Z8499
Crashes > of the R.A.F.
During the approach to the Düsseldorf bombing target, the Wellington Z8499 came within the range of several anti-aircraft batteries. It was hit and crashed with a full bomb load in Hürth-Talmühle, exploded and burnt out completely. A flung-away engine damaged a garden wall. Although the aircraft was completely burnt out, machine gun ammunition and a radio could still be recovered from the wreckage*
The crew could only be recovered dead and were buried in Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery
The crew's death certificates only state "Hürth" as the crash site, the anti-aircraft gunnery documents state "Hürth-Talmühle" as the crash site.
* Additional source:
National Archives Washington , T971 -0010
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below left: below right:
The crash area of the Wellington Z8499 The anti-aircraft report on the shooting down of the Wellington
The crew's grave at Cologne's Südfriedhof cemetery
The death certificate for pilot Officer Thomas Barrett