Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Flight / Schedule
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Aircraft
Avro 679 ManchesterRegistration
L7456
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
May 3, 1942 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Düsseldorf North Rhine-Westphalia
Region
Europe • Germany
Coordinates
51.1680°, 6.8469°
Crash Cause
Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Narrative Report
On May 3, 1942 at 12:00 AM, Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe experienced a crash involving Avro 679 Manchester, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Düsseldorf North Rhine-Westphalia.
The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 42.9%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The crew left RAF Skellingthorpe at 2316LT on May 30 on a bombing mission to Cologne. While approaching Düsseldorf by night and at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The right engine failed and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed near the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport and was wrecked. Three crew members were killed while four others were rescued and taken POW. Crew (50th Squadron): Sgt J. B. Wilkie, F/Sgt C. H. Tobias, Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, † Sgt A. C. Benn, Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, † Sgt J. W. Campbell, Sgt Edward William Finch. †
Aircraft reference details include registration L7456.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.1680°, 6.8469°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew left RAF Skellingthorpe at 2316LT on May 30 on a bombing mission to Cologne. While approaching Düsseldorf by night and at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The right engine failed and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed near the Düsseldorf-Lohausen Airport and was wrecked. Three crew members were killed while four others were rescued and taken POW. Crew (50th Squadron): Sgt J. B. Wilkie, F/Sgt C. H. Tobias, Sgt Alan Mowlem Bee, † Sgt A. C. Benn, Sgt Douglas Wilson Baird, † Sgt J. W. Campbell, Sgt Edward William Finch. †
Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
4
Fatality Rate
42.9%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Skellingthorpe - Skellingthorpe
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Bombing
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • Germany
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Avro 679 ManchesterRegistration
L7456
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