Date:	Saturday 30 September 1939
Time:	12:10 LT
Type:	Fairey Battle Mk I
Owner/operator:	150 Sqn RAF
Registration:	K9283
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Écury-sur-Coole, Marne Department -   France
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Écury-sur-Coole, France
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Fairey Battle Mk.1 K9283 (JN-P) of 150 Squadron, RAF: Written off (damaged beyond repair) 30 September 1939 when crash landed back at base on fire and burnt out, RAF Écury-sur-Coole, France.

In the late afternoon of 30 September 1939, six Battle bombers from no.150 Squadron/Allied Air Strike Force had taken off from Écury-sur-Coole under the lead of Squadron Leader MacDonald to fly high-altitude photo reconnaissance mission over the area of Saarbrücken-Merzig. During the approach flight one crew experienced engine failure and turned back to base. Five remaining crews continued the mission and they were picked up by 7./Lg.Nachr.Rgt.12.

The raid was reported to I./JG53. Two four-element sections from 2./JG53 were scrambled and about 12.00 hrs the English formation was sighted on an altitude of 7 km West of Saarbrücken. Of the five remaining Battles, four were shot down and one crash-landed back at base and burned out. Squadron Leader Macdonald nursed back his crippled Battle K9283 to the own territory and then he crash-landed. The aircraft caught fire and was burned out.The crew was wounded.

Crew of Battle K9283:
Squadron Leader W M L MacDonald (Pilot) uninjured.
Sergeant F H Gardiner (Observer) injured and
Aircraftman 1st Class A Murcar (Wireless Op/Air Gunner), injured

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J. Halley Air Britain 1976 p 76)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/20: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14141999
3. The Battle File, Sidney Shail, Air Britain 1997 p 132
4. http://aircrewremembered.com/macdonald-william.html
5. https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/75511/Murcar-Alexander.htm
6. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=30866
7. http://www.anciens-aerodromes.com/?p=33864
8. http://olivier.housseaux.free.fr/AVIONS/K9283/recit.htm
9. http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3983

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
01-Jun-2019 21:22	Dr. John Smith	Added
03-Jun-2019 09:35	stehlik49	Updated [Operator]