SGT A
Campbell Wireless Operator
SGT J S
Bennett Air Gunner
F/O M T
Grew Air Gunner
SGT R L Nutbrown Air Gunner
Sgt Pierre
Robert was in fact Sgt (later W/O) Pierre
Davreux, an Belgian who had escaped to
England and joined the Royal Air Force. He
flew under the assumed name of Robert.
The crew took
off from their base at Breighton at 19.02.
Mr. Davreux later told that their Halifax
was attacked by a German night fighter. F/O
Swanson tried to evade the attack by taking
evasive action. However, the attacker set
fire to the two port engines. F/O Swanson
then put the Halifax in a dive in order to
put out the flames. When this didn't work,
he ordered the crew to bail out. Sgt
Nutbrown apparently was already killed in
the plane. 5 of the crew bailed out, but
unfortunately the parachute of Sgt Campbell
did not open. The plane crashed near the
city of Weert. Four of the crew were killed;
F/O Swanson, Sgt Campbell, Sgt Nutbrown and
F/O Grew.
Weert had
been liberated by the 1st Battalion Suffolk
Regiment only two days before, on the 21st.
The city remained in the frontline for quite
some time.
F/O Swanson is buried
at Weert (Molenpoort) Roman Catholic
Cemetery. He was 22.
