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Lancaster III PB436 crashed Gunderup 30/8 1944.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 61 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded QR-D.
T/O 20:19 Skellingtorpe. OP: Königsberg.
When crossing the Jylland peninsula on the return flight Lancaster PB436 was hit
by flak and crashed at Gunderup Gaard farm at approx. 02:10. The whole crew
managed to bail out before the aircraft crashed.
(Via Ole Kraul)
Rear: Wilson, Winkley, Bragg
Front: Finch, Loneon, Longhurst
Flt. Engr. Sgt E, Harris, Bomb
aimer Sgt F.E. Finch, W/Op Sgt D.A. Bragg, Mid upper gunner Sgt J.C.Longhurst and
Tail gunner Sgt W.G. Winkley were soon captured by the Wehrmacht and sent to
Dulag Luft at Oberursel for questioning. After about a week they were all sent
to Stalag Luft VII Bankau.
Navigator Henry W.D. Wilson landed near Vadgaard farm a couple of kilometres
from the crash site and hid for the night in the chicken coup. He was found the
next morning by the owner Vagn Kjær who arranged for transport and hid him for
about a week until the arrangements were ready. Kjær called Veterinarian Sonne
of Farsø who promised to help. He in turn contacted Police constable Lilholdt
who called the police headquarter in København and asked Inspector Sigvald
Pedersen for help. Pedersen asked the English speaking Police officer Knud
Nielsen for help, and he agreed to assist. They both reported sick and got on
the train for Farsø.
Pilot F/Sgt B.F. Loneon landed in Trend Skov forest and spent the night there.
The next day he was found by Smallholder T. Chr. Jensen of Stistrup who promised
to help. The day before Wilson was scheduled to leave, Jensens wife contacted
Sonne and asked for his help. It was arranged that Loneon and Wilson would
travel together and that they were given civilian clothes.
A compartment had been booked by the police on a train from Aalborg to København
and the two policemen would bring the two flyers along as two prisoners.
The policemen and the flyers was planned to enter the train in Hobro and
Lilholdt drove them there in his police car. They were early and drove to the
local Co-op which was run by family of Petersen. Here they were served lunch.
Just before the train arrived they drove to the station and got a surprise. It
turned out that the train they were booked on was a German military train, and
the faces of the flyers turned a bit pale. In Fredericia they changed to a
civilian train and continued to Nyborg where they crossed the Store Bælt without
problems. In København the flyers were handed over to members of the group
“Speditørerne” who had specialized in helping people to escape to Sweden.
On
12/9 1944 Loneon and Wilson was sailed over to Sweden.
Sources: LBUK, Letter from Vagn Kjær, OLCB, AIR 27/579, DFEV.
Night of 29/30 August 1944
Groups
Squadrons
Combats
Lancaster I PA163 crashed into Lovns
Bredning bay 29/8 1944
Lancaster I LM184 crashed Aalestrup
29/8 1944
Lancaster III PB202 crashed at Førby
Hede heath 30/8 1944
Lancaster X KB709 crashed in the sea
of Kattegat 6 miles off the island of Anholt 30/8 1944
Lancaster III PB143 crashed at
Ingerslev / Estruplund 30/8 1944
Lancaster III NE144 ditched in the
sea of Kattegat off the island of Anholt 30/8 1944
Lancaster III EE193 crashed in the
sea of Kattegat 30/8 1944
Lancaster I ME718 crashed at Ove
30/8 1944
Lancaster III PB436 crashed Gunderup
30/8 1944
Lancaster I LM116 crashed near Karup
30/8 1944
Lancaster III LM479 crashed Dejbjerg
30/8 1944
Back to 1944
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