The History and Last Flight of NA337
The History of NA337
Halifax Mk VII, serial number NA337 was delivered to RAF's 644 Squadron at Tarrant Rushton, Dorset, England on 5 March 1945 and was given the squadron's identification code 2P-X. On 24 March 1945, NA337 took part in Operation Varsity, the last large-scale allied airborne operation of the Second World War: the crossing of the Rhine River. For this operation, it towed a Hamilcar glider that contained a Dodge truck and an artillery gun to be used by the army. Between 30 March and 24 April 1945, it participated in three supply drop operations to resistance forces in Denmark and Norway.
The Last Flight
The aircrew of Royal Air Force 644 Squadron flew together on numerous operations before being assigned to fly NA337.
On 23 April 1945, they took off from RAF Station Tarrant Rushton at 7:51 pm. It was on 'Operation Crop 17,' its mission was to deliver thirteen containers and two packages to Norwegian Resistance Forces just north-east of Oslo.
At 1:00 am, 24 April, the supplies were successfully dropped at the contact point in Miklesberget, and the pilot set course to return to England. NA337 was off course when it flew over the railway bridge at Minnesund, at the south end of Lake Mjøsa. Anti-aircraft fire from the enemy's defence battery hit the starboard wing. A 25mm explosive cannon shell ruptured one of the fuel cells. With the wing on fire, the pilot had no option but to land his aircraft on Lake Mjøsa, the only level area in the vicinity.
At 1:20 am NA337 was successfully ditched and the crew evacuated the aircraft, but because the dinghy did not deploy, the crew tried to swim to shore. Five of them perished in the cold water, with only the tail gunner Thomas Weightman, surviving the crash. In order to avoid reprisals, the local populace handed him over to the German Army. Two weeks later, however, the war ended and Flight Sergeant Weightman was liberated and returned to England.
Of those who perished, four are buried in the Lilliehammer Northern Civil Cemetery, Norway. The name of one missing member is inscribed on the RAF Memorial at Runnymede, England as having "no known grave". Thomas Weightman died in England in 2007.
The Crew:
Flight Lieutenant A Turnbull DFC 1918-1945 Pilot, from Edinburgh, Scotland
Flight Lieutenant WR Mitchell 1922-1945 Navigator, from East Dulwich, London
Flight Sergeant GR Tuckett 1922-1945 Bomb Aimer, from Cardiff, Wales
Flight Sergeant A Naylor 1923-1945 Radio Operator, from Cheekheaton, Yorkshire
Flight Sergeant GA Bassett 1911-1945 Flight Engineer, from West Cross, Swansea
Flight Sergeant TH Weightman 1910-2007 Air Gunner, from Northumberland
The Recovery
The Halifax Aircraft Association of Canada, looking for a suitable aircraft for their purpose, discovered that a Halifax aircraft, NA337, had been located in Lake Mjøsa. If it could be salvaged and restored to its original wartime condition, it would be a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives while serving their country.
Colonel L.A. Wright, the Canadian Air Attaché to Norway, and John Stene DFC and Bar, a Norwegian, arranged with the Norwegian government that full rights of salvage be granted to the Association.
The Dacon Subsea Salvage Company, who had developed a salvage plan, was awarded a contract in 1995 to raise the aircraft from the bottom of the lake. After many difficulties, caused by weather and equipment problems, the aircraft was successfully raised.
Colonel Roare Glenn, the Director of the Norwegian Air Museum at Gardermoen, arranged with the Norwegian Army to provide heavy equipment to move the aircraft onto the beach at Hias.
A team of technicians, from CFB/8 Wing Trenton, dismantled, cleaned and crated the aircraft components for shipment to the RCAF Memorial Museum for restoration.
The Restoration
A Restoration Team was formed in July 1995. The initial group consisted mainly of Air Force veterans but the arrival of the first components of Halifax NA337 generated curiosity, interest and enthusiasm. Retired aircraft technicians, tool and die makers, metal specialists, machinists and woodworkers offered to help. Others, who were skilled in outside fields, also volunteered. They included dentists, professional engineers, opticians, police officers, carpenters and even two Halifax pilots. Enthusiasts in Scotland (Rescue 57), Holland and England responded and assisted in finding the bits and pieces necessary to rebuild this Halifax.
During the first 18 months, work was carried out in many locations, including private homes and unoccupied buildings at CFB/8 Wing Trenton. In 1996, the project was consolidated and moved into a new addition to the museum. Materials, tools and machines were acquired from many diverse sources. Some Department of National Defence organizations were disbanding or modernizing; aircraft factories were retooling or downsizing. Often, obsolete machines that were donated were of the vintage used in the construction of this aircraft; the type that many of the volunteers used during their apprenticeships. However, the team did not have all of the skills and equipment necessary and needed outside support. Units of CFB Trenton had outstanding shops and facilities and, when available, freely provided assistance.
The Halifax Restoration Team contributed 350,000 man-hours to restore Halifax NA337. They leave, as a legacy, a magnificently restored aircraft, an excellent restoration capability and a skilled and well equipped organization which is capable of maintaining and restoring future aircraft and artefacts.
All info from National Air Force Museum Web site.