ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 218639
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| Date: | Sunday 27 September 1942 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Bristol Beaufighter Mk IF |
| Owner/operator: | 89 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | V8268 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near RAF Luqa -
 Malta
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Takali, Malta |
| RAF Luqa, Malta |
Beaufighter V8268: Shot Down by Friendly Fire. 27/02/1942
A pilot has died and his observer is in a critical condition after friendly fire struck their aircraft over Malta. The Beaufighter of 89 Sqn was one of two which had to return early from a patrol to intercept enemy raiders. As they approached, the Island’s anti-aircraft positions were on ‘Guns Tight’, orders to shoot only at aircraft once they had been identified. However, the guns covering the approach to Luqa airfield were still on ‘Guns Free’ – ready to fire at any aircraft
Spotting an unidentified aircraft headed for Luqa, the gunners opened fire. The Beaufighter pilot took evasive action, turning away from the airfield and looping back to make another attempt at landing. But the aircraft had lost too much height and he was forced to crash land. The Beaufighter burst into flames. The pilot escaped from the top hatch as Royal Artillery personnel rushed to the scene, managing to rescue the observer, P/O Cumbers, who was badly burned. Despite suffering relatively minor burns the pilot,
F/Lt Waddingham, died later in hospital from shock.
Crew:
F/Lt (40867) John WADDINGHAM (pilot) RAF - killed
P/O (118.713) Alfred Bernard CUMBERS DFM (nav.) RAF - seriously injured
Sources:
1.https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/category/1942/september-1942.
2.http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Waddingham.htm
3.ORB 89 Sqdn RAF
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Nov-2018 12:04 | gerard57 | Added |
| 19-May-2019 07:12 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator] |
| 31-Jan-2020 13:17 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
| 31-Jan-2020 13:43 | stehlik49 | Updated [Location, Operator] |
| 06-Aug-2020 22:23 | Xindel XL | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Operator] |
| 24-Apr-2022 08:07 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
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