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: | Friday 3 September 1943 |
| Time: | 23:50 LT |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | W4961 |
| MSN: | KM-S |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Velber, Seelze, Niedersachsen -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Dunholme Lodge |
Shot down by night fighter pilot Hauptmann August Geiger of the 7./NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 G-4 from Twente airfield, the Netherlands.
Takeoff time: 19:50
Crew:-
Pilot : Squadron Leader Robert Grant Watson RAFVR 33074 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 15 August, 1933) [Killed]
Flight Engineer : Sergeant Albert William Frederick Edwards RAFVR 989879 [Killed]
Navigator : Sergeant Norman Allen Tyreman RAFVR 1318148 [Killed]
Bomb Aimer : Sergeant Eric John Smith RAFVR 1314202 [Killed]
Wireless Operator : Sergeant Jack Albert George Reynolds RAFVR 1333394 [Killed]
Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant Charles Geoffrey James RAFVR 1181424 [Killed]
Rear Gunner : Sergeant Kenneth Gilbey RAFVR 1375675 [Killed]
Gilbey, Smith and Watson lie at the Hanover War Cemetery, Germany (52.377026 / 9.654365)
The others are remembered at the Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom (51.437693 / -0.564745)
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 part two
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=W4961
Google Maps
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database http://robdavistelford.co.uk/webspace/raf_bc
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Aug-2018 07:43 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 06-Oct-2018 10:37 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator, ] |
| 13-Aug-2020 09:30 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Location, Source, ] |
| 27-Oct-2025 09:01 | 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:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation