Zone

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Zelhem: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1944 at 0123 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ME777
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kirmington - Kirmington
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Kirmington on the evening of June 12 on a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the bomber was shot down by the pilot of a German night fighter, went out of control and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (166th Squadron):
F/O W. G. Grant, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Bawtree, flight engineer,
F/O J. H. Stopp, navigator,
F/O H. W. Davies, air bomber,
F/S L. T. Hunt, wireless operator,
F/O H. A. B. Brown, mid upper gunner,
F/O K. J. Moses, rear gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German night fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Zelhem: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1940 at 2324 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T2559
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on a bombing mission over Berlin. While flying over The Netherlands at night, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in Zelhem, northeast of Doetinchem. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (214th Squadron):
F/O Lionel Montague Cragie-Halkett, pilot,
P/O Wilfred Bertram Stuart Cunynghame, pilot,
Sgt George Henry Bainbridge, observer,
Sgt George Edward Merryweather, air gunner,
Sgt Sydney John Haldane, wireless operator,
Sgt Arthur Burnham Puzey, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.