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 7 September 1943 |
| Time: | night |
| Type: |  Short Stirling Mk I |
| Owner/operator: | 1657 HCU RAF |
| Registration: | W7455 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Great Thurlow, Haverhill, Suffolk, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Stradishall |
Shot down by an Me410 of VKG2 intruder during an evening exercise flight. The aircraft weas unable to hold height and the pilot effected a forced landing 21:39 in a cornfield between Great Thurlow and Withersfield, two miles north-east and four miles north-north-east from Haverhill. A fire broke out but the crew escaped dazed; F/O Smith ignored his own safety and re-entered the burnng wreckage to rescue F/S Reddy, suffering fatal burns in doing so. F/S Reddy also died from his injuries on September 27th 1943.
Crew:-
Pilot : Flying Officer Leslie Frederick Smith RAFVR 136933 (NCO:1220624 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 02 February, 1943) [Fatal Injury] Bletchley Cemetery, United Kingdom (51.996417 / -0.745691)
Sergeant E V Cramp RAF [Injured]
Flight Sergeant C G Gilkes RAAF [Injured]
Flight Sergeant Gordon Raymond Greaves RAAF Aus/415579 [Injured]
Sergeant J M Hadman RNZAF [Injured]
Pilot Officer N E Miles RAF [Injured]
Sergeant Oulton RAF [Injured]
Flight Sergeant Douglas Edward Lanyon Reddy RAAF Aus/420596 [Fatal Injury] Cambridge City Cemetery, United Kingdom (52.212382 / 0.166554)
Sources:
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 part two
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?10825-Stirling-W7455-7-Sept-1943
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Sep-2018 12:17 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 16-Feb-2025 20:54 | 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