Date:	Saturday 1 July 1944
Time:
Type:	Vickers Wellington Mk X
Owner/operator:	40 Sqn RAF
Registration:	LN744
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	possibly near Sabac -   Serbia
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Foggia Main
Destination airport:

Narrative:
In the evening of 1 July 1944, 205 Group RAF launched the largest mine laying operation in the Danube so far, with 57 Wellingtons and 18 Liberatoirs detailed to mine the Danube between Nyergsujafalu, 30 miles east of Komarom, and Bazias, 40 miles east of Belgrade. Three Halifaxes of 614 Sqn were detailed, for the first time, to act as route markers. Mining was successfully carried out by 49 Wellingtons and 16 Liberatoirs in the face of what was, at times, considerable anti-aircraft fire. Four Wellingtons did not return, two each of 40 Sqn (4 KIA, 1 POW, 5 EVD) and 104 Sqn (10 KIA), and several other returned with Flak damage, one crew of 150 Sqn being fatally wounded in his bomber that was damaged beyond repair, and a gunner of 40 Sqn being killed.

Eight Wellingtons of 40 Sqn RAF took off from Foggia Main between 2106 and 2116 for this operation, each carrying two mines to drop them in the Danube between Pancevo and Smederevo, east of Belgrade. In bright moonlight, they met intense light Flak and many searchlights. Two Wellingtons were lost, and two other damaged. LN652 was hit by a shell in a fuselage but his pilot, Wt Off Leo Redden RAAF, managed to escape through a break in the river bank. Near Semedervo, ME690 was also hit by Flak and the rear gunner, Sgt Thomas Horwood, was killed when his turret was shattered. The six returning crews landed at Foggia Main between 0200 and 0230 hrs and claimed to have dropped 10 mines in the Danube, two more having hung up during the run and being jettisoned later.

The second loss of 40 Sqn, the Wellington X LN744 -N, was also hit by Flak during the mining run. As the banks of the Danube at the point were higher to the 200 feet it was flying, the Germans were actually firing down on it and just after dropping its mine the Wellington was hit quite badly. The pilot, managed to get up to 800 feet, and then headed south before the whole crew (Sgt Wally Booth (pilot), Sgt Bill Goodbrand (navigator), Sgt N Mason (wireless operator), Sgt L F Wetherill (air bomber) and Sgt André Raoul de Schrynmakers (rear gunner, a Belgian enlisted in the RAF)) baled out. The only source giving a location for this loss says it was near Sabac, west of Belgrad. They all survived and were picked up by Chetniks, then spending six weeks with them before being flown to Italy with other evaders on 12 August during operation Halyard. During the whole trip they only met German soldiers once, in a village bar where both groups had come for a drink.

ORB of 40 Sqn RAF, July 1944 (AIR 27/413-12 and AIR 27/413-13)
"Gardening by Moonlight", by Peter Kassak and David Gunby, ISBN 978-80-971891-3-6, pages 63-78
"Free to Fight Again: RAF Escapes & Evasions, 1940–1945", by Alan W. Cooper, ISBN 978-1-84415-877-5, pages 63-78
"Royal Air Force Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean. Volume 2: 1943-1945", by David Gunby and Pelham Temple. ISBN 978-0-85130-509-7, page 135
https://www.fold3.com/record/733668534/de-schrynmakers-andre-raoul-uk-royal-air-force-nominal-index-of-airmen-and-airwomen-1918-1975
http://www.mycity-military.com/uploads2/132517_797984893_yucrashes.xls
http://www.maplandia.com/serbia-and-montenegro/srbija/sabac/

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
15-Sep-2023 13:44	Laurent Rizzotti	Updated