Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in Visgaarde: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 24, 1942 at 0320 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L7463
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Coningsby at 2200LT on April 23 on a bombing mission to Rostock, Germany. While overflying Denmark by night, an engine overheated and exploded. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and he tried to make an emergency landing. Eventually, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Visgaarde, some 3 km east of Tinglev. The pilot was killed while all other occupants were uninjured.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Harry Murdoch Stoffer, pilot, †
F/Lt T. Prescott-Decie, pilot,
P/O J. H. Paton,
Sgt I. Hamilton,
Sgt N. S. Lewis,
F/O N. J. C. Pollock,
Sgt J. C. George.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O Harry Murdoch Stoffer, pilot, †
F/Lt T. Prescott-Decie, pilot,
P/O J. H. Paton,
Sgt I. Hamilton,
Sgt N. S. Lewis,
F/O N. J. C. Pollock,
Sgt J. C. George.
Probable cause:
Engine overheating.
