was formerly allocated to 466 Squadron and transferred to 462 Squadron in August 1944 with the following crew: 418205 FO Ron Thomas, Captain; 414856 Flight Lt John Schmidt, Navigator; 422500 Warrant Officer Alf Green, Wireless Operator; 424007 FO Max Martin, Rear Gunner; 429896 FO Bill Shillaker, Mid Upper Gunner; 426363 FO Jack Mann, Bomb Aimer and Flt Sgt T J Cunningham RAF, Flight Engineer. The inscription 'OUR LAST' on the bomber's left fin indicates the last tour of this crew in early September 1944, and the nose art depicts the seven crew members."

An identical photo in the AWM collection with ID UK1911 had the following caption .... "A Handley Page Halifax B.III bomber of 462 Squadron RAAF taxiing at its base at Driffield. The aircraft, MZ296, was lost on 15 October 1944 while returning from a raid on Duisburg. Damaged by AA and low on fuel, the crew successfully baled out over Allied territory. The pilot on the final trip was New Zealander 413028 Flying Officer (FO) W B Cookson. The crew included three Australians: 427168 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) W F Tolhurst (Bomb Aimer), 436481 FO L J Power (Wireless Air Gunner) and 435209 Flt Sgt N O Reed (Rear Gunner). FO Cookson later received the DFC for his actions. The inscription 'OUR LAST' on the bomber's left fin probably indicates that a crew had completed an operational tour on the aircraft, but no further details are known."
Return to top of page

Halifax III, MZ431 Z5-J

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P025877, with the caption ....
"Halifax MZ431 Z5-J 'Jane' at Foulsham, c.1945".

The Serial Number MZ431 is clearly visible in the enlarged original.
This aircraft was flown on Ops from mid-October 1944 Driffield, until late April 1945 Foulsham.

A tarpaulin had been tied in place to protect the mid-upper gun turret.
Return to top of page

Halifax III, NA147 Z5-G side view.

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009371, with the caption ....
"462 Squadron RAAF, Foulsham, 1945. Halifax B.Mk.III NA147/Z5-G".

The Serial Number NA147 is clearly visible in the enlarged original.
This aircraft was flown on Ops from late November 1944 Driffield, until early May 1945 Foulsham.

The aircraft may be under preparation for an Op as 2 air crew are under the wing, as well as a ground crewman on the ladder, and another under the engines.

 

Halifax III, NA147 Z5-G frontal view.

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009372, with the caption ....
"462 Squadron RAAF, Foulsham, c.1945. Head-on view of Halifax B.Mk.III NA147/Z5-G".

The letter G is visible over both wheel arches in the enlarged original.

As for the previous photo, this aircraft may be under preparation for an Op as several air crew are milling about.
Return to top of page

Halifax III LW440 Z5-B

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009370 with the caption ....
"462 Squadron RAAF, c.1945. Halifax B.Mk.III LW440/Z5-B over North Sea."

LW440 was based in Driffield, and used on Ops by 462 Squadron from early August to late November 1944, so the above date of 1945 may be inaccurate (unless it was used for later training flights).

The letter B is partially obscured by marks in the photo, but is clear on the enlarged original. Some authors list this Halifax as Z5-R.

A photo of LW440 without the tail-fin stripes, and therefore dated as early/mid September 1944, may be viewed on the Carthy Crew page.
Return to top of page

 

Halifax NR284 Z5-Q

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P025901, with the caption ....
"Halifax B.Mk.III NR284/Z5-Q at Foulsham, c.1945."

First used on Ops by 462 Squadron in mid December 1944 at Driffield, NR284 was relocated to Foulsham with 462 Squadron, and continued to be used on Ops from early January until late April 1945.

It is seen here at Foulsham being prepared for an Op.
Return to top of page

 

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the Peachey family.

The vertical stripes on the tail fin are clearly visible, as is the D on the fuselage. The Serial Number is out of focus, but the Squadron ORB confirms that Crew 41, Pilot Sharp, carried out 14 Ops in NR239 Z5-D (one of which was recorded in error as NA239 in the ORB).

 

 

 

 

Halifax NR239 Z5-D

Flown by Sharp and crew 41 at 462 Squadron, Driffield 1944 and Foulsham 1945.

Caption on the reverse of the photo, as recorded by Ken Peachey

"D-Dog – 462 Squadron RAAF (Halifax)
in which we did 14 operations
over Germany.
Taken at Foulsham, Norfolk, England."
Return to top of page

 

 

Halifaxes MZ306 Z5-K (?) and MZ370 Z5-L (?)
of 462 Squadron, Driffield

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the Peachey family.

