ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 159214
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 17 December 1944 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 49 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | PB355 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Worthing beach, off Heene Terrace, Worthing, West Sussex -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Fulbeck, Lincolnshire |
17/18 December, 1944; MUNICH: Four consecutive operations were scrubbed before 17 of the squadron's aircraft eventually got away from Fulbeck bound for Munich on 17 December. It was another exclusive 5 Group attack using 280 Lancasters led by 8 Mosquitoes. Although there was some undershooting, most crews reported the bombing to be fanning out from the sector as planned. Four Lancasters from the Group failed to return.
Back at Fulbeck, the squadron's aircraft started landing at around 02.00 hours. F/O Edward Essenhigh (PB355) and crew were overdue and reported as missing. It was established later in the day, that their aircraft had in fact crashed on Worthing beach at 17.55 hours the previous evening en route to Munich. The aircraft had blown up, luckily without loss of civilian life.
Only one crew member was found in the wreck; that of F/Sgt Gordon Callon. His body was recovered from the rear turret and at the time caused some consternation to those at the scene, as he wore pilots wings. Sgt Callon was one of the volunteer pilot/rear gunners operating the 'Village Inn' turret.
The bodies of the remainder of the crew have never been found; their whereabouts and indeed the reason for the aircraft's demise still remains a mystery. Gordon Callon is buried in Littlehampton, Sussex, whilst his fellow crew members are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
Lancaster PB355 (EA-B)
Pilot: 151969 Fg Off Edward Gordon Essenhigh - Runnymede Memorial Panel 205 (NCO:1052256 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 13 July, 1943)
Flight Engineer: 1111885 Sgt Harry Varey - Runnymede Memorial Panel 239.
Navigator: 1582055 Sgt Leonard Bertie Bourne - Runnymede Memorial Panel 225.
Bomb Aimer: 154228 Fg Off James Andrew Thomson - Runnymede Memorial Panel 209 (NCO:976143 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 04 January, 1944)
Wireless Operator: 1650742 Flt Sgt Frederick Bernard Rees - Runnymede Memorial Panel 221.
Mid Upper Gunner: Sgt James Worrall Moore - Runnymede Memorial Panel 234.
Rear Gunner (Pilot): 1452884 Flt Sgt Gordon Frederick Callon - Littlehampton Cemetery Section D Grave 4351.
Crew on their 11th operation. F/O Thomson is remembered on the village war memorial at Dunton Bassett, Leicestershire. See source 6.
The crew are also remembered on a series of road names on a housing development in Worthing. See source 7 for details.
A plaque commemorating the incident can be seen on Worthing Pier. See source 8.
Sources:
1. Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999
2. http://www.49squadron.co.uk/memorials/memorial_worthing_pier
3. https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?130777-Lancaster-PB355-Worthing-Beach-Crash
4. http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/06116.php
5. http://www.ma-squadron.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1014
6. https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37780
7. https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/72226
8. https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/71013
9. Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 26-Aug-2013 16:59 | JINX | Added |
| 31-Dec-2014 01:13 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 06-Jun-2015 10:13 | Comet123 | Updated [Operator, Departure airport] |
| 27-Apr-2022 15:23 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 18-Jun-2023 14:22 | Richard | Updated [[Narrative]] |
| 19-Jun-2023 13:08 | Richard | Updated [[[Narrative]]] |
| 04-Jul-2023 06:35 | Richard | Updated [[[[Narrative]]]] |
| 17-Dec-2023 07:52 | Rob Davis | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation