Mitchell - Crash 28 April 1945 - All Belgian crew

[Leendert]

On 28 April 1945 a Mitchell reportedly crashed at a location called Little Farm Banham (Norfolk?) on a training flight.
On board was an all-Belgian crew: Capt. Van Massenhove (P), 1st Sgt Vercamer (CP?), 1st Sgt Post (observer) and Sgt Stassin (radio).
They were all killed.

I suspect the Mitchell was of an OTU.

Who has more info about this accident?

Thanks & regards,

Leendert
Belgium

[Henk Welting]

G'dag Leendert,
This was HD394 of 2 GSU based at Fersfield. I've as name of the farm: Littlemore Farm.
Regards from Pays Bas to Belgique.
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Leendert,
Forgot to mention: Stalled in cloud and dived into ground, Littlemore Farm, Norfolk.

Henk.

[Leendert]

Henk,

Thanks for the quick reply!

The airmen are all buried at the Ereperk van de Luchtmacht in Brussels

Groet,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Found the Mitchell back on Joe Baugher's website. B-25J model, ex-USAAF 44-28736.
Mitchell III in RAF service.

Leendert

[BC]

The village of Banham is approx 4 miles NNE of Fersfield aerodrome, but I am a bit puzzled by this crash as there is no record of any such incident in the Norfolk Civil Defence War Diaries ?
There were occasionally crashes where aircraft slipped through the net, particularly if no services, Police, NFS, CD, etc., were required and there was no damage to property, and if Banham, Norfolk is confirmed, I can only assume that the Mitchell in question was one of them.

Interesting.

BC

[Leendert]

BC,

According this Norfolk website there seems to be a location Littlemore Farm at/near Twyford: http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/de...nt=400.010.012

Apparently well further north from Fersfield... Puzzling indeed.

Regards,

Leendert

[BC]

Leendert:

As there are no detailed Police records for such incidents for Norfolk, the CD War Diaries are one of our primary sources of info on crashes. About 95% of the USAAF heavy bomber crashes off-airfields are mentioned.

Other sources of info are also utilised, including the Station Log for East Dereham NFS (National Fire Service). If the Mitchell had crashed at/near Twyford, it would have been well within the 'catchment' area of East Dereham NFS. Guess what ? No mention of any incident on this (28 April 1945) date.

Back to the drawing board !

BC