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Sgt. James Atkinson and Air Gunner Sgt. John B.
Baskerville were killed and are buried in Bari War
Cemetery, Lt. Rogan in grave XV.C.7, Sgt. Bennett
in XV.B.38, Sgt. Hart in XV.C.38, Sgt. Martin in
XV.C.6, Sgt. Evans in XV.C.13, Sgt. Atkinson in
X.C.33 and Sgt. Baskerville in XV.B.39.
Consolidated Liberator B. Mk.VI EV820 “R” took
off at approximately at 23:50 hours and was last
seen climbing away from the runway. About two
hours later navigator Sgt. J. Patterson, arrived
at the aerodrome on foot. It appears that almost
immediately after take-off the aircraft lost
height and crashed, killing three men including
pilot Lt. Keith Shaw (SAAF), Air Bomber P/O.
Michael Wishak (RCAF) and Flight Engineer Sgt.
Raymond H. Birch. Patterson, who was badly cut
about the head, was knocked out, and when he
came to consciousness, he found he was lying on
the ground alongside the aircraft.
After doing what he could for the other injured
members of the crew he saw the aerodrome
Beacon flashing about 2 miles away and started
to walk towards it. On his arrival, the ambulance
with Medical Officer and crash tender left
immediately for the scene of the crash. It was
found that three members of the crew had
been killed. The aircraft did not catch fire and it
crashed in open country, which accounted for the
crash not having been discovered earlier.
Beside navigator, survivors of the crash were
Wireless Operator Sgt. R.C. Pain, Air Gunner Sgt.
H.F. Pollington, and Air Gunner Sgt. E. Gollings.
The dead are buried in Bari War Cemetery,
Lt. Shaw in grave XV.C.8, P/O. Wishak (who is
listed in the 178 Squadron ORB as Warrant Officer,
the unit not having then been advised of his
commissioning) in grave XV.C.2, and Sgt. Birch in
grave XV.C.9.
The newly laid mines made the Danube even
more dangerous, since previously laid mines
had yet not been swept and the list of victims
was growing every day. Among the victims of
the newly laid mines were the M.F.T.R. passenger
steamer Erszebet Kiralyne lost on 15 April, the
motor barge Ressel lost on the 30th and the S.O.R.
tug Vojvoda Putnik lost on 2 May.
Being inspected by the pilot, Liberator EV962 “F” of 178 Squadron suffered minor repairable damage.
This plane flew a ‘gardening’ operation on 14/15 April 1944.
Crew of B-24 EV820 “R”. Upper row right Sgt.
Pollington, in the middle row left Sgt. Patterson and
right Sgt. Pain. Below them are sitting left 2nd Lt.
Shaw and right W/O Wishak. It is a cut off from bigger
phot, and the upper left airman was not a member of
the crew. [credit: Wishak family via P. Vančata].
Pilot Officer Michael Wishak was born in
Czechoslovakia in 1921. His parents moved to Canada,
where in August 1941 Michael joined the RCAF. On 17
March 1944 he was assigned to 178 Squadron.
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April 2024