L7316
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
At 20:30 Mancester L7316 took off from Waddington for the bombing raid on Cologne. Entering German airspace, it had reached an altitude of 7,000 to 8,000 feet when it was suddenly hit by flak. The aircraft immediately came under what was thought to be heavy and accurate flak. With the bomb load on board and before any significant evasive action could be taken, the Manchester was hit by flak fragments and immediately caught fire. The shrapnel almost certainly tore open the wing tanks and penetrated the fuselage, one of which injured the pilot in the back.
At the same time, the Mancester, illuminated by searchlights, came under fire from a Bf110 of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 2nd / NJG1 under Olt. Wolfgang Thimmig. Three times the Bf110 attacked and scored several hits, setting both engines on fire.
There was obviously no chance of saving the aircraft, which quickly turned into a raging inferno. Flt/Lt Gilderthorp and the observer, Sgt Leonhard C Parker, managed to parachute out of the front hatch of the aircraft before the flames reached them. The wounded Gilderthorp, who could not see the ground, was not prepared for the severity of the impact and suffered further serious injuries on landing, including a fractured pelvis. He became unconscious and therefore cannot remember where he fell or how he was found and taken to hospital.
It took him several days to regain consciousness and many weeks before he was strong enough to be transferred to Stalag Luft L3 prisoner of war camp.
Parker also survived the jump and was captured at Wilderath.
L7316 crashed with the remaining crew members at 23:39 in Oberkrüchten right next to the Anderstiegen family home and exploded on impact. Christian Anderstiegen, his wife Katharina and their two daughters Elisabeth and Helga were burnt beyond recognition in the rubble of their house.
Four crew members could also only be recovered dead from the wreckage. They were transported to Cologne and buried there in the southern cemetery.
I received important information about this crash from Bernd Nienhaus from Niederkrüchten, for which my sincere thanks!
As a further additional source I would like to mention: Robert Kirbby "THE AVRO MANCESTER".