Stirling III BF467 - Langelandsbælt                                                       Updated: 17 MAY 2021

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
a096032.htm Abbott C Sgt RAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b010543 c096.htm Svinø
a096033.htm Glendinning J T Sgt RAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b111111 c096.htm Svinø
a096034.htm Jenkins E R Wt/O RNZAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b180543 c096.htm Svinø
a096035.htm Phillips G Sgt RAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b260543 c096.htm Svinø
a096036.htm Ramsay J A Wt/O RCAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b140543 c096.htm Svinø
a096037.htm Thompson D L P/O RNZAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b010543 c096.htm Svinø
a096038.htm Williams J M F/Sgt RAAF 75 p173.htm STI BF467 Minelaying Langelandsbælt d290443 b010543 c096.htm Svinø


"Natten mellem den 28. og 29. april 1943 foretog RAF krigens hidtil største minering. 226 fly kastede 593 miner i danske farvande og i Østersøen. Da det var
overskyet i flere mineringsområder, måtte bombemaskinerne flyve ekstra lavt for at få landkending, før minerne blev kastet på de rigtige positioner. Dermed blev
flyene lette mål for flak i området. Tyske natjagere var atter aktive, men på grund af den lave flyvehøjde blev kun få natjagerangreb rapporteret. RAF mistede
7 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons og 2 Halifaxes denne nat." (FT 90-50) Af 207 fly gik 15 fly tabt over dansk område, se Google Map p169+MINELAYING.
Kun 4 flyvere fra de 23 fly overlevede! Se også Minelægningsområder og Lancaster fotos.

Den tyske marines flakbatteri MAA 508 ved Kappel (omkring her) rapporterede et nedskudt fly, der styrtede i havet omkring her. Hele besætningen omkom.
(FT 86-89-11) Se også p173MACR.
Alle besætningsmedlemmerne blev fundet i løbet af 4 uger, enten i Østersøen eller drevet i land på den sydvestlige del af Lolland, og de blev alle begravet på Svinø Kirkegård som angivet. (Kilde: FAF). Google Map planesRNZAF 7 flyvere.

"On the night between 28 April and 29 April 1943 the RAF carried out the till then biggest minelaying operation in the war. 226 planes dropped 593 mines into
Danish waters and into the Baltic Sea. As the sky was overcast at several mining areas the bombers had to fly at an extra low altitude to come in sight of land, before
the mines were dropped at the right positions. That made the planes easy targets for flak in the area. German night fighters were active again, but due to the low
flying altitude only a few attacks from night fighters were reported. The RAF lost 7 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings, 6 Wellingtons and 2 Halifaxes this night." (FT 90-50)
See Minelaying areas.
15 of the bombers were lost over Danish territory, see Google Map p169+MINELAYING. Only 4 airmen from the 23 lost planes survived!

The flak battery at Kappel (about here) MAA 508 belonging to the German Navy reported that a plane had been shot down. It crashed into the sea about here.
All of the crew perished. (FT 86-89-11) See also p173MACR.

All crew members were found within 4 weeks, either in the Baltic Sea or drifted ashore on the southwestern part of Lolland, and they were all buried in
Svinø Churchyard as indicated. (Source: FAF)
See No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. 75(nz)squadron has more, also 75(NZ) Squadron RAF Records find Pilot Desmond Lewis Thompson in the Alphabetical index, scroll down to the entry of 28/041943 - Mining in the Kiel Bay, and see that this plane with Captain Thompson failed to return.  75 Squadron Association NZ + UK.
Stirling III BF467 AA-W took off from RAF Newmarket at 20.38 hrs on 28 APR 1943. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.) Google Map planesRNZAF 7 airmen.