F. E. Finch                                                                                                 Updated: 11 JAN 2024

Airman: o888380.htm Surname: Finch Init: F E Rank: Sgt Service: RAF Sqdn: 61

P_link: p369.htm Plane: LAN PB436 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Gunderup at Trend

Crash_d: d300844 Buried_d: o888 C_link: o888.htm At_Next: POW

Nedstyrtningsstedet er her. (Kilde: Kristen Bak) Se nedstyrtningsstedet og dele af flyet. Se den lange version Flystyrt, flugt og frelse af Vagn Vadgaard Kjær.
Se Google Map p369 Lancaster PB436 om flyet og de 7 flyvere. Se HJV om flyet * Foto af besætningen * Operation 30 AUGUST 1944 - ruter og tab.

29-30. august 1944 (kl. 02.10). Gunderup gård, 14 km S for Løgstør. Lancaster B.III, PB436 (QR-D). 61 BS, 5 BG, Skellingthorpe, Lincs. (Königsberg).
 Kl. 20.19 lettede F/Sgt. Bruce Frank Loneon og hans besætning på deres 6. togt. Natten mellem den 26. og 27. august havde de deltaget i angrebet på Königsberg, så de var forberedt på den næsten 11 timer lange tur. Udturen og angrebet var begivenhedsløst, og på hjemturen sad besætningen allerede og glædede sig til morgenmaden, da de kort efter passagen af den jyske østkyst ved Mariager Fjord uden varsel blev ramt af tysk flak. Den inderste styrbordsmotor brød øjeblikkelig i brand, og F/ Sgt. Loneon måtte kort efter give besætningen ordre til at springe ud med faldskærm.

Alle syv besætningsmedlemmer kom fri af flyet og landede sikkert med faldskærm, men fem blev hurtigt fundet af tyskerne. - " (FT 91-5-32)

2 flyvere flygtede og 5 flyvere blev ført til Tyske krigsfangelejre.
Sgt D.A.Bragg blev interneret i L7 Bankau sammen med Sgt F.E.Finch, Sgt J.C.Longhurst, Sgt E.Harris og Sgt W.G.Winkley. (Lost Bombers) Se Lancaster fotos.
Historisk Samling og Arkiv Himmerland har mere om dette fly og dets besætning. Se også p369MACR. 7 flyvere.

The crash site is here. (Source: Kristen Bak) See the crash site and Parts of the plane. See the long version Air crash, escape and rescue by Vagn Vadgaard Kjær.
 Google Map p369 Lancaster PB436 about the plane and the 7 airmen. HJV about the plane * Photo of the crew * Operation 30 AUGUST 1944 - routes and losses.

"29 - 30 August 1944 (At 02.10 hours). Gunderupgaard, 14 km S of Løgstør. Lancaster B.III, PB436 (QR-D). 61 BS, 5 BG, Skellingthorpe, Lincs. (Königsberg).

At 20.19 hours F/Sgt Bruce Frank Loneon and his crew took off on their 6th raid. On the night between 26 and 27 August they had participated in the bombing raid on Königsberg, so they were prepared for the flight of nearly 11 hours. The outward flight and the attack were uneventful, and on the return flight the crew were already looking forward to breakfast when shortly after having passed the east coast of Jutland near the Mariager Fjord they were hit by German flak. The inner starboard engine immediately caught fire and F/Sgt Loneon very soon had to order the crew to bail out.

All 7 members of the crew successfully bailed out and landed safely, but 5 of them were soon found by the Germans. - " (FT 91-5-32)

2 airmen escaped and 4 airmen were taken to German POW-Camps.
Sgt D.A.Bragg was interned in Camp L7 Bankau with Sgt F.E.Finch, Sgt J.C.Longhurst, Sgt E.Harris, and Sgt W.G.Winkley. (Lost Bombers)

See No. 61 Squadron in Wikipedia * No. 50 & 61 Squadrons Association * Lancaster photos.
Lancaster III PB436 QR-D took off from RAF Skellingthorpe at 20.19 hrs on 27 AUG 1944. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.)
Historical Collection Himmerland has more about this plane and its crew. See also p369MACR.   7 airmen.