kc
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 9
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Post by kc on May 21, 2013 11:06:47 GMT 12
Hi all,
I've been trying to research what happened to the members of 601 squadron that served at the same time as my father (1945 in Italy).
I've found quite a few of them, but there are a couple of New Zealanders that I have drawn a blank with.
These are:
G H Friis Serial No: NZ421137 19-Mar-45 W/O Friis hit by flak. Crash landed near Piove de Sacco and failed to return
G M Hessell Serial No: NZ639157
G H Friis is not listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site so maybe he survived the crash.
Does anybody have any information on them?
Thanks in advance
Kevin
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2013 14:10:48 GMT 12
There is a 1975 probate file on the Archives New Zealand "Archway" site for a Graham Harwood Friis of Napier. There's also a Civil Aviation pilot file for G.M. Hessell, undated, and a 1989 Auckland Probate file for Garth Murray Hessell. Maybe that is the chaps you're after? www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ |
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Post by smithy on May 21, 2013 15:24:09 GMT 12
I have Moulson's 601 history but am at work at the mo. Will check it when I get home and will post if there's anything relevant.
Cheers,
Tim
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Post by errolmartyn on May 21, 2013 17:50:06 GMT 12
Kevin,
NZ421137 Graham Harwood Friis survived the war. He was not a PoW either, so his failed to return appears to have been of a very temporary nature. He died on 10 June 1986 and is buried in the Magaroa Cemetery.
G M Hessell Serial No: NZ639157
NZ639157 Garth Muray Hessell died on 21 December 1988 and was cremated at Purewa.
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2013 20:43:02 GMT 12
Errol, would Hessell's service number be an Auckland (Territorial) Squadron number?
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Post by errolmartyn on May 21, 2013 20:55:24 GMT 12
Errol, would Hessell's service number be an Auckland (Territorial) Squadron number? Dave, Indeed it would. Interestingly, in October 1942 he left for Canada as an AP u/t. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2013 21:23:59 GMT 12
OK, thanks. I wonder what he did before remustering to pilot, I had not come across him before.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2013 21:25:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2013 21:27:27 GMT 12
Aha, I did have him in my Territorial records after all, but Hessell spelled wrongly as Hessel for some reason. I'll update it.
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Post by errolmartyn on May 21, 2013 23:10:12 GMT 12
dave, Murray spelling is correct as per NA. I blame my keyboard for my erroneous version! Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 22, 2013 0:28:47 GMT 12
Cheers Errol.
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kc
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 9
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Post by kc on May 22, 2013 9:48:45 GMT 12
Great. That's filled in a couple of blanks.
Thanks to all that responded.
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Post by smithy on May 25, 2013 11:11:02 GMT 12
Hi KC,
I had a look in Moulson's history of 601 ("The Flying Sword") and unfortunately not even a mention of either of them. I know that's no help but does mean you can rule out hunting down this book for info on them.
Best,
Tim
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kc
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 9
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Post by kc on Dec 10, 2016 0:13:48 GMT 12
Just found this on the 601 squadron notes (19th March 1945) about Graham Harwood Friis:
A New Zealander NZ421137 W/O Friis, G.H. flying in Spitfire IX L.F. PL351 was hit by flak, and crash landed in a field 2 miles South of PIOVE de SACCO. The incident occurred whilst they were operating against a target at MR. (E) 2738, sheet 13, Venice, Italy 1:250,000.
Almost immediately after W/O. Friis had completed his bombing run, he called up on his R/T and reported that he had been hit in his elevator controls, he stated however that he could manage to retain control of the aircraft.
When he was told by No. 5 that his a/c was emitting white smoke, W/O. Friis decided to make for base. This he started to do, with No.5 flying as escort. The white smoke soon changed to a brownish colour and W/O. Friis reported that his temperature was rising. He was then flying at 7500 ft.
He was asked if he could remain at that height, and he replied 'No' and that he intended to crash land. He was then instructed to attempt and reach the marshes around the Gulf of Venice as it would be possible to get a Walrus to pick him up. Soon, it became apparent that it would be impossible for him to make the area, and as a result he commenced to crash land.
He made a good approach, but undershot touching down approximately ten feet short of the field and landing on a road that ran alongside the field. The aircraft was seen to slide off the road turn over onto its back and the starboard wing detached itself.
About 12 people were seen to run to the scene of the accident, but it is believed they were civilian owing to the lack of uniform seen.
On return of the escort to base, and having no further information regarding either W/O. Friis or his aircraft the were categorised as Pilot Missing Particulars Unknown and the Spitfire as Cat. E.2.4.(Missing).
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kc
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 9
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Post by kc on Dec 17, 2016 0:04:27 GMT 12
Spitfire ASSOCIATION site in Austrailia has a mention of Graham Friis in POW camp at end of war "... Graham Friis, a Kiwi from a neighboring DAF squadron and I lit a fire of twigs to celebrate... " from www.spitfireassociation.com.au/ulm-john-2/ |
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 17, 2016 14:20:11 GMT 12
Spitfire ASSOCIATION site in Austrailia has a mention of Graham Friis in POW camp at end of war "... Graham Friis, a Kiwi from a neighboring DAF squadron and I lit a fire of twigs to celebrate... " from www.spitfireassociation.com.au/ulm-john-2/ Thanks for this. Looks to be one who has slipped through my Kiwi airmen PoW dragnet, probably because he was captured so late in the war and at which point contemporary record keeping of PoWs had fallen into disarray with PoWs being on the move as Russian forces rolled westwards and into Germany. Errol |
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elena
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by elena on Feb 27, 2019 4:32:34 GMT 12
Today I was looking for information on W/OFriis and I saw that there is a topic on your forum about he. Let me introduce myself: I am Elena and I deal with the history of aircraft crashed in Italy during the Second World War. I am part of the association "Aerei Perduti Polesine" and with my friends we are writing the story of all the planes crashed in northern Italy between 1943 and 1945.
In recent days we have been in the place where the Friis Spitfire landed. We have collected testimonies from people who came to the scene at the time and still remember Friis's plane today.
Can they interest you? An article will appear in a newspaper within a month.
I'm looking for a photo of the New Zealand pilot. Can someone help me?
Elena
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