Abbeville

The single engine aircraft departed Toussus-le-Noble Airport in the early morning on a private flight to Fairoaks with two people on board. About 40 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 18,000 feet, the manifold pressure dropped from 30 to 28 inches of mercury. The pilot increased the engine power when the manifold pressure boosted to 33 inches of mercury then dropped again. Suddenly, a burning smell pervades the cabin. The pilot declared an emergency and elected to divert to Abbeville Airport which was at a distance of 15 NM from his position. While descending, he lowered the landing gear and reduced the engine power. Shortly before reaching FL100, the oil pressure warning light came on, the engine started to vibrate then stopped. At this time, the aircraft was 10 NM from Abbeville Airport, descending in IMC conditions. On short final, at a height of 300 feet, the pilot established a visual contact with the runway but his trajectory was too short. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest 200 metres short of runway 20. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed RAF Methwold at 1508LT to attack a gun position near Abbeville-Drucat Airport. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Robert Henry Swan King, pilot,
Cpt William Vernon Louis Spendlove, pilot,
F/O Henry William Gattiker, navigator,
P/O Rhys Noel Kinglake, wireless operator,
P/O Joseph Herbert James Koller, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Foulsham at 0940LT on an operation to Abbeville. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the target area. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L John Theodore Hanafy, pilot,
F/O Brynmor Granville Evans, navigator,
P/O Joseph Henry Atkinson, wireless operator,
Sgt Eric William Matthews, wireless operator.

The airplane departed RAF Oulton at 1058LT to bomb the marshalling yards in Abbeville. It was shot down by a German fighter while leaving the target area and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gerald Lambert Hicks, pilot,
F/Sgt Frederick James Bowles, navigator,
F/Sgt Ronald Watson, radio operator,
F/Sgt Frank Taylor, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Oulton at 1057LT to bomb the marshalling yards in Abbeville. It was shot down by a German fighter while leaving the target area and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Geoffrey Brian Chippendale, pilot,
F/Sgt Harry Hudson, navigator,
P/O Arthur William Richmond, radio operator,
Sgt James Neil Kelsall, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Oulton at 1058LT to bomb the marshalling yards in Abbeville. It was shot down by a German fighter while leaving the target area and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Ronald Herbert Wells, pilot,
P/O Frederick James Mackenzie Ashdown, navigator,
P/O William Alex Lyttle, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Dalton James Kenneth Wallace, air gunner.

The crew departed RAF Netheravon to drop leaflets over Roubaix. It is believed that the airplane crashed near Abbeville. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Clifford Wood, pilot,
Sgt Cecil Graham George Hobson, flight engineer,
F/O D'arcy Clive Melville Ducker, radio operator,
F/O William Archibald Hinselwood, observer,
F/Sgt Douglas Lambert Grant, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation with a crew of 10 on board. Approaching the French coast, it was attacked and shot down by more than 30 German fighters. Engines number 3 and 4 caught fire. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea off Abbeville. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew (68th Squadron):
1st Lt James D. Du Bard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Henry B. Kaitala, copilot,
2nd Lt Richard V. Somerville, navigator,
2nd Lt George A. Crawford, bombardier,
Sgt Charles S. Dick, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Paul E. Beverly, assistant engineer,
Sgt William G. Mears, radio operator,
Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert F. Lilley, air gunner,
Sgt Donald M. Smith, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Warboys on the evening of September 19 on an operation to Saarbrücken. Over Abbeville, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. The crew parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt V. J. Bastable,
Sgt E. W. Cunning,
Sgt W. Milligan,
Sgt D. J. Scott,
Sgt W. F. Waterworth.

The airplane departed Eindhoven Airfield on an operation to Dieppe (against Operation Jubilee), Over the target area, it was shot down by a British fighter. The pilot was able to evacuate the combat area and attempted an emergency landing at Abbeville-Drucat Airport where it crashed on approach. All four crew members were injured.
Crew:
Obfw Fritz Kaminsky , mechanic +3.