Kontzie, Herbert Edwin (Warrant Officer 2nd Class)
Killed in Action 1943-August-02
Birth Date: 1919
Born:
Parents: Son of Edwin John and Rose Kontzie, of Waskada, Manitoba.
Spouse:
Home: Waskada, Manitoba
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
458 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)
We Find and Destroy
Base
Rank
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Position
Wireless Air Gunner
Service Numbers
R/101976
Waskada, Manitoba
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)
Mission
Wellington B. Mk. Xlll MP715
Reconnaissance 1943-August-01 to 1943-August-02
458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
On the night of 1/2 August 1942, MP715 was one of three No. 458 Squadron aircraft on a reconnaissance patrol off Sardinia, Corsica and the west coast of Italy. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced to ditch. Five crew members survived and were rescued and taken prisoner by Italian Forces.
The crew members of MP715 were:
- Flight Lieutenant John Hardy Douglas DFC (108524) (RAFVR) (Pilot) PoW
- Sergeant Herbert Edwin Kontzie (R/101976) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Remembered: Alamein Memorial, Egypt
- Sergeant K McLellan (R/89760) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator / Radar Operator) PoW: Escaped
- Pilot Officer Leonard James Netherway (409508) (Second Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 October 1945
- Warrant Officer Cecil Mannix Ryan (412708) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 November 1945
- Sergeant Basil Freeth Wheatley (400851) (Navigator) PoW: Escaped, Discharged from the RAAF: 4 November 1944
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans' Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/29/37 (Netherway)
Operations Record Book No. 458 Squadron Entry for 2 August 1943
Bibliography:
Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959
RAAF Directorate of Public Relations, RAAF Saga, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 1944 "“ Chapter: Escape from Italy
Wellington MP715 B. Mk. Xlll - Reconnaissance - 1943-08-01 to 1943-08-02
Squadron: 458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
Start Date: 1943-08-01
Completion Date: 1943-08-02
Mission: Reconnaissance
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base:
Take Off Time: 00:00:00
Squadron Code:
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City:
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flak
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
On the night of 1/2 August 1942, MP715 was one of three No. 458 Squadron aircraft on a reconnaissance patrol off Sardinia, Corsica and the west coast of Italy. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and forced to ditch. Five crew members survived and were rescued and taken prisoner by Italian Forces.
The crew members of MP715 were:
- Flight Lieutenant John Hardy Douglas DFC (108524) (RAFVR) (Pilot) PoW
- Sergeant Herbert Edwin Kontzie (R/101976) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner) Remembered: Alamein Memorial, Egypt
- Sergeant K McLellan (R/89760) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator / Radar Operator) PoW: Escaped
- Pilot Officer Leonard James Netherway (409508) (Second Pilot) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 October 1945
- Warrant Officer Cecil Mannix Ryan (412708) (Wireless Air Gunner) PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 1 November 1945
- Sergeant Basil Freeth Wheatley (400851) (Navigator) PoW: Escaped, Discharged from the RAAF: 4 November 1944
References:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans' Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/29/37 (Netherway)
Operations Record Book No. 458 Squadron Entry for 2 August 1943
Bibliography:
Alexander, P. (Peter) We Find and Destroy: history of No. 458 Squadron, The 458 Squadron Council, 1959
RAAF Directorate of Public Relations, RAAF Saga, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 1944 "“ Chapter: Escape from Italy
