Date:	Thursday 30 April 1942
Time:	02:53
Type:	Avro Manchester Mk IA
Owner/operator:	50 Sqn RAF
Registration:	L7516
MSN:	VN-N
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	mudflats off Rantum on Sylt island; Schleswig-Holstein -   Germany
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Skellingthorpelnshire
Destination airport:	Gardening - Kiel Canal

Narrative:
Airborne 2142 for mining operation in the Forget-me-Not region (Kiel Canal). Shot down by Oberleutnant Günther Köberich of Stab II./NJG 3 (took off from Schleswig airfield at 02:37 hrs in Bf 110 D5+KN) & force-landed on tidal mudflats.
During the brief exchange of fire that preceded the crash the Bordfunker was mortally wounded and died in the same hospital as the RAF crew members.
A later report from their POW comrades stated “Attacked 29th April. Scotty in Rear Turret and Dave Front Turret. Both went out fighting gallantly. They were killed long before we eventually crashed. German Officers assured us they were given a proper funeral. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their parents.”

Crew:
Pilot:748783 Flt Sgt S Willett DFM PoW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. PoW Number 279.
2nd Pilot:Flt Sgt S E Packard PoW confined in hospital due injuries.
Navigator:113993 Plt Off N Hannah RAF PoW Stalag Luft 3 Zagan & Belaria. PoW Number 198.
Wireless Operator:Flt Sgt H.S. McDonald PoW confined in hospital due injuries. One hand severely injured. Repatriated October 1943.
Wireless Operator:406602 Sgt C A Miners RAAF PoW Stalag 357 Kopernikus. PoW Number 257.
Air Gunner:403206 Sgt David Alexander Williams - Kiel War Cemetery 3. B. 12.
Air Gunner:1379715 Cecil John Scott - Kiel War Cemetery 3. B. 13.

Air Britain RAF Aircraft L1000 - N99999 & http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=1942
Nachtjagd Combat Archive The Early Years part two
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/temp/Dad/night.html
RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS.
CWGC
RAF Prisoners of War
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Date/time	Contributor	Updates
21-Jun-2008 04:15	JINX	Added
01-Jul-2008 21:09	JINX	Updated
16-Dec-2017 16:53	Red Dragon	Updated [Cn, Operator, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
12-Nov-2018 20:53	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator]
09-May-2019 18:56	Anon.	Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative]
28-Apr-2022 14:12	TigerTimon	Updated [Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Source, Narrative]
28-Apr-2022 14:12	TigerTimon	Updated [Location]