Zone

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Brunehamel: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1943 at 2331 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BF474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2146LT on an operation to Mannheim. Over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Brunehamel, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O James Lauder Shiells, pilot,
P/O Kenneth Mark Piche, pilot,
Sgt John Percy Lacy, flight engineer,
P/O Clive Bolas Perring, navigator,
Sgt John Gould, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Bertie Joseph August Bessette, air gunner,
Sgt Donald James Arthur Hyde, air gunner,
Sgt Leslie Arthur James, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.