Mosquito F.B. VI  RF617 (LA-U) - The Kattegat                                 Updated: 17 JAN 2023 

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
e777861.htm Arthars L E P/O RAF 235 p475.htm MOS RF617 Anti ship The Kattegat d050445 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN
e777862.htm Richardson F G F/Sgt RAF 235 p475.htm MOS RF617 Anti ship The Kattegat d050445 e777 e777.htm NO KNOWN


Den 5. april 1945 styrtede MOS RF617 i Kattegat omkring her. Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift skriver:

"5. april 1945 (kl. 17.12). Kattegat SØ for Anholt. Mosquito F.B. VI, RF617 (LA-U). 235 Squadron, 18 Coastal Group, Banff Strike Wing, Banff, Banffs.
(Anti shipping patrol i Kattegat). 2 MIA

Lidt over kl. 14.00 lettede 39 Mosquitoes fra Banff og efter to timers flyvning nåede styrken den jyske vestkyst. En time senere opdagede de tre konvojer i farvandet
syd for Anholt, og under det efterfølgende angreb kolliderede RF617 med skibsmasten på M902 »Hans Sachse« og fik højre vinge og hale beskadiget. Flyet ramte havoverfladen ca. 100 meter fra det tyske skib, og begge besætningsmedlemmer, P/O Laurence Edward Arthars (pilot) og F/Sgt Francis Graham Richardson (navigator) omkom." (FT 91-9-50)

I formationen var også MOS RS619 der nødlandede med Raymond Harington og Bert Winwood. Se Kort - Map of Visit to Denmark.
 Se også Mosquito fotos og Google Map 14 Mosquitoes DK. Se Poul Erik Pedersen: U-bådskrig - pdf, 44 sider - om de 2 fly nævnt her s. 41.

Airwar over Denmark har intet om dette fly og dets besætning.   Updated:  19 MAR 2026    2 flyvere.

On 5 April 1945 MOS RF617 crashed into the Kattegat about here. (Danish) Aviation Historical Review writes:

"5 April 1945 (17:12). The Kattegat SE of Anholt. Mosquito F.B. VI, RF617 (LA-U). 235 Squadron, 18 Coastal Group, Banff Strike Wing, Banff, Banffs.
(Anti shipping patrol in the Kattegat). 2 MIA

Shortly after 14:00 39 Mosquitoes took off from Banff and after a flight of two hours the formation reached the west coast of Jutland. One hour later they
discovered 3 convoys in the waters south of Anholt. RF617 collided with the mast of the ship M902 »Hans Sachse« in the attack that followed. Its starboard
wing and the tail were damaged. The plane ditched about 100 m from the German ship, and both crew members, Pilot, P/O Laurence Edward Arthars and
Navigator F/Sgt Francis Graham Richardson perished." (FT 91-9-50)

In the formation was also MOS RS619 which crash landed with Raymond Harington and Bert Winwood. See the Map of Visit to Denmark.
See also Mosquito Photos and Google Map 14 Mosquitoes DK.

This Mosquito took off from RAF Bannf. See also Secret Scotland - RAF Banff  and RAF Coastal Command.

Airwar over Denmark has nothing about this plane and its crew.  Updated:  19 MAR 2026    2 airmen.