THE ATTACK
On Tuesday the 16th of January 1945 at about 22:30 local time the Halifax NA 237 was intercepted by a German night-fighter, near Hanover. This is believed to be a Junkers 886-G flown by Oberfeldwelbel Rudolph Mangelsdorf of III/NJG 5.
In order to shoot down enemy aircraft the Luftwaffe had developed a tactic using aircraft fitted with two 20mm cannon in an oblique or "Schräg-Musik" (Jazz Music) installation in the top of the fuselage. The target was initially identified using ground radar, then the night fighter approached from behind and below, hidden against the dark back drop of the ground beneath it. As it passed underneath the target aircraft a burst of fire from the upward pointing cannons was aimed at the join between the wing and the fuselage.
A Junkers 88G-6 Night-Fighter
A Junkers 88G-6 with "Schräg-Musik" 20mm cannon installation ringed.
None of the crew were aware of the attack until they heard the "thud-thud-thud" of the shells hitting the plane which immediately began to loose height Allan must have realised that they were in trouble and gave the order to bail out,
"parachutes on, jump! jump!"
These were possibly his last ever words.
Fraser was the first out of the forward escape hatch situated in the floor of the planes nose almost beneath his seat. He was quickly followed by Doug Elsome and then Doug Lawrence. Meanwhile, in the rear turret Reg was suffering his own dilemma, the turret had jammed, preventing him from turning it through 90° and bailing out of the back, He was trapped in Halifax which was descending rapidly. In desperation he hit his head against the guns hoping to knock himself unconscious and thus spare himself the experience of death. Fortunately he was unsuccessful and tried once more to move the turret, this time it moved and he made good his escape.
Sadly the rest of the crew were not as fortunate. Allan, Griff, and Jack didn't make it out, exactly why remains mystery.