U. S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-431203; Enlistment No. #18042680
Entered the Service from: Texas
8th Provisional Reconnaissance Squadron
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Walter D. Gernand is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Jefferson County, Texas.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. Clarence A. Gernand
1575 Emile Street
Beaumont, Texas
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, lists his DOB as 02/15/1917. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his DOB as 02/15/1918.
Information below gleaned from http://wrecksiteuk.blogspot.com/2020/09/mosquito-mk-xvi-ns555-high-wycombe.html:
Mosquito Mk XVI NS555 ,High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 8th June 1944, RAF Watton
Mosquito PR Mk XVI NS555 of the 802 Recon group, 8th provisional recon squadron at RAF Watton was tasked to fly a 'Rooster' mission over the invasion beaches on the 8th June 1944. Taking off from Watton the plane with 2 crew headed south and out over the channel, the 2 experienced men on-board Pilot Cpt. Walter C Gernand and 10 mission veteran cameraman Sgt. Ebbet C Lynch completed the photo run and headed back over the English coast to a refuel stop at RAF Middle Wallop.
Leaving Middle Wallop NS555 climbed on its final leg home into overcast weather, later near High Wycombe around 7pm locals could hear a plane in trouble above the clouds, the engines were being throttled on and off power.
Suddenly NS555 was seen to break out of the clouds in a near vertical dive both engines at full power, beyond recovery the mosquito turned slightly before impacting a railway embankment just off London Road near Pinions Bridge [now gone]. Tragically both crew were lost with the plane.
An investigation was held into the crash and recorded a verdict of loss of control whilst on instruments.
Entered the Service from: Texas
8th Provisional Reconnaissance Squadron
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Walter D. Gernand is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Jefferson County, Texas.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. Clarence A. Gernand
1575 Emile Street
Beaumont, Texas
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, lists his DOB as 02/15/1917. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his DOB as 02/15/1918.
Information below gleaned from http://wrecksiteuk.blogspot.com/2020/09/mosquito-mk-xvi-ns555-high-wycombe.html:
Mosquito Mk XVI NS555 ,High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 8th June 1944, RAF Watton
Mosquito PR Mk XVI NS555 of the 802 Recon group, 8th provisional recon squadron at RAF Watton was tasked to fly a 'Rooster' mission over the invasion beaches on the 8th June 1944. Taking off from Watton the plane with 2 crew headed south and out over the channel, the 2 experienced men on-board Pilot Cpt. Walter C Gernand and 10 mission veteran cameraman Sgt. Ebbet C Lynch completed the photo run and headed back over the English coast to a refuel stop at RAF Middle Wallop.
Leaving Middle Wallop NS555 climbed on its final leg home into overcast weather, later near High Wycombe around 7pm locals could hear a plane in trouble above the clouds, the engines were being throttled on and off power.
Suddenly NS555 was seen to break out of the clouds in a near vertical dive both engines at full power, beyond recovery the mosquito turned slightly before impacting a railway embankment just off London Road near Pinions Bridge [now gone]. Tragically both crew were lost with the plane.
An investigation was held into the crash and recorded a verdict of loss of control whilst on instruments.
U. S. Army Service No. (ASN): #O-431203; Enlistment No. #18042680
Entered the Service from: Texas
8th Provisional Reconnaissance Squadron
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Walter D. Gernand is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Jefferson County, Texas.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. Clarence A. Gernand
1575 Emile Street
Beaumont, Texas
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, lists his DOB as 02/15/1917. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his DOB as 02/15/1918.
Information below gleaned from http://wrecksiteuk.blogspot.com/2020/09/mosquito-mk-xvi-ns555-high-wycombe.html:
Mosquito Mk XVI NS555 ,High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 8th June 1944, RAF Watton
Mosquito PR Mk XVI NS555 of the 802 Recon group, 8th provisional recon squadron at RAF Watton was tasked to fly a 'Rooster' mission over the invasion beaches on the 8th June 1944. Taking off from Watton the plane with 2 crew headed south and out over the channel, the 2 experienced men on-board Pilot Cpt. Walter C Gernand and 10 mission veteran cameraman Sgt. Ebbet C Lynch completed the photo run and headed back over the English coast to a refuel stop at RAF Middle Wallop.
Leaving Middle Wallop NS555 climbed on its final leg home into overcast weather, later near High Wycombe around 7pm locals could hear a plane in trouble above the clouds, the engines were being throttled on and off power.
Suddenly NS555 was seen to break out of the clouds in a near vertical dive both engines at full power, beyond recovery the mosquito turned slightly before impacting a railway embankment just off London Road near Pinions Bridge [now gone]. Tragically both crew were lost with the plane.
An investigation was held into the crash and recorded a verdict of loss of control whilst on instruments.
Entered the Service from: Texas
8th Provisional Reconnaissance Squadron
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Walter D. Gernand is listed as Killed In Action in the 1946 Army and Army Air Forces Personnel Casualty List for Jefferson County, Texas.
Name and Address of Next of Kin:
Mr. Clarence A. Gernand
1575 Emile Street
Beaumont, Texas
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, lists his DOB as 02/15/1917. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, lists his DOB as 02/15/1918.
Information below gleaned from http://wrecksiteuk.blogspot.com/2020/09/mosquito-mk-xvi-ns555-high-wycombe.html:
Mosquito Mk XVI NS555 ,High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 8th June 1944, RAF Watton
Mosquito PR Mk XVI NS555 of the 802 Recon group, 8th provisional recon squadron at RAF Watton was tasked to fly a 'Rooster' mission over the invasion beaches on the 8th June 1944. Taking off from Watton the plane with 2 crew headed south and out over the channel, the 2 experienced men on-board Pilot Cpt. Walter C Gernand and 10 mission veteran cameraman Sgt. Ebbet C Lynch completed the photo run and headed back over the English coast to a refuel stop at RAF Middle Wallop.
Leaving Middle Wallop NS555 climbed on its final leg home into overcast weather, later near High Wycombe around 7pm locals could hear a plane in trouble above the clouds, the engines were being throttled on and off power.
Suddenly NS555 was seen to break out of the clouds in a near vertical dive both engines at full power, beyond recovery the mosquito turned slightly before impacting a railway embankment just off London Road near Pinions Bridge [now gone]. Tragically both crew were lost with the plane.
An investigation was held into the crash and recorded a verdict of loss of control whilst on instruments.
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