R5561
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
During the 1000-bomber raid on Cologne on the night of 31 May 1942, several British bombers crashed in and around Cologne as a result of anti-aircraft fire or from German night fighters.
The Lancaster I, R5561, was caught in the cone of light of the anti-aircraft searchlights of the 159 Squadron and was subsequently hit by anti-aircraft fire. It crashed in an open field near Niederaussem and burnt out completely. None of the crew survived the crash, the charred bodies of the crew were recovered and buried in Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery.
According to a note by the priest of Niederaussem, two aeroplanes collided and exploded over Niederaussem that night. However, there is no definite proof of this. What is proven is that the R5561 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.
However, another bomber (Halifax II, W7707) exploded in the air over Niederaussem that night. (see W7707)
Another error in the story of the R5561 crash can be found in the service record of the Canadian John Douglas Patey. During his exhumation at Cologne's South Cemetery, the remains of several people were found in a grave. As more than four years had passed since the crash, it was not possible to precisely attribute the individual persons to the various crashes. And so the protocol stated that Lancaster R5561 crashed in Wipperfürther Str. in Cologne-Kalk. However, this statement is incorrect. This crash had already taken place on 28 April 1942 and is recorded in the police report of the city of Cologne for that day. The aircraft involved was the Wellington X3700, which caught fire on impact. Here too, the bodies recovered were completely burnt. They were not identified until years later when they were exhumed. (see X3700)
Sources. I owe additional information on the crash to Johannes Hübner of the Heimatfreunde-Niederaußem.
Above:
The area where Lancaster R5561 crashed. There is no evidence of an exact crash site.
Left:
Debris from the crashed Lancaster near Niederaussem.
Above:
The crew's graves at Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery.
left:
Death certificate for Pilot Officer Benson Usher , Royal New Zealand Air-Force
left:
In the Canadian service file of P/O John Douglas Patey, the exhumation protocol states "Wipperfürther Str., Köln-Kalk" as the crash site. This location is demonstrably incorrect.