Date & Time:
May 1, 1943 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V
Operator:
Registration:
DG408
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rufforth - Rufforth
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
8
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Rufforth at 1520LT on a conversion flight. It is believed that the crew got lost or made a navigation error as the airplane drifted over The Channel. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Eric Ford Williamson, pilot,
Sgt Clive Richard Leonard Thornton, flight engineer,
Sgt Dennis Charles Butlin, navigator,
Sgt Wilfred John Pelham, navigator,
Sgt Allan John Dunn, wireless operator,
Sgt Dennis William Suffling, bomb aimer,
Sgt Henry Hinett, air gunner,
Sgt John Hunter, air gunner.
Crew:
Sgt Eric Ford Williamson, pilot,
Sgt Clive Richard Leonard Thornton, flight engineer,
Sgt Dennis Charles Butlin, navigator,
Sgt Wilfred John Pelham, navigator,
Sgt Allan John Dunn, wireless operator,
Sgt Dennis William Suffling, bomb aimer,
Sgt Henry Hinett, air gunner,
Sgt John Hunter, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
