L4172
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
After the German attack on France on 10 May 1940, the R.A.F. attempted to reconnoitre and, if possible, disrupt the German Wehrmacht's communications routes.
Hampden L4172 took off from Hernswell in the evening on one such flight, came under heavy anti-aircraft fire after crossing the border into Germany and crashed burning near Sechtem, between Merten and Keldenich. It crashed near the "Grey Castle" near the old sports field in Josef Sechtem's field. Three of the crew members died and were buried in Bonn's North Cemetery.
The co-pilot, Sgt Jones, survived the crash and became a German prisoner of war.
Additional source:
Chronicle of the Keldenich primary school / Wesseling town archives
Bornheim municipal archives, fonds StAB 05 / Sig 99