Mustang I, AM111, 414 sqdr, S/Ldr. H.P.Peters, Hellevoetsluis (in the Haringvliet)

H.P. Peters in his P40 (1942)

Photo: G. Pitchfork

The 5th. of November 1943 was a day with a lot of air activity in the Dutch skies resulting in no less then 25 planes crashing in the Netherlands that day. 15 of those were German, 8 USAAF (6 bombers and 2 fighters) and 2 RAF.

The Eighth Air Force planned a mission to Gelsenkirchen and Münster that day which took them over the Netherlands.

Mission 121 consisted of attacks on Gelsenkirchen and Münster by the Eighth Air Force in which the railway junctions and oil refineries were the target of 374 B-17's and 1.BD 3. BD, that were scheduled to drop their bomb load between 13.13 and 13.50.

Almost simultaneously 118 B-24's of 2. BD carried out a bombing raid on railway targets near Münster. Eleven B-17's of 482 BG served as Pathfinder and marker of whom five were assigned to the assault force to Gelsenkirchen. The escort - in its entirety assigned to the Gelsenkirchen attack - consisted of 47 P-38's of 55 FG and 336 P-47's of all at that moment operational Fighter Groups of VIII FC.

Again there would be heavy losses suffered but less compared to previous attacks. Nine B-17's of the Gelsenkirchen strike force did not return while a further three of these aircraft had to be written off as irreparable. No less than 216 B-17's suffered combat damage of which the majority due to Flak. Aboard the aircraft returning were the bodies of four dead and 31 wounded.

Of 2. BD three B-24 did not return to their base and one that did return was considered a total loss. Another 43 planes were damaged with seven dead and 22 wounded. The escort P-47's lost 4 - 3 of 353 FG and 1 of 355 FG.

A fifth machine of 352 FG crash-landed near Bodley and was a complete write off.

Diversionaries;

Ninth Air Force attacked with a total of 216 Marauders airports and V-1 launchers in the region around the Pas-de-Calais. No.2 Group and RAF Fighter Command performed tactical missions with a total of 49 B-25 Mitchell's of Nos.98, 180, 226, 305 and 320 squadron and 24 Bostons of Nos.88 and 107 squadron and 82 Typhoons of various squadrons.

The escort was done by no less than 18 Spitfire squadrons of Fighter Command.

The deployment of the Luftwaffe;

The Luftwaffe responded with the deployment of parts of 9 and a Jagdgruppen and a Schlachtgruppe - JG 1, JG 11, I./- en III./JG 26, II./JG 2, I./JG 3, JG 25, 14./KG 2 and II./SKG 10.

The day however began with Rhubarb missions flown by RCAF Mustangs of Nos. 430, 414 and 400 squadrons.

Around mid day a Mustang van No.414 squadron was lost while attacking a vessel of the Flußräumflottille nearby Tholen and crashed after being shot at by Marine Flak at 12.13 hr. south west of Middelharnis. The attack on the vessel probably caused structural damage and probably one casualty – MtrGefr. Heinz Kircher - and two wounded.

The mission had started for the two Mustangs of No. 414 squadron at 10.40 from their base at Gatwick Surrey and would take them until 14.55 hours. The mission was to fly Rhubarb over northern France, Belgium and the South of Holland.

It seems that the mission concentrated on the area of Brussels – Antwerp and Woensdrecht as the FLAK commander of Flushing already reported at 10.53 activity in the air by two machines later identified as Mustangs.

Flakkommandeur Vlissingen

10.53h Flak alarm! Luchs had noticed two targets in direction 8 at a distance of 24 km.

10.56h (until 1058)

Both machines are identified as Mustangs and fired upon by 4./- and 7./810 with 13 rounds of 10,5 cm and 3 rounds of 3,7 cm. Both machines flew at a hight of 1500 to 1800 m.

11.00h Luchs notifies that both targets dissapear in direction 5 distance 30 km.

11.02h According to Luchs both targets are approaching again from direction 5-6.

11.05h All stations report no activity on the question if motor noise is heard in their area´s.

11.06h Alarm is canceled! Accoording to Luchs both machines dissappeared in the direction 5 .

Very likely during this time both aircrafts attacked four trains at Brussels with strikes seen.

