Lancaster JA712-BQ-H took of from North Killingholme (Lincolnshire) on May 27th 1944, at night with several other aircraft of the 550 squadron to bombard the marshalling yards ROTHE-ERDE of AACHEN, east of the city.
The target has been touched, in spite of the light mist covering the railways, during this night, following the mission's reports.
The Lancaster JA 712-BQ-H was attacked by a German night fighter while it flew at the level of Tongeren. Pilot-Officer Purney tried to maintain the aircraft fying.
After few time, he had to resign to make the plane land quickly. Over the village of Rebecq, the bomb-aimer was able to jump with his parachute, but the rest of the crew had no time to escape from the burning aircraft.
Finaly, after having avoided the village, the aircraft fell in a meadow, at 800 m. of Rebecq. When plane crashed, it exploded and many parts scattered in the surroundings of the incident.
The turret of the mid-up-munner was expelled at 200 m and the gunner David Yardley landed in a tree, seriously wounded.
The five other airmen died in the crash.
Few parts of the aircraft were taken by villagers. At left, a rudder-tail witch been used as cot to carry the wounded airman to the hospital; at right, few technical parts and several decorations of pendants cut in the Plexiglas of the wreck (These items were been returned to the 550 Squadron association and remain in the 550's museum
Receip of recovery of a fuel tank of the aircraft, signed by the Germans on July 2nd, five days after the crash.
Receip of recovery of the wreckage ot the Lancaster done on August 4th, two months after the crash. Tree bodies were yent bloqued in the cabin's wreck.