The Loss of Aircraft Stirling LJ631
The aircraft took off from Harwell at approximately 2310 hours on 24th August 1944 on an SOE operation over France.
The aircraft encountered anti-aircraft fire at 0140 hours whilst flying at 3500 feet at position 47 0 55’ N 03 0 40’ W. The colours of the period were immediately fired but two further bursts of anti-aircraft fire were encountered. The port inner engine was damaged but the pilot was unable to feather it. The aircraft was turned onto a reciprocal course and reached the vicinity of the Normandy coast. Flying at approximately 4000 ft. several calls were made for “Darky” assistance, no reply being received.
At approximately 1310 hours the Air Bomber noticed flames coming from the front of the port outer engine. At this time the aircraft commenced violent vibration and the pilot had great difficulty in controlling it. The pilot then gave the order to abandon the aircraft. The Air Gunner (Flight Sergeant H T M Powell) left through the rear exit and the Navigator (Flight Sergeant H F Wood), Flight Engineer (Sergeant G P Wears), Air Bomber (Flying Officer W Hales) and Wireless Operator (Flight Sergeant J G Humphrey) left through the front exit, in that order.
The Wireless Operator considers that the aircraft was at approximately 1000 ft. when he left the aircraft. He saw the aircraft strike the ground soon after his parachute opened.
The pilot remained at the controls at least until the Wireless Operator had jumped, crashed with the aircraft and was killed.
The aircraft took off from Harwell at approximately 2310 hours on 24th August 1944 on an SOE operation over France.
The aircraft encountered anti-aircraft fire at 0140 hours whilst flying at 3500 feet at position 47 0 55’ N 03 0 40’ W. The colours of the period were immediately fired but two further bursts of anti-aircraft fire were encountered. The port inner engine was damaged but the pilot was unable to feather it. The aircraft was turned onto a reciprocal course and reached the vicinity of the Normandy coast. Flying at approximately 4000 ft. several calls were made for “Darky” assistance, no reply being received.
At approximately 1310 hours the Air Bomber noticed flames coming from the front of the port outer engine. At this time the aircraft commenced violent vibration and the pilot had great difficulty in controlling it. The pilot then gave the order to abandon the aircraft. The Air Gunner (Flight Sergeant H T M Powell) left through the rear exit and the Navigator (Flight Sergeant H F Wood), Flight Engineer (Sergeant G P Wears), Air Bomber (Flying Officer W Hales) and Wireless Operator (Flight Sergeant J G Humphrey) left through the front exit, in that order.
The Wireless Operator considers that the aircraft was at approximately 1000 ft. when he left the aircraft. He saw the aircraft strike the ground soon after his parachute opened.
The pilot remained at the controls at least until the Wireless Operator had jumped, crashed with the aircraft and was killed.