12.10h. Two Mustangs attack vessel HA7 near Tholen, killing one and wounding two. South of Tholen both pilots attacked a vessel – about 200 tons – with strikes seen on superstructure (category 4) and another vessel of same size attacked by Sqn.Ldr. Peters. Flg.Off. Wonnocott saw glycol from Sqn.Ldr. Peter’s aircraft which appeared to be on fire and the aircraft climbed to 250 feet, when flames broke out.

12.15h. FLAK unit 6./815 (Hellevoetsluis) shoots at two passing mustangs flying direction 3-9, they fire 18 rounds 3,7 cm and 190 rounds 2 cm, height 100 m. One Maschine is hit several times and crashes in direction 9 – at 3 km from the FLAK position – in the Water. Sqn.Ldr. Peters was seen to bale out without parachute at 20 feet and landed on mud. Flg.Off. Wonnocott circled but saw no movement.

This incident is also mentioned in the Kriegstagebuche of the 719th. Infanterie division and the commander of the Gilze-Rijen airport.

KTB 719. Infanterie Division

15.30h. Report by Gren.Rgt. 743:

12.12h. A Mustang crashed because of unknown reasons near Stützpunkt XXVIII (Voorne) Pilot killed.

Kommando Flughafenbereich Gilze-Rijen

12.12h. A Mustang shot down 1 km SW of Hellevoetsluis by light Marine and shipflak. The plane crashed in the ´Maas´(Haringvliet) and sank. The pilot drowned. The body is not recovered.

It appears that FLAK units from both Middelharnis and Hellevoetsluis have fired at the plane. Both seem to have claimed the downing of the Mustang.

Underneath a reference to the above incident from the KTB Admiral in der Niederlanden. (Courtesy H. Jehee)

(KTB = KriegsTageBuch [war diary])

The vessel that was attacked seem to have been HA 7. Until now it was not possible to identify the vessel any further. We also know the attack resulted in 1 death and 2 wounded. It remains unclear what vessel shot down the Mustang but accoording to this note it must have belonged to the Maasflottile that indeed used the harbor of Hellevoetsluis at that time.

The pilot was Squadron Leader Herbert "Herb" Peters, flying a Mustang from 404 Sqdn (RCAF; he was Sqdn CO at time of loss) on a daylight mission. He was hit by flak at ca 50' altitude, at approximately 250 mph. On this mission he was accompanied by his wingman, F/O Wannacott. He'd (Peters) not too long before attacked four locomotives, damaging them. After he attacked the locos, they both attacked a vessel, thought to have been roughly 200 tons, severely damaging it and possibly sinking it (it was reported afire as they left it). As Peters attacked another, similiar vessel close to the shoreline, he was hit. He tried to bale out, he almost certainly was killed as his prarchute did not open.

Herbert Peter Peters was born in Regina, Alberta, Canada. Immediately after completing his education at the University of Saskatchewan, he has registered with the RCAF where he completed pilot training in July 1940. He was a veteran of missions at low altitude, "search and destroy" missions where the pilots in a given area were looking for opportunity targets. They flew at very low altitude of up to 15-20 meters, away from radar and AAA-guns and to give them a chance surprise their targets. Often, the targets for such missions were trucks, locomotives, ships or installations. Such missions were known under the code name 'Rhubarb' missions. H.P. Peters had developed into a specialist for these missions and was very successful. He had worked his way up from the 414 Squadron, to squadron leader and was rewarded for his efforts with the DFC (distinguished Flying Cross). He had received this award for actions on May 25, 1943 and had flown 46 missions at that time since August 22, 1941, among others he participated in two operations during the failed landing at Dieppe.

In March 1941 after he arrived in the UK he first went to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum, Wiltshire, where he began flying in a Lysander reconnaissance aircraft that would later gain fame with its use for covert missions in to occupied territory. In August of that same year he was transferred to Flight 1416, were he trained on on Spitfires before he was eventually transferred to the 400th Squadron of the RCAF, again at Old Sarum. At that time this was a squadron that flew Lysanders, shortly after he joined the 400th squadron was equipped with the Curtiss P40 Tomahawk in which Peters flew his first real combat mission to Beauchamp. In January 1942, he flew his first "Rhubarb" mission against targets near Le Touquet. His logbook shows no fewer than 24 combat missions before the end of 1942.

