Memorial Sign Crash Location Lancaster W4984 AR-J, 460 Squadron RAAF

Project Lost Wings '40 - '45 has placed Memorial Signs in the Municipality of Emmen on the places where airplanes crashed during the Second World War.

On Monday 24 May 1943, a MK III Lancaster – W4984 AR-J of 460 squadron RAAF took off from RAF Binbrook to take part in a raid on Dortmund with a massive formation of 826 bombers, the largest raid of that Battle. On the way to Dortmund, the aircraft was shot at by a German night fi ghter fl own by Oberleutnant August Geiger, and fi re broke out. The pilot lost control of the aircraft and it crashed although fi ve crew members were able to bale out, however their parachutes had been damaged by the fire and failed to save them. Of the crew of seven only Flt. Sgt Clarence K D Goldthorpe survived and was taken prisoner. The other crew members are buried in the Commonwealth War Grave section of the Municipal Cemetery at Schoonebeek.

Crew Members:
Beresford Milton Troy Davis RAAF KIA pilot
Eric Rowlands RAF KIA flight engineer
Kenneth Douglas Dyce RAAF KIA navigator
Jack Stanley Biff en RAAF KIA wireless operator-gunner
Clarence Goldthorpe RAAF POW bomb aimer
Frederick Wilson Ralph RCAF KIA gunner
Charles Sinclair Wright RAAF KIA gunner

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Source

• Text: SLO Drenthe
• Photos: Rob Wethly, SLO Drenthe (1, 2), Chris Bonhof (3)
• Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe