Simon Glancey has provided the following:
SAAF Liberator EW207 "K" lost on the night of 2/3 March 1945. Take-off was from Celone Airfield at Foggia at 21H30, part of a 24-strong force of 31 and 34 Squadron SAAF aircraft (205 Group) on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Porto Vescova in Verona East together with 178 Sqn RAF. 23 aircraft returned safely. OC's circumstantial report records no contact with the aircraft after take-off, but there are (oral) reports from airmen that the plane was last seen climbing off target. AA fire at the target was noted as being "slight inaccurate". Airmen reported sighting "single-engined hostiles" en route, but no contact was seen to be made.
No trace has ever been found of the Lib or any of her crew.
Crew:
206044V Lt Philip Anthony Klapper (Durban) Pilot SAAF
206234V Air Sgt Derek Knight Austin Pilot SAAF
103554V Lt Joscelyn Albert Tudor Steele Observer SAAF
542859V W/O II Harland Trevor Benn (20; PE) Air Gunner SAAF
607376V W/O II Robert James Faull (18; Cape Town) AG SAAF
607330V W/O II Ronald Esme Wicht (19; Cape Town) AG SAAF and, from the RAF
1319962 Fl/Sgt Alfred Matthews (ex Dagenham, Essex) Bomb Aimer RAFVR
1686414 Sgt Edward Moody Stoves (ex Horden, Co. Durham) W/Op-Air Gunner RAFVR
Edward Moody Stoves is remembered at Horden on H130.04 and H130.08 and in Hartlepool on H115.08