He also flew single observation missions over enemy territory where he made photographs of important objects and coastal installations. For example, he flew at least seven of these "Popular" missions along the French coast al the way to Berck Boulogne-sur-Mer. Although he was fired upon several times by flak he delivered excellent pictures of the entire coastline. Until December 1st. 1942 Peters had flown five "Rhubarb" operations in which he knocked out four locomotives in Brettagne and damaged a locomotive, a factory and attacked an anti-aircraft position in Normandy. His squadron had now switched to the Mustang MK1 a plane which later versions earned a legendary reputation during the second world war . This first type, however, had some weaknesses which was why it was mainly used on Rhubarb with a small chance that it would engage German fighters. The engine of this first type of Mustang (the Allison V-1710) lost above 4000 feet so much power that this type was no match for German fighters at these heights. Only after this type of engine was replaced by the Rolls-Royce Merlin the Mustang became almost unbeatable and was a match to all known German fighters.

Between December 3rd. 1942 and January 1st., 1943 Peters was involved in missions over West Europe and the Bay of Biscay. His knowledge and experience in operating and navigating at low altitudes enabled him to make long flights of over 550 miles of which 12 were flown at a height of less than 500 feet. On March 13, 1943 around 22:30 Peters and his wingman circelde south-east of Paris near the airport Melun. He was then caught in the light of a searchlight but just then his wingman saw a Do217 approaching the airfield. Peters flew away from his wingman and lured the spotlight away from his wingman who was thus able to shoot the Dornier down.

On March 16, 1943, on his second consecutive night on "Ranger" operations he put up 750 miles away all the way to Rheims and Laon-Athis airport. Returning from this mission he attacked seven barges at Noyon. His knowledge and experience in flying at low altitude and flying at night and his skill in navigating enabled him to fly missions and surprise the enemy in places and at times where they expected no allied aircrafts.

S / L HPPeters DFC

Photo: CCClarke "Collection of F. E. Clarke"

In July 1943 he became CO of No. 414 Squadron, RCAF, and in the ensuing months he ran missions to Paris, Antwerp (via the Scheldt) and St. Omer. Missions to Brussels and Cherbourg followed in September that he looked for his friend and fellow pilot DH Lewis who had been shot down earlier in that region. Unfortunately, that same fate would soon happen to him as well.

Beginning November 1943 had beautiful days with almost summer temperatures during first three days of the month. In the South of the Netherlands in Limburg the temperature even reached 20 degrees Celsius. Then the wind shifted to the east and the temperature began to drop. Still the flying conditions remained good with a weak North-East wind, temperatures of up to 7-8 degrees, no rain and only high clouds in the west.

"Pete Instruct the boys'

Photo: CCClarke "Collection of F. E. Clarke"

November 5th. 1943 Peters was back in the air on a "Rhubarb" mission over Belgium and the Netherlands. This day 18 Mosquitoes, 26 Mustangs and two Spitfires flew missions over the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France. Peters led a group of Mustangs of his Squadron that day. They attacked different trains and radio- and radar masts. Peters had knocked out four locomotives and had attacked a small ship of 200 tons that was shot in flames when he saw a similar vessel. He and his wingman Wannacott also attacked the vessel at very low altitude. During this attack, the Mustang of Peters was hit by FLAK and caught fire. On fire Peters set course for home and while doing so soon found him self over the Haringvliet where FLAK ships fired on him as well from the harbor of Middelharnis and Hellevoetsluis. Near Hellevoetsluis the situation was untenable and Peters tried to leave the plane. Because of the low altitude the parachute could not open in time and Peters hit a mud bank in the middle of the Haringvliet just in front of the town of Hellevoetsluis (de Slijkplaat). His plane crashed just a few seconds later. Wannacott his wingman from his group has observed Peters bailing out and saw the body of Peters on that mud bank.

Yet Peters to this day is known as missing in action. His name is mentioned on the Air Force Memorial at Runnymede near London. He was at the time of his crash just one year married and without knowing it 10 days father of a daughter.

Mustang of the 414th MK1. Squadron, pilot F / O Cliff Horncastle,

Photo: CCClarke "Collection of F. E. Clarke"

During this mission that day only one Mustang was lost; the Mustang of Peters. Also German archives mention the crash of Peters. It appears that the germans did not see Peters bailing out or his body hitting the mudbank as there is no record of recovery of the body of his burial.