Caption on the reverse of the photo from the Ken Peachey Collection. Ken was the W/OP for Pilot G C B Sharp crew 41.

"462 (RAAF) Squadron aircraft (Halifax)
Taken at Driffield, Yorkshire, England.
December, 1944"

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the Peachey family.

MZ306 Z5-K (King) was in use on Ops from September to December 1944, but was not flown by Sharp and crew. It was however flown by Langworthy and crew 34, as well as by other crews. In December 1944, MZ370 Z5-L was also flown by Langworthy and Crew 34. (The previous Z5-L, i.e. MZ296, was lost on 15 October 1944, Cookson crew 23).

 

Halifax MZ306 Z5-K (?)
of 462 Squadron, Driffield

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the Peachey family.

After cropping and enlargement (above) of the original photo, the vertical stripes on the tail fin can be seen on the Halifax in the left foreground (as well as on the Halifax in the centre background). These markings confirm that they were both 462 Squadron aircraft. The aircraft serial number and code is not able to be distinguished. A third aircraft is partially obscured in the far distance on the right, and is not identifiable by Squadron, so may be from either 462 or 466 Squadron.

The same photo (above left) is included on page 245 of "To See the Dawn Again" (provided by G M M Langworthy), with the caption ..... "Aircraft K for King at Dispersal. In the distance is L for Love while in the foreground, F/Sgt Walt Litvensky and Cpl Pat Unwin are engaged in discussion."
The same photo (above left) is also in the Australian War Memorial, photo ID UK2232 with caption ..... "Yorkshire, England. 1944-12-12. Early morning at Halifax No. 462 Squadron RAAF, RAF Station Driffield. 14149 Flight Sergeant W. J. Litvensky, Mascot, NSW, and 22218 Corporal P. A. Unwin, Sutherland, NSW, discuss the morning's work."

However the same photo is also shown in "Phoenix" (by Batten) with the caption ..... "James Cole receiving Daily Service reports from an RAF Corporal".

Cole and Litvensky and Unwin do not appear in aircrew postings to 462 Squadron at Driffield or Foulsham. However, W J Litvensky 14149 is listed in "Brave and True" as ground staff for 462 Squadron during the "desert" period (North Africa). Perhaps Unwin was also ground staff, and both were later posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield. ....... Who is Cole? ............ Which caption is correct?
Return to top of page

 

For a A full transcript of the events surrounding the crash landing of LL600 Z5-C as told by the Flight Engineer Ralph Daughters, please refer to the Robertson Crew page.

Halifax LL600 Z5-C

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P025875, with the caption ....

"Halifax LL600/Z5-C, crash landing at Sudbury, 23 Sept., 1944."

This was one of 14 aircraft from 462 Squadron detailed for a night Op to target Neuss (Ruhr valley). Take off for LL600 was at 1858 on the 23 September, and the primary target was bombed from 17,500 ft., at 2229. When landing at Sudbury at 2355, LL600 overshot and crashed, with the aircraft category A.C. Ten aircraft returned to Base, and four landed away (including LL600 at Sudbury, one at Manston, and two at Stradishall).

On that Op, LL600 was flown by Pilot/Captain David John Robertson 419444 RAAF, with crew 18: Nav Percival Albert Clifton Dermond 432132 RAAF; B/A Phillip George Chant 427636 RAAF; WOP/AG Edward Douglas Wilson 419104 RAAF; MU/AG George Leon Goldstein 433588; R/AG Frederick Joseph Randle 24779 RAAF; F/Eng R K Daughters 1895166 RAF (VR?). This Crew was posted to 462 Squadron Driffield, in late August 1944 and served with the Squadron until posted out May 1945 (Daughters) and June 1945 (other six in crew). Robertson carried out 36 Ops, the 1st as 2nd Pilot with Jackson crew, and 35 with his usual crew, with only two substitutions each for the W/OP and F/Eng.
Return to top of page

 

Photo supplied by and used with the permission of Dennis Coleman's family.

There appears to be snow on the ground so it was possibly December 1944 at Driffield or January 1945 at Foulsham. Three men can be seen, possibly ground crew – one on the wing, one beside the ladder and the third leaning into the entry hatch of the fuselage.

Halifax NA148 Z5-Z

This undated photo is from the memorabilia of former Flight Engineer Dennis Claude Coleman (aka Ron), of Crew 42, Pilot Whatling. However NA148 was not flown by Whatling on any of his crew's Ops.

