Final Mission
At 1857 hrs on 15th March 1944, ND583 took off from East Kirkby on operations to Stuttgart. The aircraft subsequently crashed and exploded “with great force” near Bourguinon-sous-Coucy in the department of Aisne, 23 km Noerth West of Soissons, France. All are buried in the local churchyard at Bourguinon-sous-Coucy.
Eye witness reports suggest that ND583 crash landed succesfully, but then exploded due to a bomb which had failed to release detonating as the crew made their attempts to exit the aircraft.
ND583 (LE-V) was a Mk III Lancaster crewed by the following:-
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