RNZAF Ramrod raid on Amsterdam. May 3rd 1943

[Alex van de Wetering]

The 12 Ventura's in the raid on Amsterdam:

Ventura EG-Q Baker Returned after taking off damage to escape hatch

Ventura AE916 EG-C Duffill Returned early, Damaged beyond repair
Ventura AE956 EG-H Coutts Lost over sea

Ventura AE798 EG-D Lowe 1745 Crashed North Sea off Noordwijkerhout
Ventura AE684 EG-B Coshall 1745 Crashed Leidsevaart near Bennebroek
Ventura AJ200 EG-G Sharp 1745 Believed to have Crashed at Fortgracht Vijfhuizen
Ventura AE731 EG-O Taylor 1745 Crashed Zomerweg Haarlem
Ventura AE780 EG-S McGowan 1745 Crashed van Bosschestraat Amsterdam.
Ventura AE713 EG-T Peryman 1753 Crashed between Hoornse Lijn and Wormer Ringdijk oostzaan
Ventura AE716 EG-U Baynton 1756 Crashed Middenweg Grote IJ-Polder Amsterdam
Ventura AJ209 EG-V Trent 1757 Crashed Kometensingel Amsterdam Noord
Ventura AJ478 EG-A Foster 1800 Crashed North sea 19 km w of IJmuiden


I am not sure what the RAF serial of Ventura EG-Q was. It wonder if it might have been AE785, as this website mentions that this Ventura was transferred to 487 Squadron and crashed on 03-05-1943....yet it doesn't appear in the list above......so could it be Bakers plane with the damage to the escape hatch????


I have made a new map showing the locations of the crash sites, as well as the target. The three crashsites at sea are approximate locations, those on land are based on research by Crash 40-45, ARG 1940-1945, the SGLO, the survey of the city of Amsterdam, official reports, as well as eye-witness reports.


Crash 40-45, Crash Research Foundation in Aviation Society Holland 1940-1945 (museum in Fort Aalsmeer, Aalsmeerderbrug)
https://www.crash40-45.nl/

ARG 1940-1945, Aircraft Recovery Group 1940-1945 (museum in Fort Veldhuis, Heemskerk)
http://www.arg1940-1945.nl/

SGLO, Dutch Study Group Air War 1939-1945:
https://www.verliesregister.studiegr...rlog.nl/zz.php



Also attached is a page from the Operation record book of 487 Squadron. It clearly shows that allthough it was known that the mission was a disaster, the fate of the crews remained uncertain.
source: https://aviationtrails.wordpress.com...-raf-methwold/

On June 1st 1943 the 487 Squadron was transferred to RAF 2nd Tactical Air force and was slowly rebuilt. 487 started receiving Mosquito's in august 1943.


Alex