What happened
During a combat engagement, a German aircraft attempted to attack a Royal Air Force Wellington with the registration BK516. The defensive fire from the British bomber proved effective, and the attacking aircraft was hit. Unable to maintain flight or recover from the damage sustained during the exchange, the plane crashed into the Bay of Biscay. All three members of the crew on board were killed in the incident. The fatalities included the pilot, a mechanic, and a radio operator.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft was shot down by the British Wellington. The defensive action taken by the RAF crew resulted in the destruction of the opposing plane and the subsequent loss of life.