Date: 1941 Sep 07/08 A/C Type: Hampden I SN: AD936 Code: PL- A/C Nickname:
 File: 476 Airforce: RAF Sqn/Unit:  144 Sqn Mission/Raid: Berlin
1 Pilot P/O Peter Stevens                  POW 9    
2 Obs Sgt. A.W. Payne                      POW 10    
3 Nav/AG Sgt. H. Thompson                   POW 11    
4 WO/AG Sgt. Ivor R. Fraser                   MIA 12    
5     13    
6     14    
7     15    
8     16                    

Came with a fuel-leak from Berlin. Both gunners parachuted out into the night. Thompson was arrested somewhere and became POW. Sgt. Fraser was never seen again. It is believed his parachute did not open. He is in the ground, water, or buried as unknown airman on the line Berlin - Amsterdam. The aircraft belly landed in the meadows at Amsterdam-North, south of Zunderdorp.
 

.
Pilot was the famous Peter Stevens (see links below). He and Sgt. Payne stepped out the aircraft and set it on fire. A man helped them. Because of the downed aircraft without crew, the Germans carried out a big search of the area. Stevens and Payne were found on the terrain of an amateur football club, hiding in a hut (tool shed or cantine). They became POW.

The landing location must have been where now the A10 motorway is, northside of Amsterdam, coming from the Zeeburger-tunnel about 1km before exit S116 Volendam. 
Today sports club ARC Ulysses is situated on the location.

3,5 months before, a colleague of Stevens crashed also here (6km NNW). This was Hampden AD841 of 144 Sqn (pilot McVie).



 Sources: 

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stevens_%28RAF_officer%29 
- website CWGC
- http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/144427/Bravery-of-the-German-Jew-who-flew-RAF-bombers-over-his-homeland 




© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)