Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Villeperdue
Date & Time:
Feb 19, 1943 at 2345 LT
Operator:
Registration:
W1012
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tempsford on Operation Burgandy/Director 24 Buttercup 2 (Special Operations Executive). The purpose of the mission was to drop the agent Georges Broussine who should bail out over Lyon. While cruising at an altitude of 500 feet, the airplane was hit by the German Flak and crash landed near Villeperdue, some 20 km south of Tours. All eight crew members became PoW while the passenger evaded.
Crew:
P/O Peter Kingsford-Smith, pilot,
F/O Robert Charles Hogg, mechanic,
Sgt Frederick Ronald Jerome, navigator,
F/Sgt Arnold Frederick Augustus Dawkins, bomb aimer,
Sgt Harry James Long, radio operator,
Sgt Eric James Ramm, air gunner,
Sgt Douglas Robinson, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Davison, air gunner.
Passenger:
Georges Broussine.
Crew:
P/O Peter Kingsford-Smith, pilot,
F/O Robert Charles Hogg, mechanic,
Sgt Frederick Ronald Jerome, navigator,
F/Sgt Arnold Frederick Augustus Dawkins, bomb aimer,
Sgt Harry James Long, radio operator,
Sgt Eric James Ramm, air gunner,
Sgt Douglas Robinson, air gunner,
Sgt Joseph Davison, air gunner.
Passenger:
Georges Broussine.
Probable cause:
Hit by the German Flak.
