4 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft shot down near Dunkirk (MG552)

Dunkirk, FranceFlight

On January 8, 1945, an Avro 652 Anson (registration MG552) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Dunkirk, France in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire due to flying too close to occupied territory. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft was hit by German anti-aircraft fire while approaching Dunkirk, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating a flight from Knokke le Zoute Airfield, located near Zeebrugge, with a destination in England. During the approach phase to Dunkirk, the aircraft came under fire from German anti-aircraft units. The impact of the flak caused the plane to crash, resulting in fatalities for all four crew members.

Findings

Investigations indicated that the accident was precipitated by the flight path taken by the aircraft. It appears the crew flew too close to the city of Dunkirk at a time when the area was still under German occupation. This proximity to occupied territory exposed the aircraft to defensive fire, leading to the loss of the plane and its occupants.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire due to flying too close to occupied territory.