Zone

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z off Seasalter: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1940 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
U5+DS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vitry-en-Artois - Vitry-en-Artois
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Vitry-en-Artois to bomb the Eastchurch Airfield. While returning to its base, it was shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane and crashed at the Mudflats near Seasalter. Three crew members were killed and a fourth became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Gerhard Müller, pilot, †
Oblt Werner Morich, observer, †
Obfw Karl Langer, radio operator, †
Fw Rudolf Haensgen, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Seasalter

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5066
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detling - Detling
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a reconnaissance mission over the North Sea, the twin engine airplane was returning to its base in Detling. In poor visibility due to fog, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off Seasalter, northern Kent. All four crew members were rescued and the airplane sank and was lost.
Crew:
P/O Lane, pilot,
P/O E. N. Harris, copilot,
AC2 Ronald Harold Coomber,
AC2 William Joseph Smith.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing caused by a fuel exhaustion.