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Breithaupt, William Ransom DFC (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1944-September-13

Birth Date: 1920 (age 24)

Son of William Walter and Gertrude Hughes Breithaupt, of York Mills, Ontario.

Home: York Mills, Ontario

Decorations: DFC


Distinguished Service Cross
Service
RCAF
Unit
239 Sqn- Squadron
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/17271
Home in Toronto; enlisted there 4 August 1941. Trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 7 October 1941), No. 12 EFTS (graduated 19 December 1941) and No.5 SFTS (graduated 10 April 1942). Cited with Flying Officer J.A. Kennedy (RAF). Killed in Action 12 September 1944, seconds after shooting down the Bf 110 which had set his own machine on fire 239 Squadron (Exploramus). Flying Officer Breihaupt was flying Mosquito aircraft DZ 254 and was escorting bombers over Germany when he was shot up by by a German ME-110 fighter aircraft near Cologne, Germany. The ME-110 overshot the Mosquito and was in turn shot down by the Mosquito. Briehaupt was killed but the crew of the enemy aircraft survived. Distinguished Flying Cross - No. 239 Squadron - Award effective 7 July 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1861/44 dated 25 August 1944. Award presented to next-of-kin, 2 December 1946. The citation reads - "Flying Officer Breithaupt and Flying Officer Kennedy have completed numerous sorties. They have displayed a high degree of skill, excellent co-operation and a fine fighting spirit, qualities which have enabled them to destroy four enemy aircraft at night within a period of a few weeks. Their achievements have won much praise." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapYork Mills, Ontario
Burial
Google MapSoldaten Friedhof Alliierte Piloten 2WK
Joint grave 18 B 21-22

Mosquito DZ254

de Havilland Mosquito

(British Aerospace photo) (Source Bomber Command Museum of Canada)

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood. Nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, it was affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. The total number of DH98 Mosquito aircraft built was 7,781, the type serving with the main Allied air forces, including both the United States and Russia.

When Mosquito production began in 1941 it was the fastest propeller driven operational aircraft in the world. The first variant was an unarmed, high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, and maritime strike aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side, but a single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FB Mk. VI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho, an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On the 10th anniversary of the Nazi' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Goering was speaking, putting his speech off the air. Goering later said: "It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops."

The Mosquito flew with the RCAF and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theatres. After the end of the Second World War Spartan Air Services flew 10 ex-RAF Mosquitoes, mostly B.35's plus one of only six PR.35's built, for high-altitude photographic survey work in Canada. There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with five airworthy examples, three in the United States, one in Canada and one in New Zealand. Harold Skaarup web page and Wikipedia

YouTube Mosquito

Museum BAE Systems (formerly De Havilland)

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Mosquito

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications USAAF F-8 Mosquito Serial Numbers

RCAF Roundel Mosquitos shipped to Taiwanese Airforce

last update: 2024-04-16 00:21:24

Mosquito NF.Mk. II DZ254



1944-09-12 Failed to Return Frankfurt bomber support mission

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