Hampden I P5330 crashed Sønderby Bjerge 25/4-1942

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Hampden I P5330 crashed Sønderby Bjerge 25/4-1942.

The aircraft belonged to RCAF (RAF) 420 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded PT-J.
T/o Waddington OP: Rostock.

On its way to the target, P5330 was hit by flak from Flakgruppe Küste. The pilot Sgt Jack Potter circled the area south east of Assens and attempted a crash landing at Sønderby Bjerge at 03:00 hours.

The landing failed and the aircraft ended as a total wreck killing Sgt Potter, Air Observer Sgt Joe Melvin Hichs RCAF and Wop/Air Gnr. Sgt James Henry Smith RCAF while Sgt Frank George Webster Adams RCAF survived with a broken leg. He was admitted to the hospital in Assens where the German Wehrmacht later picked him up. He was sent to Dulag Luft at Oberursel for interrogation and then on to Stalag IXC at Mühlhausen, Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug to end up in Stalag 357 Fallingbostel at the end of war.

(Finn Buch)

Joe Melvin Hichs

(Finn Buch)

Hichs with friends

Those who died were laid to rest in Assens cemetery on 28/4 with the German Fieldpriest Vorrath from Odense officiating at the graveside ceremony.

(Finn Buch)

Sources: LBUK, RL 19/454, Assens Parish book, OLCB, T501.

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