MZ802
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
During the bombing raid on Bochum, the Halifax III, MZ802 comes under the fire of several anti-aircraft batteries despite the cloudy sky. Heavy hits cause explosions in the aircraft, during which Wing Commander Georg Albert Roy is ejected from the aircraft. The rest of the crew abandon the aircraft, which crashes burning in Cologne-Höhenberg, near the "Neurath" estate.
The flight engineer, Fl/O Raymond Hunter, is found dead near the crash site and buried in Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery.
The rest of the crew reach the ground, mostly slightly injured, and are taken prisoner of war by the Germans.
Wing Commander Roy was found severely wounded and was admitted to the Oberursel Reserve Hospital / Hohemark Health Centre, from where he was not released until the end of February 1945. His leg injury was so severe that one leg had to be amputated.
Born in Paris in 1914, the son of a Canadian diplomat, Roy joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939. He took part in 22 attacks on German targets, was considered a courageous and level-headed officer and was honoured with several high awards. After the war, he practised as a lawyer in Montreal for over 40 years, where he died on 9 January 1988 at the age of 74.
Additional source on W/C Roy:
Steve Holmes from: Bomber Command History Forum. Many thanks for this.
Top left:
The crash site of the Halifax III,MZ802
near the "Gut Neurath".
Top right:
The "Neurath Estate". Today it no longer exists in this form, the fields around it have been cultivated for many years.
left:
Nose-Art "Gallopin Gety"
Top left:
Flying Officer Raymond Orville HUNTER, the only fatality in this crash.
Top right:
The death certificate for Fl/O Hunter.
left:
The grave site of Fl/O Hunter.