W4170
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
During the bombing raid on Cologne, the Lancaster B I, W4170 came under fire from the 7th Flak Division, was hit and caught fire. It circled over the village of Schwadorf before crashing on the outskirts of the village near the railway line. The aircraft exploded on the ground, scattering the crew and countless aircraft parts over a wide area.
All seven crew members lost their lives in the crash and were buried in Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery.
Left:
The approximate crash site of Lancaster W4170.
top:
The grave locations of the individual crew members.
left:
The death certificate of the pilot, Flight Lieutenant George Bruce Smyth.