Date & Time:
Aug 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
R5661
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
7
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF St Eval at 1145LT to attack the tanker named 'Coruna' cruising north of Spain. It is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire while attacking the tanker and failed to return to base. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/O Archibald Leonard Searby, pilot,
P/O Arthur Eaton, flight engineer,
Sgt Ian Verdun Witham, navigator,
Sgt Albert Eric Townsend, bomb aimer,
F/O Rupert Alexander Haig, wireless operator,
Sgt David Canet, air gunner,
Sgt Samuel Richard Vowles, air gunner.
Crew:
F/O Archibald Leonard Searby, pilot,
P/O Arthur Eaton, flight engineer,
Sgt Ian Verdun Witham, navigator,
Sgt Albert Eric Townsend, bomb aimer,
F/O Rupert Alexander Haig, wireless operator,
Sgt David Canet, air gunner,
Sgt Samuel Richard Vowles, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
