The Local News
While in Skanor I dropped in at the local Public Library
to see if they had any old Newspapers from the time Joe's crew washed up in
Skanor. There were no papers that old at this branch but they referred me
to the central library in Malmo.
Our host (Hans Berglund) was not only gracious enough to take me there but
also helped me figure out the Microfilm reading machine. Then he had to help
me wade through newspaper after newspaper until we found it.
Another friend, Lars Henrikkson did the formal translation:
Plane Crashes in the Sea South of Trelleborg
Flying over south western Skåne. Anti-aircraft artillery in action.
There was turmoil various times last night in the air space over Öresund
and Copenhagen. Observations from Malmö concluded that the Danish capital
was attacked by allied planes at least twice. Ten minutes before 9:00 pm
you could clearly hear the bursts from a dozen charges that were fired from
the Danish side of the sound.
Over south western Skåne came a small number of airplanes, triggering
the Swedish anti-aircraft artillery. The planes continued in a southern and
south-easterly direction. Two of the airplanes crashed into the sea.
One crashed outside Skånor-Falsterbo and the other was observed cashing
into the sea around 9:00 pm by Stavsten, a few kilometres west of
Trelleborg. The impact happened at least one Swedish mile from the coast.
After the plane hit the water, fire could be seen for a few minutes. Statements
that those on board had parachuted were not confimed.
At 11:30 pm powerful detonations were heard from Copenhagen. Aircraft noise
could not be heard from Malmö, but a strong flash bomb was observed.
The light from this bomb was so strong that for a quarter of an hour you could
clearly see Copenhagen from Slottstaden. During fifteen minutes you could
hear detonations at short intervals. No anti-aircraft artillery was noted.
Half an hour past midnight, Copenhagen apparently had another visit by bomb
planes. The sound of detonations was heard in Malmö.
Since it was impossible to get in touch with Copenhagen, an evaluation of
the damage cannot be done.
Dead Aviator Found West of Skånor.
Last night, the Öresund Marine District sent out vessels to investigate
the two foreign aircraft that crashed in the sea outside Trelleborg and Skanör-Falsterbo.
Two nautical miles west of Skanör a dead aviator was found, a Canadian,
with a parachute. He had burns and other injuries, that most likely were caused
by the crash. The dead man was taken to Skanör. The search continues.
From Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 15 February, 1945.
Translation by Lars Henrikson
The Body recovered at sea was probably that of R A Thorne, not listed
among those "washed up", but buried in Sweden.