Date & Time:
May 17, 1943 at 0034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
ED925
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
5
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Möhne Dam located east of Dortmund. While approaching the target, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The left wing and the left tank were hit by bullets and caught fire. Few seconds later, the left wing detached and the aircraft crashed. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O A. F Burcher,
F/Sgt J. W. Fraser,
F/Lt J. V. Hopgood, †
Sgt C. Brennan, †
F/O K. Earnshaw, †
Sgt J. Minchin, †
P/O G. H. Gregory. †
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O A. F Burcher,
F/Sgt J. W. Fraser,
F/Lt J. V. Hopgood, †
Sgt C. Brennan, †
F/O K. Earnshaw, †
Sgt J. Minchin, †
P/O G. H. Gregory. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
