Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Süstedt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
W7537
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stradishall - Stradishall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Stradishall on an operation to Bremen. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Süstedt, some 27 km southeast of Bremen. Five crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald John Finch, pilot, †
W/O William Wall, pilot, †
Sgt Sidney Edgar Saunders, flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Docherty, observer, †
Sgt Jack Frederick Peter Knight,
W/O Leonard Stanley Hill,
Sgt James Henry Spinks, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt James McDade Brown, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.