Anson MK-R 500 Squadron crashed 12 July 1940?

[Peter Cornwell]

11 July 1940 Coastal Command 500 Squadron, Detling Anson I N5228. Sortied on patrol between Dunkirk and Dieppe but lost control during night take-off in bad visibility and crashed at Thurnham, south-east of the airfield, 2.05 a.m. (Pilot) Sgt James Wilson, (Obs) Sgt William George Shier, (WOP/AG) Sgt Leo Frederick James O’Kelly, and (AG) Sgt Horace George Worton all killed. Aircraft MK*F a write-off.

11 July 1940 Coastal Command 500 Squadron, Detling Anson I N5220. Shot down by AA fire during night patrol between the Hook of Holland and Ostend and crashed by the Vondelingenweg at Pernis, south of Schiedam, 11.30 p.m. (Pilot) F/O Arthur Wilfred Alexander Whitehead, P/O Anthony Ronald Mathias, and (WOP/AG) AC1 William Charles Hubbard all killed, Sgt H.W.J. Smith captured. Aircraft MK*D a write-off.

9 August 1940 Coastal Command 500 Squadron, Detling Anson I N5356. Shot down by AA fire during dawn patrol between Hook of Holland and Ostend and crashed in the North Sea off Katwijk aan Zee early a.m. (Pilot) Pilot Officer Herbert George Ross Pirie and (AG) Sergeant Montague Adam Prentice both killed, (Obs) Pilot Officer Jack Boyce Shadwell Brockway and (WOp/AG) Sergeant Stanley Raymond Croft both captured. Aircraft MK*B a write-off.

[John Beaman]

Peter:

Good information.

But, I am going to ask an ignorant question: what were two Ansons doing patrolling over hostile territory, one at night and one near dawn? What were they looking for? I assume the Ansons did not have any guns except for a turret, or dorsal position, did not have any radar to spot shipping, and were virtually "pigeons" for German defensive action. Seems a bit negligent to put them in that position.

[Chris Goss]

ORB would reveal the answer but Anson was an ideal recce ac so maybe anti-invasion patrols? Guess they got too close to ports hence fell victim