Crash Site Hawker Hurricane N2403

On 11 May 1940, 17 Squadron RAF's Hawker Hurricane N2403 made an emergency landing at this location and was badly damaged. The aircraft had shortly before taken off with 11 other Hurricanes from RAF base Martlesham Heath for a reconnaissance flight over The Hague. The aircraft was fired upon by a German Messerschmidt, leaving the pilot Flight Lieutenant Michael Stephen Donne badly injured and forced to make an emergency landing in a potato field. Medical aid was to no avail and Michael Donne was buried in Numansdorp cemetery a few days later. Of the 12 aircraft that took off, five did not return.

Nothing can be found of the crash today. The plane was quickly removed and no memorial or other marking was placed.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Jurre Dekker (1), Oorlogsgravenstichting (2)
• - Michael Stephen Donne | Oorlogsgravenstichting
  
• - 17 Squadron Hurricane N2556 Fl/Lt. Donne Martlesham Heath Rotterdam Biesakkersweg, Holland