Somehow I came across your impressive web site about your fathers life and career. Especially the war time years attracted my attention, because I am researching the history of Venlo airfield in WW-II since the early 1980's. Our documentation has grown accordingly since then. Perhaps following info would add or correct something to your knowledge:

Halifax W1211 was not shot down by Oblt. Kurt Loos from the 2./NJG 1 (2nd squadron of nightfighter wing 1) as presumed by mister Ooms (I don't doubt his good intentions !), but by the crew of Oblt. Hans-Dieter Frank and his wireless operator Uffz. Erich Gotter from the same Staffel (= squadron). It was Franks 8th nocturnal victory from an official total of 55, before he himself was killed in the night of 27/28 September 1943. Oblt. Kurt Loos actually did shot down a Halifax too, but this aircraft went down near Orten/Den Bosch as can be seen in the attached list of claims and losses for this eventful night.

I suspect that Frank got assistance for this interception from radarstation 5A near Kranenburg / Nijmegen and not the radarstation 5B near De Rips which would seem more logical because of its proximate location to the crash location of Halifax W1211. However, during the time that Halifax W1211 sadly went down, the Luftwaffe radar operator of 5B (Oblt. Walter Knickmeier) was dealing with other claiming nightfighter pilots and the claim of H.D. Frank was not on his list of claims...

It was a pleasure to help, all the best from Venlo, the Netherlands,

Marcel Hogenhuis
Study Group Venlo Airfield in WW-2
Kaldenkerkerweg 10 5913 AD Venlo

e-mail at info@hogenhuis.info.