BK648
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
During this attack on Cologne, the bombers came under very strong anti-aircraft fire and were heavily attacked by the German night fighters. Fw. Hans Müller of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 300 (NJG300) took the Stirling BK648 under fire and brought the aircraft down. It crashed to the north between Hangelar airfield and Menden railway station and caught fire on impact. The six crew members sitting in the front of the aircraft were burnt beyond recognition in the wreckage.
The rear gunner was initially able to save himself with a parachute. However, as the aircraft spiralled and fell to the ground without control, the propeller of one engine caught the parachute, which wrapped itself around the propeller scar and inflicted fatal head injuries on the tail gunner. The gunner from the upper turret was ejected from the aircraft on impact and also fatally injured.
The crew were buried at the cemetery of honour in Menden.
Source: A very detailed report and photos of the crash and the recovery of the crew can be found at
Hartmut Küpper: Bonn-Hangelar, Geschichte eines Flugplatzes 1936-1943, Volume 3, page 207ff
above:
The crash site of Stirling BK648 between Hangelar airfield and Menden railway station.
left:
The crew's grave site at the cemetery in Menden.