R5604
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
The Lancaster I, R5604, came within the range of the 7th anti-aircraft division around Cologne on its approach to Düsseldorf.
The aircraft was hit, caught fire and crashed in Lövenich between Vinzenzallee and Kölner Straße, near the railway embankment. The aircraft exploded on impact and burnt out completely.
The crew could only be recovered dead from the wreckage and were buried in Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery.
Remark:
The sources on this crash are very sparse. A memo from the Cologne Air Protection Authority merely states that "an aircraft crashed on fire between Lövenich and Weiden near the airfield. "*
* Source: National Archives Washington T971-0010 / page 440
The field airfield here refers to the mock airfield to divert attention from the actual Butzweilerhof airfield, which was located above Lövenich.
However, local historian Henry Fausst from Weiden was able to find a contemporary witness for me. Karl-Heinz Esser from Lövenich saw this crash as a child and was therefore able to state the exact location of the crash. My sincere thanks for this.