Served with 415 RCAF Squadron
17 May 1943
415 Squadron Hampdens took off from their base at Thorney Island to carry out an anti-shipping strike off the Dutch coast. As the crew launched an attack on an enemy vessel their Hampden was shot down into the sea by the ships flak. All four crew members were killed in the crash.
Hampden I L6055 GD-X
Pilot Officer K C Wathen RAAF 401004
Flying Officer J M Crawford RAFVR 120922
Flight Sergeant I M Sykes RNZAF 413786
Sergeant J H Steward RAF 1291128
Wathen's body was washed up on the shore and is buried at Keil War Cemetary. The other members of the crew are commemorated at the Runnymeade Memorial.
Runnymeade Memorial. www.cwgc.org
www.oldcmp.net
