RAF raid on Gdynia, 18/19 Dec 1944

[peter64]

I am the Nephew of David Buchanan

Maybe you could help with the following
The crash was survivable, no bodies where recovered from the aircraft
Any local knowledge as to what happened to the crew would be appreciated


Mon 18/Tue 19 Dec 1944
EASTERN FRONT: 236 RAF Lancaster’s of No 5 Group attacked the distant port of Gdynia, Polandon the Baltic coast and caused damage to shipping, installations and housing in the port area.
4 Lancaster’s lost. The night time attack sinks the Schleswig-Holstein and 8 other ships at Gotenhafen (Gdynia)

207 Squadron, RAF (Spilsby, Lincolnshire - 5 Group)
Lancaster I NG144/G - took off at 1700 and brought down off the coast of Poland, crashing into the sea 100 metres off Holzkathen (now Smoldzínski Las), 33km NE of Stolp (Slupsk), at 2230.
The seven crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Captain: NZ421840 Flt Lt David Graham BUCHANAN, RNZAF - Age 23. 704hrs. 16th op.

Lancaster NG144 crash Information
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/results.php?type=&search=LM671&dday=&dmonth=&dyear =&dday2=&dmonth2=&dyear2=&pagefrom=1&submit=Sear ch

"Serial Range NF906 - NG503 This aircraft was one of 400 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft (Baginton) and delivered from Jul44 to Feb45 mainly with Merlin 24 engines from Baginton and Bitteswell.
NG144 was delivered to 207 Sqdn 16Sep44. No operational history
NG144 was one of two 207 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation.
See: LM671. Airborne 1700 18Dec44 from Spilsby carrying 10 x 1000 lb Bombs

Brought down off the coast of Poland, crashing into the sea 100 metres off Holzkathen (now Smoldzínski Las), 33km NE of Stolp (Slupsk), at 2230
Crashed into shallow water, the tail section breaking away, leaving the wings and fuselage partially submerged. all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

The Crew was as follows
NZ421840 - F/O (A/F/Lt) - D.G.Buchanan - Pilot (RNZAF)
1868287 - Sgt - E.G.Hall - F/Eng
1600602 - F/Sgt - H.R.Hillier - Nav
996215 - Sgt - W.E.Crane - Air Bomber
1624601 - F/Sgt - T.Cronan - W/Op (Air)
1325152 - Sgt - C.C.Crux - A/G
1079426 - F/Sgt - J.Wilson - A/G