What happened
On the night of September 29, an aircraft departed RAF Saint Eval at 00:05 local time. The mission involved a strike against shipping in Cherbourg harbor. While operating over the target area, the plane came under attack from German anti-aircraft fire. This engagement resulted in minor damage to the fuselage and the port engine manifold.
During the return leg to base in the early morning hours, the aircraft exhausted its fuel supply. The pilot was compelled to attempt an emergency landing due to the lack of power. The plane made a belly landing on a beach near Rhossili. Although the airframe sustained damage beyond repair, all four crew members managed to evacuate the wreckage safely.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the incident to fuel exhaustion, which necessitated the emergency landing that resulted in the loss of the aircraft.