Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster II in Les Hayons: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 14, 1943 at 0210 LT
Operator:
Registration:
DS690
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Wretham - East Wretham
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF East Wretham at 2359LT on July 13 on an operation to Aachen. Passing over Belgium, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Les Hayons. Six crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew (115 Sq):
S/L Robert Alexander G. Baird, pilot, †
Sgt Johannes Ernest Conraad Odendaal, flight engineer,
F/O William James Moorcroft, navigator, †
F/Sgt Robert Alfred Walker, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Edwin Smith, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Nicholas Auber Benjamin Robinson, air gunner, †
Sgt Harold Matthews, air gunner. †
Crew (115 Sq):
S/L Robert Alexander G. Baird, pilot, †
Sgt Johannes Ernest Conraad Odendaal, flight engineer,
F/O William James Moorcroft, navigator, †
F/Sgt Robert Alfred Walker, bomb aimer, †
Sgt Edwin Smith, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Nicholas Auber Benjamin Robinson, air gunner, †
Sgt Harold Matthews, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
