2 fatalities

Twin-engine maritime patrol aircraft shot down off Katwijk aan Zee (N5356)

Katwijk aan Zee, NetherlandsFlight

On August 9, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5356) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire during a night patrol. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft conducting a night maritime patrol was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea near Katwijk aan Zee, resulting in two fatalities.

What happened

The incident occurred during a nighttime maritime patrol operation. The crew was flying along the coastline between Ostend and Scheveningen when the aircraft came under attack. While traversing the Dutch coast, the twin-engine plane was struck by German anti-aircraft fire (Flak). Unable to maintain flight after being hit, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Katwijk aan Zee.

The accident resulted in significant loss of life and capture. According to the records, two crew members were killed in the crash. The remaining two individuals survived the impact but were subsequently taken prisoner by enemy forces as Prisoners of War (PoW).

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire during a night patrol.