ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 232326
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| Date: | Wednesday 15 March 1944 |
| Time: | 23:37 LT |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 9 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | HK540 |
| MSN: | WS-H |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Bietigheim, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Baden-Württemberg -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Bardney, Lincolnshire |
Takeoff at 19:18 hrs for an operation to Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg.
The aircraft was shot down by night fighter pilot Unteroffizier Hugo Oppermann of the 8./NJG 2 (based at Twente airfield in the Netherlands), who was flying a Ju 88.
Crew:-
Pilot : Squadron Leader Raymond Backwell-Smith RAF 37871 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 02 June, 1936) [PoW]
Flight Engineer : Sergeant Norman Victor Sirman RAF 1612116 [PoW]
Navigator : Flying Officer Herbert Keith Sheasby RAFVR 134586 (NCO:1437147 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 02 March, 1943) [Killed]
Bomb Aimer : Pilot Officer Douglas Raymond Eley RCAF J/86764 [Killed]
Wireless Operator : Sergeant Ronald West RAFVR 1575466 [Killed]
Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant Brian Glover RAFVR 1588485 [Killed]
Rear Gunner : Flight Sergeant Eric Alfred Birrell RAAF Aus/416923 [Killed]
Associated Pilot : Mr Alex Henshaw Civilian
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 part one
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/backwell-smith.html
Google Maps
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 26 June 1943 | ED831 | 9 Sqn RAF | 8 | IJsselmeer 3 km south of Hoorn, Noord-Holland |  |
w/o |
| 21 July 1944 | PD205 | 9 Sqn RAF | 7 | Bissegem, Kortrijk, West Flanders |  |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Jan-2020 16:00 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 22-Jan-2020 16:01 | TigerTimon | Updated [Location] |
| 29-Jan-2020 08:49 | TigerTimon | Updated [Narrative] |
| 15-Mar-2024 07:45 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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