From the squadron ORB, NA148 was first flown by Byrom and crew to Target Essen on 29 November 1944. Its last Op was on 16 April 1945. Excluding training flights and post-war Ruhr Tours which are not individually listed in the ORB, NA148 was used on at least 33 Ops, all apparently without incident and with no early returns. Of those 33 Ops, 11 were carried out by the Anderson Crew, and the other 22 Ops by 16 different crews.

On 8 April 1945, NA148 had a crew of nine, and operated with 5 Group to attack Schönebeck – the 8th crewman dispensed WINDOW and the 9th crewman operated Special Equipment for Radio Counter Measures.
Return to top of page

Photo from the Tom Walker Collection

Halifax PN433 Z5-A

Members of Sullivan's Crew who were awaiting take-off in A 'Able', on 2 April 1945, destination Hamburg. Crew were wearing Mae Wests.

Seated on the Triumph Tiger 80, 350cc motorcycle Rego No CXW799 is pillion F/Sgt Jock Lee (R/AG) and rider F/Sgt Max Gribble (MU/G). The motorcycle was owned by Max.

In the background, Sgt Tom Walker (F/Eng) is holding a trailing aerial at the side entry to the Halifax. The other Airmen in the background are not identified.

Several trailing aerials can be seen, as well as the H2S pod under the Halifax. Parachutes are also visible inside the side entry hatch.

The Halifax is clearly identified as Z5-A. The aircraft serial number appears to be PN433/G, however the Squadron Operation Record Book (Form 541, page 313) for 2 April 1945 lists this Crew as flying Halifax LG-432. The serial with /G indicates an armed Guard was required due to the Special RCM equipment on board (Ref: Lax & Kane-Maguire page 455). Some authors identify PN433 as Z5-R.

More photos of this crew around this aircraft awaiting take-off, may be viewed on Tom Walker's page.
Return to top of page

 

Maurice Albert HEWLETT Archives

A list of Crews and Ops for MZ479 Z5-B, is included on the SIMMS crew page. The SIMMS crew flew in this aircraft for 11 of its 22 Ops. MZ479 was was written off in a belly landing at Hethel on 7 February 1945. Details in the Halifax Loss section of the SIMMS Crew page.

 

Halifax MZ479 Z5-B

The photo at left is from the Estate of Maurice Albert HEWLETT, former Fight Engineer of the SIMMS Crew 38. The photo was undated and the aircraft not identified by Serial Number or Code letter. However it is assumed to be Halifax MZ479 Z5-B in use at 462 Squadron, for 22 Ops from November 1944 to 07 February 1945.

Nose artwork names it as Brenda's Baby, with a flying stork carrying a bomb in the baby-sling. There are 12 Bombs depicted underneath the artwork, indicating that 12 successful Ops had already been carried out in this Halifax. SIMMS and Crew had flown 6 of those 12 Ops.

Op 12 for MZ479 was on 05 January 1945, so it may be concluded that the photo was most likely taken on 06 January 1945, when SIMMS and crew were about to embark on the aircraft's 13th Op.

The SIMMS crew came direct to 462 Squadron from HCU, previously OTU, with no postings to other operational Halifax squadrons, hence the assumption it had to be a 462 Squadron Halifax. DT-B "Babe" of 192 Squadron, also based at Foulsham, had quite different nose art.
Return to top of page

 

Photo by Peter Muxlow, Model by Anonymous Friend

Model of Halifax MZ400 Z5-J of 462 Squadron, Driffield.

Set up to show crew ready for an Op, fuel tanker finished refueling aircraft, and small ladder at open entry hatch on port side. As this aircraft was in use for Bombing Ops at Driffield, it did not have the array of aerials as used by the Squadron's Halifax aircraft at Foulsham in 1945.

The Model was commissioned by Peter Muxlow, to commemorate the COLEMAN Crew 29.
The Modeller must be commended for his care and attention to detail.

 

Photo by Peter Muxlow, Model by Anonymous Friend

Model of Halifax MZ400 Z5-J of 462 Squadron, Driffield, showing attention to detail.

Crew of 7 in readiness for Op; Pilot and Flight Engineer talking with Ground Crewman, one crewman looking into distance, one sitting, two having a friendly scuffle, and one saying farewell to his pet dog; three vertical yellow stripes on tail fins; Z5-J visible on fuselage; at higher magnification serial number MZ400 may be seen on rear fuselage above/behind the letter J; radio aerials; Pitot tube under Bomb Aimer's position; faded letter J above wheel arch; pitted paint on leading edge of wings; NO STEP warning on upper leading edge of wings; nose art, etc.

Photo by Peter Muxlow, Model by Anonymous Friend

Model of Halifax MZ400 Z5-J of 462 Squadron, Driffield, showing pitted paint on leading edge of wing; "NO STEP" on upper leading edge of wing; nose art showing eight miniature bombs indicating eight successful bombing Ops carried out by crews in this aircraft.

