Airwar over Denmark

Airwar over Denmark

 By Søren C. Flensted

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Lancaster I ME726 crashed at Gamtofte 16/5 1944.


The aircraft belonged to RAF 576 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded UL-X2.
T/o 22:08 Elsham Wolds. OP: Gardening Kiel Bay


The Lancaster was attacked by a German night fighter over Assens and crashed in the village of Gamtofte on the island of Fyn at 00:50 hours. The night fighter belonged to 10./NJG 3 and was piloted by Feldwebel Günter Holtfreter.

The Lancaster fell in the garden of the vicarage and one of the mines onboard exploded.

Part of the fuselage


 
Apparently the aircraft had separated in the air since the empennage and engines and part of a wing was found up to 3 kilometres from the crash site. The whole crew died.

The Wehrmacht collected the human remains and buried them in Assens cemetery on 16/5 1944 at 23:00 hours without ecclesiastical assistance.

The crew were Pilot F/Lt Ernest J. Presland DFC, Pilot P/O Albert E. Slade, Flt. Engr. Sgt Alan W. Knapp, Navigator F/O Mark L. Abramson RCAF, Air Bomber F/O Charles Ashcroft, W/Op Sgt Benjamin J. Hudson, Air Gnr. Sgt Robert E. Leatham and Air Gnr. Sgt Arthur G. Wright DFM.
 


                                  (Via Ole Kraul)

Wreckage in Gamtofte


The tail


By a miracle no villagers were killed and only three were wounded. The vicarage and the home of the Bell ringer and the home of Widow Juhl were destroyed as was two farms belonging to the estate “Brahesborg”.

The church and eight farms were badly damaged and a number building more or less damaged. Two farms belonging to Farmer Maren Christoffersen and Farmer Dideriksen burden down.

At dawn the Wehrmacht found three unexploded mines 250 metres from the crash site and disarmed these.
 


                          (Via Museet for Danmarks Frihedskamp)

An unfortunate crewmember

An unfortunate crewmember


                        (Via Museet for Danmarks Frihedskamp)

An unfortunate crewmember

 

The crashsite today

 


Sources: LBUK, AS 31-127, CWGC, UA, TB.

 

 

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