PETERS, F/L Herbert Peter (J3512) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.400 Squadron - Award effective 19 May 1943 as per London Gazette dated 25 May 1943 and AFRO 1247/43 dated 2 July 1943. Born in regina, 1918; home in Edmonton; enlisted in Saskatoon, 4 June 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 20 July 1940), No.5 EFTS (graduated 18 September 1940) and No.1 SFTS (graduated 12 December 1940). Commissioned 1941. Killed in action, 5 November 1943 (Mustang AM111) while commanding No.414 Squadron; name on Runnymede Memorial. Medal presented to next-of-kin, 20 February 1945.

"This officer has been engaged on operational flying since August 1941. He has taken part in reconnaissance shipping and low level patrols. Throughout this period he has shown an unswerving determination and a fine fighting spirit. At all times he has displayed a high standard of leadership which, with his ability, coolness and courage, has inspired his subordinates."

source: http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/ALPHA-PE.html

Sources:

Combats & Casualties, RAF & US Fighter Commands, 1943, with Annotated Text, ISSUE I, Tony Wood (Allied)

O.K.L. Fighter Claims, Chef für Ausz. und Dizsiplin Luftwaffen-Personalamt L.P. [A] V Films,& Supplementary Claims from Lists Reich & Western Front 1943 (German)

“Verliesregister 1939 – 1945”, part 1943, SGLO, NIMH (Dutch)

THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, TORONTO, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1 9 4 4 (Canadian)

THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE FIFTH YEAR, TORONTO, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1 9 4 5 (Canadian)

Websites:

http://www.cwgc.org

http://www.lostbombers.co.uk

http://www.rcaf.com/

War Diary Second Tactical Air Force

--//-- Time up/ down 10.06 and 12.12 hours

Two Mustangs of No.430 squadron carried out low-level photo recce with doubtful results, as camera lights did not work.

Fairly accurate heavy Flak 18 miles north-east of Terneuzen.

--//-- Time up/ down 10.40 and 14.55 hours

Rhubarb by two Mustangs of No. 414 squadron in the Brussels – Antwerp and Woensdrecht area.

The aircraft attacked four trains at Brussels with strikes seen.

South of Tholen both pilots attacked a vessel – about 200 tons – with strikes seen on superstructure (category 4) and another vessel of same size attacked by Sqn.Ldr. Peters.

Flg.Off. Wonnocott saw glycol from Sqn.Ldr. Peter’s aircraft which appeared to be on fire and the aircraft climbed to 250 feet, when flames broke out.

Sqn.Ldr. Peters was seen to bale out without parachute at 20 feet and landed on mud. Flg.Off. Wonnocott circled but saw no movement.

--//-- Time up/ down 13.46 and 15.40 hours

Four Mustangs of No. 400 squadron to carry out Ranger to the Woensdrecht – Brussels area but did not cross the Dutch coast owing to thick haze.

Flakkommandeur Vlissingen

1053 Flakalarm! Luchs hat zwei Ziele in Richtung 8 aufgefaßt Entfernung 24 km.

1056 (bis 1058)

Die beiden Maschinen werden als Mustang erkannt und von der 4./- und 7./810 mit

13 Schuß 10,5 cm und 3 Schuß 3,7 cm bekämpft. Höhe der Maschinen 1500 bis 1800 m.

1100 Luchs meldet die beiden Ziele in Richtung 5 im Abflug Entfernung 30 km.

1102 Die beiden Ziele befinden sich laut Luchs wieder im Anflug aus Richtung 5-6.

1105 Sämtliche Kampfmittel melden auf Frage Motorengeräusche Fehlanzeige.

1106 Kriegswache Ruhe! Laut Luchs sind die Maschinen in Richtung 5 ausgewandert.

1215

Bekämpft der 6./815 (Hellevoetsluis) zwei mit Kurs 3-9 vorbeifliegende Mustang mit 18 Schuß

3,7 cm und 190 Schuß 2 cm , Zielhöhe 100 m.

Eine Maschine erhält mehrere Treffer und stürzt in Richtung 9 – 3 km von der Stellung entfernt – ins Wasser.

