Halifax III MZ865 crashed in the Baltic Sea south of Sweden 14/2 1945

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Halifax III MZ865 crashed in the Baltic Sea south of Sweden 14/2 1945.

The aircraft belonged to RCAF (RAF) 429 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded AL-V.
T/o 18:03 Leeming. Op: Gardening in the Kadett Channel.

At 21:01 hours the Halifax was attacked by a German night fighter piloted by Hauptmann Eduard Schröder of 1./ NJG 3 and crashed into the Baltic Sea about 8 kilometres off the Falsterbo lighthouse killing all onboard.
Schröder had taken off from Fliegerhorst Grove in JU 88G-6 D5+AL at 20:09 hours with the crew of Hessenmüller, Zeinert and Brunsendorf and landed back at Grove again at 23:19 hours.

The bodies of Pilot F/Lt Ross C. Charlton and Flt. Engr. P/O Wolodemir Fedorchuk were recovered from the sea west of Skanör by the Swedish navy and laid to rest in Pålsjö cemetery at Hälsingborg.
Also Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Gordon L.J. Barnes rest in Hälsingborg.

Navigator F/O Robert A. Thorne was found on the Skanör beach and was laid to rest in Malmö cemetery.

The body of W/Op F/O Keith W. Rainford was found washed ashore at Karlslunde beach on the island of Sjælland on 28/5 and was laid to rest in Karlslunde cemetery on 31/5 1945.

On 16/7 the dead body of Tail Gunner F/Sgt Stanley E. Bostwick was found washed ashore near Vindeby on the island of Langeland and was laid to rest in Magleby cemetery on 20/7 1945.
A Canadian Field Priest officiated at the graveside ceremony.

Bomb Aimer P/O Robert J. McCallum has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

It should be noted that in Swedish records it is claimed that the Halifax was hit by Swedish flak.