What happened
The incident involved a four-engine aircraft that was engaged by British military forces. The plane was in the process of approaching a ships convoy when it came under fire from British fighters. As a result of this engagement, the aircraft was shot down and destroyed.
At the time of the loss, the airframe was not carrying passengers or standard cargo for commercial use. Instead, the payload consisted of dive flap modification kits intended for P-38 fighter aircraft. The specific registration of the aircraft is not provided in the available records.
Findings
The official determination regarding the cause of the accident confirms that the primary factor was military action. The aircraft was shot down by opposing forces during its approach to the convoy, leading to the total loss of the airframe.