Wellington crash

[andy wis]

Hi Forumites:
Does anyone have details of a 215 Sqn Wellington crash which occured on the 28th March 1942, off the coast of Portugal. Most of the crew were saved, but the wop/ag lost his life...
Tia
AndyWis

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

28/29 March 1942
No.1 OADU
Wellington IC DV503
Delivery Flight.

Took off Portreath for Gibraltar, but after engine failure ditched off Cape Espichel, Portugal. Sgts Cansick and Dixon drowned. The others were rescued by a Portuguese fishing Boat.

Sgt M J Smithson
Sgt H Smith - Inj.
W/O J D McLaren
Sgt R E Dixon +
Sgt E H Giersch RAAF
Sgt W Cansick +

See: Royal Air Force Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean Vol.1: 1939-1942, Gunby and Temple.
p.136.

Col.