Date & Time:
May 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7456
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
3
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Skellingthorpe at 2316LT on May 30 on a bombing mission to Cologne. While approaching Düsseldorf by night and at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The right engine failed and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed near the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport and was wrecked. Three crew members were killed while four others were rescued and taken POW.
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt J. B. Wilkie,
F/Sgt C. H. Tobias,
Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, †
Sgt A. C. Benn,
Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, †
Sgt J. W. Campbell,
Sgt Edward William Finch. †
Crew (50th Squadron):
Sgt J. B. Wilkie,
F/Sgt C. H. Tobias,
Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, †
Sgt A. C. Benn,
Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, †
Sgt J. W. Campbell,
Sgt Edward William Finch. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
