3 fatalities

Aircraft shot down during bombing mission near Mayu River (V5445)

Adwynbyin, MyanmarFlight

On April 13, 1943, a Bristol 142 Blenheim (registration V5445) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Adwynbyin, Myanmar in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by enemy fire while on a bombing mission. 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

An aircraft was hit by enemy fire while on a bombing run near the Mayu River, crashing into a wooded area and killing all three crew members.

What happened

The incident occurred during an active bombing mission in the vicinity of the Mayu River. While executing this operation, the aircraft came under attack from opposing forces. The airframe sustained damage from enemy fire, which rendered it uncontrollable. Consequently, the plane crashed into a densely wooded area. There were no survivors; all three individuals on board lost their lives in the accident.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the direct cause of the crash was the impact with the ground following the loss of control due to combat damage. The aircraft was destroyed by hostile action during its operational flight.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by enemy fire while on a bombing mission.