Lancaster III JB709 - The North Sea                                                        Updated: 10 OCT 2021

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
e777688.htm Abbott H Sgt RAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
e777685.htm Cairns J C P/O RAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
a014229.htm Keates H M Sgt RAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 b150444 c014.htm Esbjerg
e777684.htm Polden G E Sgt RAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
e777687.htm Quanstrom W F/O RCAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
e777683.htm Robinson G F/O RCAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
e777686.htm Ross JAM P/O RAF 12 p291.htm LAN JB709 Minelaying The North Sea d100444 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN


"Natten til den 10. april 1944 foretog RAF en stor mineudlægningsoperation ved Danzig (Gdansk). I forbindelse med overflyvningen af dansk område blev mindst 7 britiske bombefly skudt ned, mens flere nedstyrtede i Nordsøen, i større eller mindre afstand fra Vestkysten. Fra 6 fly nedstyrtet i Midtjylland, og 2 i Nordsøen, ligger 35 omkomne flyvere begravet i Esbjerg. Samtlige flyvere begravedes den 15. april 1944." (FAF) Google Map Mine 10 APR 1944.   p291MACR

LAN JB709 styrtede i Nordsøen. Ingen overlevende. H. M. Keates, en af flyets skytter, blev fundet drevet ind ved Blåvand (omkring her) den 13. april 1944.
De 6 andre flyvere fra denne besætning har ingen kendt grav. Se Lancaster Fotos.

Airwar over Denmark har mere om dette fly og dets besætning.   Updated:  06 MAR 2026  7 flyvere.

"On the night before April 10 1944, the RAF carried out a big minelaying operation at Danzig (Gdansk). At least 7 British bombers were shot down as they flew over Danish territory, and several crashed into the North Sea, off the west coast of Jutland. From 6 planes crashed in the central part of Jutland, and 2 in the North Sea, 35 airmen were buried in Esbjerg. All of the airmen were buried on April 15 1944." (FAF) Google Map Mine 10 APR 1944.  p291MACR

LAN JB709 crashed into the North Sea. No survivors. Air Gunner H. M. Keates was found drifted ashore near Blaavand (about here) on 13 April 1944.
The 6 other airmen of this crew have no known grave.

See No. 12 Squadron RAF - Wikipedia * 12 (B) Squadron Association *  12 Squadron RAF  at RAF-Lincolnshire.info. See also  Lancaster Photos.
Lancaster III JB709 PH-O took off from RAF Wickenby  at 21:23 on 09 APR 1944. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.)  

Airwar over Denmark has more about this plane and its crew.     Updated:  06 MAR 2026   7 airmen.