5th ERS North Sea rescue mission 20 March 1945

Re:5th ERS North Sea rescue mission 20 March 1945 (shooshoobaby)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:24:53 GMT

OK Leendert ,
Glad I could Help!
Cheers,
Mike

Re:5th ERS North Sea rescue mission 20 March 1945 (Leendert)

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:44:36 GMT

Mike,
This must be the case I'm after. I reread the story and the Cat could indeed take off again once towed to calmer seas. Because the a/c was in the water quite long, the date turned from 20 March when the Walrus crew was rescued to 21 March when the OA-10 could get airborne again.

Regards,

Leendert

Re:5th ERS North Sea rescue mission 20 March 1945 (shooshoobaby)

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:23:25 GMT

Leendert -
Book Flying Cats has following story as 3/21/45.
5th ERS Pilot 2LT. Donald Combs , Flying Catalina
" Team Work 72 " was ordered to rescue a downed
Walrus Crew. He found them and picked up the 3
Crewmen. Trying to take off , the Cat was damaged
and couldn't get Airborne. They were drifting toward
Enemy Coast so Combs started Taxiing. After 2 Hours
He stopped and dropped Anchor. The Walrus Crew was
transferred to another Craft. Combs managed to take
off and returned to Base.
This may / may not be the one you want , just thought I'd
Post it in case it is.
Mike

5th ERS North Sea rescue mission 20 March 1945 (Leendert)

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:44:57 GMT

On 20 March 1945 an OA-10 (Catalina) of 5th ERS reportedly was sent to pick up an RAF Walrus crew that had run into trouble when trying to rescue a ditched Spitfire pilot off the Dutch coast (The Hague).
The Walrus had to be sunk by Allied fighters (P-47s of 5th ERS?), but the OA-10 was also unable to take off due to damages and a heavy sea. After a long stay in the water, the a/c was towed back to England by motor launches.
5th ERS station was RAF Halesworth at that time.

Info about the crew and serial of OA-10 involved is welcome, thanks.

Regards,

Leendert