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Stirling I R9351 crashed in Store Bælt between the island
of Sprogø and Nyborg on 19/9 1942.
The Stirling belonged to RAF 15 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded LS-R.
T/O 20:05 Bourn OP : Gardening Asparagus (The Great Belt)
While dropping mines, R9351 was hit by flak from Sprogø and Korsør, as well as
from the ship “Albrich” from Hafenschützflotille Nyborg.
R9351 started burning
and crashed into the sea at 00:39 hours near the ferry M/F “Korsør” which lay
anchored between the island of Sprogø and Nyborg due to air raid alarm. At 03:50
hours it was reported by Captain Tronhjem from the ferry that it had picked up a
surviving airman.
It was Pilot P/O John Miller Steel who had been thrown clear of the Stirling
when it had hit the water. Shortly after Steel was picked up by a German boat
from Korsør. After interrogation in Oberursel he was sent to Stalag Luft III
Sagan.
The rest of the crew died and have no known graves and are commemorated on the
Runnymede Memorial.
They were Navigator Sgt Jack G. Newman, W/Op Sgt Stanley Greenbeck, W/Op Thomas
C. Smith, Air Gnr. Sgt Edward A.J. King, Flt Engr. Sgt Thomas B. Brown and
Navigator Sgt Roy A. Heathcote.
The wreck of the Stirling was located and blown away on June 15 1990 when the
bridge over Store Bælt was constructed.
Sources: RL 19/454+455+472, LBUK, BCL, 1st Officer Petersens report.
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