Αναφορά κατάρριψης αεροσκάφους τύπου Beaufighter στη Σέριφο με αριθμό NE 421.
Στις 11 Απριλίου 1944, σχηματισμός από τέσσερα Beaufighter επιτέθηκαν σε καΐκι 150 τόνων που βρισκόταν αγκυροβολημένο στη μέση του όρμου Λιβάδι, Σερίφου. Περιγράφεται η επίθεση των Beaufighter καθώς και η μαρτυρία των πιλότων για την συντριβή του Beaufighter NE421 μετά την επίθεση στο καΐκι με δύο ζεύγη R.P 25lb ( Rocket Projectile 3 ιντσών). Τα βλήματα αυτά χρησιμοποιήθηκαν από την RAF στη διάρκεια του Β’ Π.Π από βομβαρδιστικά αεροσκάφη εναντίον στόχων όπως σε δεξαμενές, τρένα, οχήματα καθώς και κτηρίων.
Από την έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε από τα άλλα 3 Beaufighter αμέσως μετά τη συντριβή εντοπίστηκαν τα συντρίμμια του αεροσκάφους ενώ δεν υπήρξε καμία ένδειξη για τυχών επιζώντες.
Beaufighter NE 421 of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn RAF, took off from RAF Station,Gambut, Middle East, at 1355C hours on 11 April 1944 together with three other Sqn aircraft, for an offensive sweep of Antikithera, Serephos, Paros, Nios, Santorin and Caso. The formation of 4 Beaufighters arrived without incident at Serephos at 1608C, swept the west, north and eastern coasts and climbed overland to run into Livadhi Bay in the middle of which a 150 ton caique painted grey, was anchored.
The four aircraft formed into fairly close line astern to attack the caique on which lightack-ack positions were observed at the bow, stern and amidships. The leading and second aircraft made their attacks scoring hits, and WO Lynch then made the third attack with two pairs of 25lb R.P., the first pair undershooting and the second pair hitting amidships. The pilot of the 4th attacking aircraft reported seeing a flash comparable with a strike of an explosive bullet, beneath the starboard engine nacelle of NE 421 flown by WO Lynch.
Other crews saw black smoke trail from the starboard engine of NE 421 which continued to fly straight and level for one and a half minutes at 100 feet. The aircraft then turned starboard through 45deg. and lose height; at 1612C hours in position 37.05N 24.32E the starboard wing appeared to drop to the vertical, and in the intervening twenty feet before hitting the sea, the starboard engine burst into flames. The impact with the sea was marked by a large flash and explosion and the machine disintegrated.
The three remaining aircraft circled for 5 minutes and reported seeing wreckage and burning debris, including a semi inflated dinghy. There was no sign of any survivors. Some photographs of the crash scene were taken. No R/T message was received from NE
421 after the attack and before it crashed.
Crew:
RAAF 413398 PO Lynch, E T (Pilot)
RAF Flt Sgt Sykes, C C (Navigator/Wireless)
It was later recorded that the missing crew were lost at sea.
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