Verhaest, Frederick Komil (Flying Officer)
Killed in Action 1943-July-30
Birth Date: 1919-February-27
Born:
Parents: Son of Bruno and Adronie Verhaest, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
Spouse:
Home: Whitla, Alberta
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
458 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAAF)
We Find and Destroy
Base
Rank
Flying Officer
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
J/20570
Home
Whitla, Alberta
Temporary Burial
Borgel Cemetery, Tunisia
Remains were later exhumed from this location and reburied
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Crew or Other Personnel
Wellington MP744
Mission
Wellington B. Mk. Xlll MP744
Bombing Corsica 1943-July-30 to 1943-July-30
458 (B) Sqn (RAAF) RAF Protville, Tunisia
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP744 was on an armed reconnaissance operation along the east coast of Corsica and Sardinia and the approaches to Spezia. At 2157 hours near Plane Island, the aircraft sent a message to base advising engine trouble. It jettisoned its load of flares and returned to base, but collided with a parked aircraft during a forced landing. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Lt. D.D. Graham (pilot) and Flying Officer F.K. Verhaest (pilot). The rest of the crew suffered burns and injuries but survived the mission: RCAF Flying Officer Hicks (3rd pilot / navigator), and RAFVR Sgt.'s Birchall (wireless air gunner), Flying Officer Healy (wireless air gunner), and Sgt. Robertson (wireless operator / air gunner); and RAFVR Flying Officer L. Gundy (navigator).Wellington MP744 B. Mk. Xlll - Bombing Corsica - 1943-07-30 to 1943-07-30
Squadron: 458 (B) Sqn (RAAF)
Start Date: 1943-07-30
Completion Date: 1943-07-30
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Corsica
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Protville, Tunisia
Take Off Time: 2157
Squadron Code: FU D
Radio Code:
Return Base: RAF Protville, Tunisia
Return Time: 2220
Crash City: RAF Protville Tunisia
Crash Specifics:
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: engine
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP744 was on an armed reconnaissance operation along the east coast of Corsica and Sardinia and the approaches to Spezia. At 2157 hours near Plane Island, the aircraft sent a message to base advising engine trouble. It jettisoned its load of flares and returned to base, but collided with a parked aircraft during a forced landing. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Lt. D.D. Graham (pilot) and Flying Officer F.K. Verhaest (pilot). The rest of the crew suffered burns and injuries but survived the mission: RCAF Flying Officer Hicks (3rd pilot / navigator), and RAFVR Sgt.'s Birchall (wireless air gunner), Flying Officer Healy (wireless air gunner), and Sgt. Robertson (wireless operator / air gunner); and RAFVR Flying Officer L. Gundy (navigator).
6 Group Unavailable
458 Australia Squadron (We Find and Destroy). Wellington aircraft MP744 was on an armed reconnaissance operation along the east coast of Corsica and Sardinia and the approaches to Spezia. At 2157 hours near Plane Island, the aircraft sent a message to base advising engine trouble. It jettisoned its load of flares and returned to base, but collided with a parked aircraft during a forced landing. Casualties included RCAF Flt. Lt. D.D. Graham (pilot) and Flying Officer F.K. Verhaest (pilot). The rest of the crew suffered burns and injuries but survived the mission: RCAF Flying Officer Hicks (3rd pilot / navigator), and RAFVR Sgt.'s Birchall (wireless air gunner), Flying Officer Healy (wireless air gunner), and Sgt. Robertson (wireless operator / air gunner); and RAFVR Flying Officer L. Gundy (navigator).