Flakkommandeur Vlissingen

.

0702 Flakalarm! Luchs meldet ein Ziel in Richtung 3 Entfernung 23 km.

0707 Kriegswache Achtung! Das gemeldete Ziel ist in Richtung 9 ausgeflogen.

1053 Flakalarm! Luchs hat zwei Ziele in Richtung 8 aufgefaßt Entfernung 24 km.

1056 (bis 1058)

Die beiden Maschinen werden als Mustang erkannt und von der 4./- und 7./810 mit

13 Schuß 10,5 cm und 3 Schuß 3,7 cm bekämpft

.

Höhe der Maschinen 1500 bis 1800 m.

1100 Luchs meldet die beiden Ziele in Richtung 5 im Abflug Entfernung 30 km.

1102 Die beiden Ziele befinden sich laut Luchs wieder im Anflug aus Richtung 5-6.

1105 Sämtliche Kampfmittel melden auf Frage Motorengeräusche Fehlanzeige.

1106 Kriegswache Ruhe! Laut Luchs sind die Maschinen in Richtung 5 ausgewandert.

1215

Bekämpft der 6./815 (Hellevoetsluis) zwei mit Kurs 3-9 vorbeifliegende Mustang mit 18 Schuß

3,7 cm und 190 Schuß 2 cm

, Zielhöhe 100 m.

Eine Maschine erhält mehrere Treffer und stürzt in Richtung 9 – 3 km von der Stellung entfernt

– ins Wasser

Kommando Flughafenbereich Gilze-Rijen

1212 Abschuß einer Mustang ein km Südwest Middelharnis durch leichte Marine – und Schiffsflak. Flugzeug stürzte in de Maas (Haringvliet!) und sackte dann ab. Der Pilot ist ertrunken, leider nicht geborgen.

De verliezen – in tijdsvolgorde - nader bekeken

1212 Mustang Mk.I (AM111) van No.414 RCAF squadron – opgestegen vanaf Gatwick Surrey – stortte op één kilometer ten zuidwesten van Hellevoetsluis in het Haringvliet.

Sqn.Ldr. Herbert Peter Peters RCAF mia

Runnymede Memorial Panel 172

War Diary Second Tactical Air Force

--//-- Time up/ down 10.06 and 12.12 hours

Two Mustangs of No.430 squadron carried out low-level photo recce with doubtful results, as camera lights did not work. Fairly accurate heavy Flak 18 miles north-east of Terneuzen.

--//-- Time up/ down 10.40 and 14.55 hours

Rhubarb by two Mustangs of No. 414 squadron in the Brussels – Antwerp and Woensdrecht area.

The aircraft attacked four trains at Brussels with strikes seen.

South of Tholen both pilots attacked a vessel – about 200 tons – with strikes seen on superstructure (category 4) and another vessel of same size attacked by Sqn.Ldr. Peters.

Flg.Off. Wonnocott saw glycol from Sqn.Ldr. Peter’s aircraft which appeared to be on fire and the aircraft climbed to 250 feet, when flames broke out.

Sqn.Ldr. Peters was seen to bale out without parachute at 20 feet and landed on mud. Flg.Off. Wonnocott circled but saw no movement.

The pilot was Squadron Leader Herbert "Herb" Peters, flying a Mustang from 404 Sqdn (RCAF; he was Sqdn CO at time of loss) on a daylight mission. He was hit by flak at ca 50' altitude, at approximately 250 mph. Peters was a major supporter of low level strikes, despite pressure from "upstairs". On this mission he was accompanied by his wingman, F/O Wannacott. He'd (Peters) not too long before attacked four locomotives, damaging them. After he attacked the locos, they both attacked a vessel, thought to have been roughly 200 tons, severely damaging it and possibly sinking it (it was reported afire as they left it). As Peters attacked another, similiar vessel close to the shoreline, he was hit. He tried to bale out, but at 50', it's usually a futile effort, and sadly, he almost certainly was killed as his prarchute did not open.

--//-- Time up/ down 13.46 and 15.40 hours

Four Mustangs of No. 400 squadron to carry out Ranger to the Woensdrecht – Brussels area but did not cross the Dutch coast owing to thick haze.

source: http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/ALPHA-PE.html