Wing - Wing

The crew left RAF Wing at 2353LT on September 13 on a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. Following an uneventful mission and while overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed 2 km west of Elburg. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant bailed out and was taken POW. Crew (26th OTU): P/O Robert Leo Hage, pilot, † Sgt Kenneth David Jones, † Sgt Alexander Knox Smith, observer, † Sgt Donald Fisher, † Sgt J. A. Gartlan.

Flight / Schedule

Wing - Wing

Registration

X9786

Date

September 14, 1942 at 05:48 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Elburg Gelderland

Region

Europe • Netherlands

Coordinates

52.4157°, 5.8413°

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On September 14, 1942 at 05:48 AM, Wing - Wing experienced a crash involving Vickers 416 Wellington IC, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Elburg Gelderland.

The flight was categorized as bombing and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 80.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The crew left RAF Wing at 2353LT on September 13 on a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. Following an uneventful mission and while overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed 2 km west of Elburg. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant bailed out and was taken POW. Crew (26th OTU): P/O Robert Leo Hage, pilot, † Sgt Kenneth David Jones, † Sgt Alexander Knox Smith, observer, † Sgt Donald Fisher, † Sgt J. A. Gartlan.

Aircraft reference details include registration X9786.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 52.4157°, 5.8413°.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

4

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew left RAF Wing at 2353LT on September 13 on a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. Following an uneventful mission and while overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed 2 km west of Elburg. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant bailed out and was taken POW. Crew (26th OTU): P/O Robert Leo Hage, pilot, † Sgt Kenneth David Jones, † Sgt Alexander Knox Smith, observer, † Sgt Donald Fisher, † Sgt J. A. Gartlan.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

80.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Wing - Wing

Flight Type

Bombing

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Europe • Netherlands

Aircraft Details

Registration

X9786

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