From the list of Ops for MZ400, shown on the right, this suggests that the crew depicted was the COLEMAN crew, about to take off on the aircraft's Op 9. That Op was subsequently abandoned by the Master Bomber. The Coleman crew also commenced MZ400's Op 11 on 09 October 1944, but Failed to Return, with all seven KIA.

 

Halifax MZ400 Z5-J – Ops information for this aircraft from the 462 Squadron ORB, Forms 541 Operations. Data does not include air tests, or other non-operational or training flights.

No photo has yet been located of MZ400 Z5-J. Please contact if you can assist.
Return to top of page

462 Squadron Memorial Halifax

The original photo is now in the public domain. Artwork and addition of names from the Roll of Honour for 462 Squadron, Commemorative Panel 109, Australian War Memorial was carried out by Craig Rowland, RAAF (current), who is also a 462 Squadron Veteran 2006-2011 (© Copyright 2015 Craig Rowland).

The artwork was supplied by Craig and published here with his permission.

Please visit the Australian War Memorial page to view a larger version of this artwork.

462 Squadron losses on 24 February 1945
Halifax Z5-A Rate and crew, 7 KIA, 1 PoW
Halifax Z5-E Tootal and crew, 8 KIA
Halifax Z5-O Ely and crew, 8 KIA
(Z5-O has been referred to as Z5-G by some authors)
Halifax Z5-W Ridgewell and crew, 4 KIA, 4 PoW

 

Requiem for a Halifax Squadron.

These 3 artworks (left, above, and above left) have been forwarded by a member of the RAAF. The original artist or artists are not known, but all three may have been created by the same person.
Above left: appears to have the name John Comila "08" (lower right);
Above right: un-signed;
Left: has the caption "REQUIEM FOR A HALIFAX SQUADRON by MAX the Hitman" (lower left), with an illegible signature and "(C) 2008" (lower right).
The names and titles have been checked on the internet without success. If the original artist/s would like to make contact, correct Copyright details can be added, and acknowledgements made.

The yellow and black vertical stripes on the tail fins and the fuselage markings of Z5 clearly identify the four aircraft as 462 Squadron. In each artwork, the markings are Z5-A, Z5-E, Z5-G, and Z5- (letter not visible). The title of Requiem is presumed to relate to the loss of four Halifax aircraft from 462 Squadron on 24 February 1945, details at left.
Return to top of page

 

 

Halifax Z5-B(2)

Z5-B(2) was flown by Flying Officer BALL and his crew on 22 March 1945 on a Fighter Affiliation training exercise. This aircraft's Serial Number was not recorded in the log book, or in the ORB for that date.

It was probably MZ396 Z5-B. Its first Op was with O'Sullivan and Crew 43 on 8 April 1945, and it was still in Ops use on 24 April 1945 (Sullivan & Crew 61). Some authors record MZ396 as Z5-B, and others as Z5-E, however Bland's log book (Sharp crew 41) records it as B, matching the ORB entry of MZ396 for the same date.

BALL & crew were posted to 462 Squadron on 16 February 1945, so could not have flown Halifax MZ479 Z5-B which was written off in a belly landing at Hethel on 7 February 1945.
Return to top of page

 

Halifax MZ308 Z5-S

MZ308 Z5-S was flown by Flying Officer BALL and his crew on 24 March 1945 to Köln (Cologne), with crew of 8, for RCM duties.

MZ308 was in use at 462 Squadron, Driffield, in August 1944, with its first Op recorded on 25 August (Evans & Crew 8). It was not recorded in the ORB for any Operational Flights from the end of August 1944 until early March 1945.

MZ308 was converted for Radio Counter Measures use in February 1945. Fitted with new RCM equipment, its first training flight at 462 Squadron, Foulsham, was on 3 March 1945, (BALL Crew); and the first Op using new equipment on 7 March 1945 (UTHER Crew 26).

It was still in use for a last Op on 2 May 1945, (Anderson Crew 45), on a Protective Patrol with the WINDOW Force, Carpet Jamming (Special equipment for RCM duties), with crew of 8.
Return to top of page

 

 

No photos have yet been located for

MZ396 Z5-B,
or MZ308 Z5-S,
or NA240 Z5-V.
If you can assist, please make contact.

 

Halifax NA240 Z5-V "Victor"

NA240 Z5-V was flown by Flying Officer BALL and his crew on 16 March 1945 to Hanau, and again on 10 April 1945 to Leipzig, when it failed to return. Crews and Ops for NA240 are listed below.