De Havilland, Mosquito BF Mk XX
The incident:
Mosquito KB 220 of Hq Ferry Command RAF (No 45 Atlantic Transport Group), departed at 13:13Z hrs on 7.5.1944 from BW1, Greenland on a ferry flight to UK via Iceland. The aircraft failed to reach its destination, the last contact being at 1555pm. Subsequent air sea rescue searches from Iceland proved unsuccessful. Later sundry effects from KB220 were washed ashore at Iceland comprising engine log books, life jacket, torch and a number of personal effects. All items were water logged. Four other Mosquitoes and seven other aircraft completed the journey on the same date. All Captains reported heavy icing conditions while flying in any form of visible moisture, and that they were forced to detour to avoid snow, or sleet or rain squalls.
The Crew:
F/Lt (47630) George Henry WOOD (pilot) RAF - missing
F/O (Aus412149) John Owen KLIPPEL (nav.) RAAF – missing
The aircraft:
Manufacturer: de Havilland
Type: Mosquito BF Mk XX
S/N: KB220
Operator: Hq Ferry Command RAF (No 45 Atlantic Transport Group)
Details on Aircraft: Wikipedia, Youtube
