Flight of Typhoon Ib MN318 and Lieutenant A E Collet on 1944-12-27

This comment concerns Lt. A.N. Fisher flying Typhoon Ib JR493, Lt. Anthony Ewart Collett 328482V flying Typhoon Ib MN318 and Sqn Ldr. Walter Horace Brook Short DFC 136419 OC of 181 Sqn, flying Typhoon Ib MP191.

An investigation using the 184 Sqn, 181 Sqn and 440 Sqn Operational Record Books, MREU report found for the loss Typhoon Ib MP191 and Graves Concentration reports has determined the following:

184 Sqn was detailed on an operation in the Schlieden area. (Ahrndorf does not exist. Some thoughts is that this was a misspelling of Hahndorf however this is some 250 km plus to the NE of the Schlieden area). It was reported by Lt. Fisher’s No.2 that he saw Lt. Fisher’s Typhoon hit by flak, catch fire and it’s tail fall off. He was seen to bale out over the target and seemed to be going down OK. (He became a PoW)

The ORB also records that Lt. Anthony Ewart Collett 328482V had collided with another aircraft in the area, lost a wing and spun in. He was not seen to bale out. It is recorded that this collision was the Typhoon of Sqn Ldr Strit [sic] from 124 Wing. The evidence trail supports the premise the mid-air collision was between the Typhoons flown by Lt. Collett and Sqn Ldr. Short and neither pilot baled out.

The wreckage of Sqn Ldr. Short’s Typhoon MP191 was found during an MREU investigation for Fg Off. Charles Frederick Joseph Harwood (see below) but no trace of a second aircraft was found. The understandable but erroneous assumption that may have been made was that a second grave at the Monastery in Steinfeld was that of Sqn Ldr. Short.

The other assumption made in some publications was that Sqn Ldr. Short’s Typhoon MP191 was in a collision with an unknown aircraft, however, it can be considered with some degree of certainty that the collision was with the Typhoon of Lt. Collett and that Lt. A.N. Fisher's Typhoon was shot down by flak and did not collide with the Typhoon of Lt. Collett.

The Graves Concentration report for the cemetery at Steinfeld makes it clear that the second grave was in fact that of Lt. Collet. The first being that of Fg Off. Charles Frederick Joseph Harwood J17954 RCAF, 440 (City of Ottawa) Squadron.