Accident Avro Lancaster Mk III JA873, Tuesday 3 August 1943
ASN logo
 
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. You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:Tuesday 3 August 1943
Time:02:10
Type:Silhouette image of generic LANC model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Avro Lancaster Mk III
Owner/operator:61 Sqn RAF
Registration: JA873
MSN: QR-
Fatalities:Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:near Lüneburg, Niedersachsen -   Germany
Phase: Combat
Nature:Military
Departure airport:RAF Syerston
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Shot down by night fighter pilot Feldwebel Ernst Schäfer of the 2./JG Herrmann, flying a Bf 109 G-6 or Fw 190A. Also claimed by heavy Flak.

Takeoff time: 23:16
Crew:-
Pilot : Flight Lieutenant Brian McMenamen Laing RAFVR 127911 (NCO:1314125 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 27 October, 1942) [Killed]
2nd Pilot : Flying Officer Colin Cortland Godley RAAF Aus/413370 [Killed]
Flight Engineer : Pilot Officer Tony Angelo Holman RAFVR 149902 (NCO:1235714 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 14 September, 1943) [Killed]
Navigator : Flying Officer Basil John Fox RAFVR 132146 (NCO:656893 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 08 December, 1942) [Killed]
Bomb Aimer : Sergeant Robert Horace Burn RAFVR 1388532 [Killed]
Wireless Operator : Sergeant Walter Frederick Ardron RAFVR 1379537 [Killed]
Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant William McKinlay Grant RAFVR 1026588 [Killed]
Rear Gunner : Sergeant Sidney Harold Mortimer RAF 515976 [Killed]

Sources:

Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 part two
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=JA873
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
02-Aug-2018 21:47 TigerTimon Added
03-Nov-2018 08:56 Nepa Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator, ]
18-Feb-2024 15:03 Rob Davis Updated [Source, Narrative, ]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2025 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org