The Spitfire NH231 of the 601st Squadron was hit by German anti-aircraft fire (Flak) near Conegliano, Italy, where German truck columns, with units still in good fighting condition, were retreating towards what was left of the Reich. It was April 30, 1945, and the war in Italy would last only a few more days, with the official surrender on May 2 to the Allied forces. The fighter, recovered in 2020 through an archaeological excavation by the Associazione Aerei Perduti Polesine (Lost Aircraft Association Polesine) in Villadose (Rovigo, Veneto), after an exceptional research effort, brings us into contact with the history of a pilot and his aircraft.
Here is the video account of the excavation, restoration, and subsequent display at the Museum of the Second World War of the Po River in Felonica (Mantua), presented at the end of April 2023. After that, you’ll find some information about the action. Most importantly, you’ll discover the story of a pilot and the emotional impact on his family upon hearing about the discovery.
THE ACTION OF APRIL 30
The battles of the last few days were even more intense, with the Germans trying to return to Germany with some combat capability to defend what they could, and the Allies attempting to destroy as much as possible of the German units’ operational capacity, both through ground attacks and aerial actions. They wanted to prevent the reformation of a defensive line similar to the Gothic Line in the Alps. The effectiveness of the anti-aircraft fire showed that the enemy was retreating but still capable of striking until the very end. In fact, losses on both sides were significant right up to the last hour of operations. RAF pilots, Americans, and other troops in action (such as the Brazilians) continued to be shot down in large numbers. The missions were extremely dangerous.
Flying Officer Arnold George Raymond Hallas, just 24 years old, was the last to be killed in that Squadron, only a few hours before the end of the conflict.