Leuchars - Leuchars
Flight / Schedule
Leuchars - Leuchars
Aircraft
Consolidated B-24 LiberatorRegistration
KH410
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
April 20, 1945 at 11:40 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Årestrup Nordjylland
Region
Europe • Denmark
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On April 20, 1945 at 11:40 PM, Leuchars - Leuchars experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Årestrup Nordjylland.
The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 11, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew left RAF Leuchars at 2011LT on a patrol mission over Kattegat, taking part to the battle for freedom of Denmark. To avoid German radars, the captain decided to overfly Denmark at low height. In low visibility due to the night, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Årestrup. All 11 crew members were killed. Crew (206th Squadron): Lt Cdr N. Guilonard, pilot, P/O W. T. H. Gale, flight engineer, F/O A. J. Harding, navigator, W/O G. H. Topcliffe, navigator, F/Lt P. S. L. Laycock, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt F. R. Orritt, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O W. W. Spencer, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O T. K. Theaker, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O G. C. K. Long, air gunner, W/O K. Emery, air gunner, F/O A. R. T. Smith.
Aircraft reference details include registration KH410.
Fatalities
Total
11
Crew
11
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew left RAF Leuchars at 2011LT on a patrol mission over Kattegat, taking part to the battle for freedom of Denmark. To avoid German radars, the captain decided to overfly Denmark at low height. In low visibility due to the night, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Årestrup. All 11 crew members were killed. Crew (206th Squadron): Lt Cdr N. Guilonard, pilot, P/O W. T. H. Gale, flight engineer, F/O A. J. Harding, navigator, W/O G. H. Topcliffe, navigator, F/Lt P. S. L. Laycock, wireless operator and air gunner, F/Sgt F. R. Orritt, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O W. W. Spencer, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O T. K. Theaker, wireless operator and air gunner, W/O G. C. K. Long, air gunner, W/O K. Emery, air gunner, F/O A. R. T. Smith.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
11
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 11
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Leuchars - Leuchars
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • Denmark
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Consolidated B-24 LiberatorRegistration
KH410
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