Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA in Store Lind: 1 killed
Date & Time:
May 9, 1942 at 0223 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L7489
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Skellingthorpe at 2146LT on 8 May on an operation to Warnemünde. Over the target area, the airplane was severely damaged by the German Flak. Nevertheless, the crew continued over Denmark but with the right engine on fire, the captain ordered his crew to bail out. Out of control, the airplane crashed in an open field located near Store Lind, on Møn Island. The pilot was killed and all six other crew became PoW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt Maurice Gruber, pilot, †
Sgt S. Garbutt,
P/O Harold Frederick Avery,
Sgt John Pearce,
Sgt Donald Broadhead,
Sgt Richard Solomon,
Sgt Kenneth George Richard Johnson.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt Maurice Gruber, pilot, †
Sgt S. Garbutt,
P/O Harold Frederick Avery,
Sgt John Pearce,
Sgt Donald Broadhead,
Sgt Richard Solomon,
Sgt Kenneth George Richard Johnson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
