Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Hekendorp: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 26, 1943 at 0237 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HF589
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kirmington - Kirmington
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Kirmington at 2343LT on June 25 on an operation to Gelsenkirchen. Passing over the Netherlands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Hekendorp. Three crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
F/Sgt Mervyn John Arthur, pilot,
Sgt Laurence Arthur Butterworth, navigator,
Sgt James Bailey, bomb aimer, †
Sgt John Orr, wireless operator, †
Sgt Stanley Gaskin, air gunner. †
Crew:
F/Sgt Mervyn John Arthur, pilot,
Sgt Laurence Arthur Butterworth, navigator,
Sgt James Bailey, bomb aimer, †
Sgt John Orr, wireless operator, †
Sgt Stanley Gaskin, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
