ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 201466
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| Date: | Wednesday 25 March 1942 |
| Time: | evening |
| Type: |  Vickers Wellington Mk II |
| Owner/operator: | 12 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | W5578 |
| MSN: | PH-? |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | close to Escoublac, Loire-Atlantique département -
 France
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Binbrook (takeoff at 18:23 LT) |
The aircraft caught fire in the bomb bay just after dropping their bombs. It is possible that hung up flares were the cause.
In a later POW report Flt Lt Mayo stated “ A few seconds after releasing the bombs and turning off target, the aircraft burst into flames coming from the bomb bay possibly caused by hung up flares, as flak was not noticed at that stage except light stuff lower down. The flames quickly spread and the abandon order was given. The intercom then packed up and the aircraft seemed to be diving out of control. Except for Currie, I was the first to bale out at approx 15,000 feet and I believe the aircraft blew up almost immediately as I saw no sign of it after the chute opened. Parts of the aircraft were picked up by the Germans the next day in the Bay of La Baule. I joined up with Currie on the following day at a section of the Luftwaffe at St Nazaire. There was no sign of the rest of the crew after leaving the aircraft. Later I heard from the Red Cross that the bodies of the 4 others had been washed up and identified near St Nazaire. I landed in the water after baling out and had to swim ashore. Captured after reaching land. Released by Americans
on 7/5/45.”
Crew
Pilot: 404876 Sgt Einer Ernest Due RAAF - Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery 2. D. 3.
2nd Pilot: 403170 Sgt Robert Eric Greeenwell - Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery 2. B. 11.
Observer: 402968 Flt Lt T H Mayo PoW Camp L3 Sagan & Belaria. PoW Number 20.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Flt Sgt Gordon John Sheahan - Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery 1. D. 15.
Air Gunner: Sgt John Henry Ives - Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery 1. D. 16.
Air Gunner 407822 Sgt A McG Currie RAAF PoW Camp 344 Lamsdorf. PoW Number 24806
Sources:
RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS.
CWGC
RAF Prisoners War
France-Crashes 39-45
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 8 September 1941 | Z8328 | 12 Sqn RAF | 0 | Eerste Kruisweg, 's-Gravendeel, Zuid-Holland |  |
w/o |
| 7 January 1942 | W5523 | 12 Sqn RAF | 6 | Sea off Brest | |
w/o |
| 10 January 1942 | W5611 | 12 Sqn RAF | 4 | 1 mile east of Brumby, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England |  |
w/o |
| 13 March 1942 | Z8578 | 12 Sqn RAF | 6 | Missing |  |
mis |
| 2 April 1942 | W5395 | 12 Sqn RAF | 0 | woods at Sainte-Opportune-la-Mare, Eure département, Normandie | |
w/o |
| 31 May 1942 | Z8376 | 12 Sqn RAF | 5 | Oberlohberg, Dinslaken, Nordrhein-Westfalen |  |
w/o |
| 9 June 1942 | Z8652 | 12 Sqn RAF | 6 | Nordrhein-Westfalen | |
mis |
| 27 July 1942 | W5367 | 12 Sqn RAF | 4 | near Westerholte, Ankum, Niedersachsen | |
w/o |
| 1 August 1942 | Z8499 | 12 Sqn RAF | 5 | Hürth, Nordrhein-Westfalen | |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Nov-2017 18:47 | Red Dragon | Added |
| 18-Oct-2018 19:20 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator] |
| 21-Mar-2022 15:52 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Location, Source] |
| 21-Mar-2022 15:52 | TigerTimon | Updated [Departure airport] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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