PA179
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
Nothing is known exactly about the cause of the crash of the Lancaster I, PA179. It was flying on an attack on Dortmund and was probably hit by anti-aircraft fire. An extract from the guard book of the police station in Rommerskirchen records this:
21.02.1945 At 0:45 shot down a 4 mot. Bomber with bomb load, impact point Eckum. Property damage in the neighbourhood. Barrier measures and search operation taken. 1 pilot found in the local post office. Body taken to Nettesheim mortuary. The mitg. Property handed over to Butzweilerhof airbase.
The dead crew was recovered and buried in a common grave at the cemetery in Rommerskirchen. Only Sgt Anderson was buried at the cemetery in Nettesheim.
above:
The crash site of the Lancaster BI, PA179 near Eckum
left:
The pilot, Squadron Leader Kenneth Lloyd Collinson
below:
The crew's first burial site at the cemetery in Rommerskirchen and Nettersheim