On the 4th June 1940, Hampden P1340 of 44 Squadron departed RAF Waddington for Operation Emmerich. Sadly the aircraft later struck a barrage balloon cable near Harwich and crashed into the north side of the Orwell estuary. The aircraft was abandoned but only the pilot, Sgt E J Spenser, survived. He owes his life to a courageous Royal Navy sailor, Petty Officer B Driver, who witnessed the crash and dived into the river to save him. The remaining three crew members were never recovered and their names are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.

The memorial stone donated by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company.
Photograph courtesy of Jim Gardiner

Memorial Service at Lyngsodde

On 10th March 2022 the Defence Brothers from Fredericia, Denmark, held their annual Memorial Service for the crew of Lancaster ED 305. Sadly, the entire seven man crew (six RAF and one RCAF) perished when the aircraft crashed in the Little Belt near Fredericia.
 
The 44 Squadron Lancaster had been on a mining operation to Sassnitz but was detected by German radar on the homeward leg. The radar station directed a German night fighter to intercept over Strib, which resulted in setting ED 305 on fire. The stricken aircraft was also engaged by a German Coastguard vessel prior to impact.

Anders Engelbrecht and Peer Petersen laid a bouquet of flowers on behalf of RAF 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Association.