L7571 Lancaster 61 Squadron (borrowed by 207 Squadron) crashed on 17/09/1942 – who shot this aircraft down ?

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

During the night 16/17 September 1942 Lancaster L7571 of 61 Squadron (borrowed by 207 Squadron) went missing during a raid to Essen. The entire crew of 7 bailed out and was taken prisoner.
The Tagesmeldung für den 19 Sept.1942 and the next days compiled by Der Militärbefehlshaber in Belgien und in Nordfrankreich Kommandostab Abt. Ia mentions that an enemy aircraft crashed 4 km nnw of Diksmuide with 7 crewmembers taken prisoner (Bundesarchiv ref RW36/19 p.343+345-347). The German claim list (Bundesarchiv ref RL5/1449 p.375 line 5) mentions that Flakunit 1./Res266 shot down a Lancaster at 01h14 at Tervate. Tervate is situated near the IJzer river, north of Diksmuide.
The General Questionnaire for British/American ex-prisoner of war completed by W/O. Ivan Betts mentions that he was taken prisoner at ‘Dixmude Ostend’ on 17/09/1942 (TNA ref WO344/27/2) and the similar form completed by W/O. George Moutney mentions that he was taken prisoner on 21/09/1942 near ‘Diksmunde Belgium’.

Was this Flak unit based in the Diksmuide area (Belgium) ?
Which information can be found in the Abschussmeldung they completed ?
Is any additional information available in the RAF Casualty Pack issued for this crew (TNA AIR 81/18244) ?
Was Lancaster L7571 the aircraft which crashed at Tervate ?

Many thanks and best regards

Luc