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Lancaster III ND365 crashed near Vornæs 15/2 1944.
The aircraft belonged to RAF 7 Sqn Bomber Command and was coded MG-L.
T/o17:01 Oakington. OP: Berlin.
On its way towards Berlin ND365 was shot down by a German night fighter and
crashed in the sea off Vornæs on the island of Taasinge. It is believed that the
Lancaster was claimed by Hauptmann Erhard Peters of 9./NJG 3 at 20:04. The
Lancaster exploded in the air killing six members of the crew of eight.
The fuselage crashed into the sea 100 metres off Vornæs while two engines were
found on the beach and two were found in a nearby forest.
(Via Finn Buch)
(Via Finn Buch)
(Via Finn Buch)
The dead bodies of P/O James M. Alexander CGM and W/O Walter Hawkins DFC were on
16/2 found floating in their Mae West`s in the sea south east of the island of
Skarø by Fisherman Marius Eriksen and his daughter Inger. The bodies were taken
to Skarø end placed in an outbuilding. The police was informed and they in turn
informed the Wehrmacht who would take care of the flyers. An officer and sex
privates arrived from Svendborg with two coffins. The flyers were placed in the
coffins and loaded on a horse drawn carriage driven by Grocer Madsen and taken
to the church. The flyers were laid to rest in Skarø cemetery in the night of
16/17 February 1944 by the Germans who refused Erichsen and Madsen permission to
be present.
Williams, Stanisforth, Alexander, Ansty (not
on this flight), Hawkins, Glaus, Sefton.
On 6/3 the body of F/Lt Arthur J. Sayer was found in the sea 100 metre north of
the crash site by Fiskerman Laurits Hansen and Smallholder Christian Rasmussen
who took it to the beach of Vornæs forest. It was found that a bullet had passed
thru Sayers head. At 20:00 hours the body was picked up by four German soldiers
who brought a white coffin in which they placed Sayers. The coffin was taken to
Landet cemetery where Sayers was laid to rest on the night of 6/7 March 1944.
Vicar Nielsen received permission by the Germans to officiate at the graveside
ceremony.
The body of F/Sgt Louis G. Glaus was found in the sea between the wreckage 400
metres off Vornæs on 30/6 and brought ashore. On 1/7 the Wehrmacht placed the
body in a coffin and took it to Landet cemetery where it was laid to rest on the
same day. Vicar Nielsen officiated at the graveside ceremony.
Where and when the bodie`s of F/Lt Raymond R.S. Ballantyne DFM and F/Sgt Norman
B: Sefton was found is not known. On 12/5 1945 their remains were found buried
on the grounds of the Dragoon Barracks in Svendborg. On 17/5 1945 their remains
were finally laid to rest in Svendborg cemetery, Reverend Petersen officiated at
the graveside ceremony which were attended by an officer and 6 privates of the
British army, an guard of honour of resitance fighters, County chief
administrative officer Lassen, Judge Filip Hansen, Mayor Ferdinand Jensen,
Kaptain Krarup and Baron Schaffalitzky de Muckadell as well as several local
people.
(Via Henry Pedersen)
F/Lt Raymond R. S. Ballantyne DFM
Airbomber F/Sgt George Stanisforth managed to bail out of the burning aircraft
and landed in a field on the island of Skarø and broke one leg. He did not
manage to release the parachute and was pulled across the frozen field hitting
his head on rocks. He was found by Edvard Broholm and Rasmus Andersen who lifted
hin down to the beach and cleaned the blood from his face. Stanisforth was then
brought to the home of Rasmus Andersen.
Airbomber F/Sgt George Stanisforth
Pilot F/Lt P.K.B. Williams also bailed out of the burning bomber and landed in
the sea off the island of Skarø. He managed to get up in his dinghy and shouted
for help. He was heard by the brothers Aage and Hans Strange Rasmussen who set
out in a small boat and brought him ashore. Williams was taken to the house of
Marius Erichsen and given dry clothes.
Both were picked up by the Wehrmacht and taken to Svendborg where they met.
After questioning Staniforth was taken by ambulance to the German lazaret in
Fredericia for treatment. He stayed there for three month and was well treated.
Next he was sent to a camp in Annaburg between Leipzig and Berlin. This camp was
for prisoners of war who was to be repatriated due to being wounded. Stanisforth
and 2195 other wounded allied soldiers and 850 civilians were brought to
Marseilles where they were loaded onboard ships. On 5/2 1945 Staniforth and 762
other arrived at Princes Dock in Liverpool onboard “Arundel Castle” at 18:00
hours.
Williams was sent from Svendborg to German and spent the rest of the war in
Stalag Luft III Sagan.
(Museet for Danmarks frihedskamp)
F/Lt Arthur J. Sayer
(Finn Buch)
Landet Cemetery
(Via Finn Buch)
(Finn Buch)
Sources: Gunnar Kjær Mortensen, Langeland, OLCB, FAF, FB, LBUK, UA, AS
24-248+251, RL 19/458, TW, Nonnenmacher file.
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