Douglas DC-3 accident at Bay of Biscay, World, 1 Jun 1943 (G-AGBB)
On June 1, 1943, a Douglas DC-3 (registration G-AGBB) operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC was involved in an aviation accident near Bay of Biscay, World in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by German fighters. Theories abound that the aircraft, a Douglas DC-3, was attacked because the Germans believed that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was aboard. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
Shot down by German fighters. Theories abound that the aircraft, a Douglas DC-3, was attacked because the Germans believed that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was aboard. Other theories suggest the DC-3 was targeted because several passengers, including Howard, were British spies. During the Second World War, British and German civilian aircraft operated out of the same facilities at Portela and the incoming and outgoing traffic was watched by Allied and Axis spies. The Lisbon - Bristol route frequently carried agents and escaped PoWs to Britain.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The airplane departed Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém at 0730LT on a regular schedule flight to RAF Whitchurch, Bristol. While cruising over the Bay of Biscay, it was intercepted and shot down by eight German Junkers JU.88 fighters. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea some 350 km north of La Coruna, Spain. All 17 occupants, among them the British actor Leslie Howard, were killed. Crew: Cpt Quirinus Tepas Obe, pilot, Cpt Dirk de Koning, pilot, Cornelis van Brugge, radio operator, Engbertus Rosevink, flight engineer. Passengers: Leslie Howard, Alfred T. Chenhalls, Kenneth Stonehouse, Evelyn Peggy Margetts Stonehouse, Rotha Hutcheon Petra Hutcheon, Carolina Hutcheon, Cecelia Emilia Falla Paton, Tyrrell Mildmay Shervington, Ivan James Sharp, Wilfrid Israel, Francis German Cowlrick, Gordon Thompson MacLean.
Probable cause (official findings): Shot down by German fighters. Theories abound that the aircraft, a Douglas DC-3, was attacked because the Germans believed that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was aboard. Other theories suggest the DC-3 was targeted because several passengers, including Howard, were British spies. During the Second World War, British and German civilian aircraft operated out of the same facilities at Portela and the incoming and outgoing traffic was watched by Allied and Axis spies. The Lisbon - Bristol route frequently carried agents and escaped PoWs to Britain.