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Lancaster I HK537 crashed near Mjels 29/1-1944
The aircraft belonged to RAAF (RAF) 463 Sqn and was coded JO-S.
T/o 00:35 Waddington. OP: Berlin.
En route to Berlin HK537 collided with Lancaster III JA967 of RAF 83 Sqn over
Augustenborg Fjord.
Two dinghies and a parachute were found near Ny Stavenbøl. A wing and the part
of the fuselage which is next to the Wireless Operators seat was found in
Augustenborg Fjord.The major part of HK537 crashed in the fields of Pommersgaard
farm near Mjels.
All onboard died and rest in Aabenraa cemetery.
Pilot F/Lt Norman P. Cooper was found dead in a quickset hedge near Lusig Skov
forrest / Broballe Mark and was taken to Broballe by horse wagon.
(Mich and Karen Austin)
Pilot F/Lt Norman P. Cooper
W/Op-Air Gnr.Sgt Frederick E. Robson RAF was found washed ashore near Stolbro in
Augustenborg fjord while Air Gnr. F/Sgt Harold Suthers RCAF was found dead near
Broballe among the wreckage of JA967 behind the dairy not more than 20 metres
from a crew member of JA967.
A couple of weeks after the crash Flt. Engr. Sgt Francis C.W. Bull RAF was found
in a field by the owner of Pommersgaard farm while ploughing it. He buried the
remains of Bull at the edge of the field and erected a propeller blade on the
grave.
On 5/6 1945 the place was officially recognised as a grave by the
authorities. In spite of this the English Army disinterred the body on 8/8 1946 and moved it
to Aabenraa cemetery where Bull rest today.
The remaining crew members were Navigator P/O George J. Kerr, Bomb Aimer F/Sgt
Lewis H. Christmas and Air Gnr. Sgt Ronald J. Grist. It appears that most of
these were laid to rest on 2/2 1944. A German army chaplain officiated at the
graveside ceremony
Aabenraa Cemetery 27/4 1948
The reason for the uncertainty is that some were buried as unknown flyers and
that the Germans destroyed the cemetery records in May 1945. Today only exist a
few pages which was “liberated” by a Dane before the liberation of Denmark on
5/5 1945.
Memorials for the two crews were erected on 29/1 1994.
(Mich and Karen Austin)
Navigator P/O George J. Kerr
Sources: BA, BCL, CWGC, LBUK, AS 25-86, Report Sønderborg police, Gunner
Hounsgård, Sønderborg.
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