Intruder Loss 15-16 Aug 43

[Chris Goss]

According to a German POW, their take off from Dreux that night for an attack on Portsmouth was delayed by intruders, one of which was shot down and the pilot, badly wounded, was captured. Could this have been 141 Sqn which crashed at Flamanville which is nowhere near Dreux and if so does anyone know why it crashed?

[zorglub]

Hello ,
Beaufighter V8460 crashed at Flamanville near Yvetot , while on a Serrate mission . Soon after crossing the french coast the pilot Robertson prepared a rear attack on a twin engined bomber when he realised it was a Wimpy ( at least identified as ) , and then hit by return fire . Both pilot and navigator bailed out and were captured .

[Chris Goss]

Thanks. Matches with what I suspected

[Rottler]

Originally Posted by zorglub

Hello ,
Beaufighter V8460 crashed at Flamanville near Yvetot , while on a Serrate mission . Soon after crossing the french coast the pilot Robertson prepared a rear attack on a twin engined bomber when he realised it was a Wimpy ( at least identified as ) , and then hit by return fire . Both pilot and navigator bailed out and were captured .

In the thread "Luftwaffe losses 15/16 August 1943" a member of our forum had posted on 13th February 2009:
… I have an account apparently direct from the navigator of a Beaufighter from 141 which was shot down on 15/16 August 1943 and both navigator and pilot (all I know is a first name for the pilot Robbie but could be nickname for Robertson) survived according to the account I have. They initially thought they had found a Wellington but then realised it was hostile. Fire exchanged and the pilot later told navigator it was a HE 177. The pilot was absolutely sure he had destroyed the Heinkel. The HE returned fire from the tail fin during the exchange which did fatal damage to the Beaufigher. Navigator was captured at Flamanville near Yvetot. Both ended up at Dulag Luft and navigator at Stalag IV B until 45 ….

Regards
Leo

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Leo. Still a puzzle how it came down though