Operation: Training exercise

Date: 5th September 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: 68 Squadron (Vzdy Pripraven - ‘Always Ready’)

Type: Beaufighter IF

Serial: X7842

Code: WM:V

Base: RAF Coltishall, Norfolk

Location: Poultry Farm, Spixworth Road, Norwich, Norfolk

Pilot: WO. Karel Richter 788029 RAFVR Age 39. Killed

Obs: Flt Sgt. Jaroslav Kovanda 787832 RAFVR Age 29. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

All Czechoslovakian crew taking off from RAF Coltishall on a night training exercise. Shortly after take off it is understood that a fire broke out in one of the wings, thought to have been caused by trapped fuel vapours.

They crashed at 23.40 hrs in the grounds of Poultry Farm, Spixworth Road, Norwich. We are indebted to Pat Littleboy who’s husband was living at the farm at the time.

The beaufighter - the heaviest armed aircraft used by the RAF during the war with 4 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 303 machine guns in the port wing, 4 x 303 in the starboard wing.

Beaufighter IF X7842 pictured here with another crew.

Above and below, graves at Scottow Cemetery, Norfolk (photographed by Aircrew Remembered April 2014 anyone who wishes to have a higher definition of these photographs are welcome to contact us.)

Burial details:

WO. Karel Richter. Scottow Cemetery, Norfolk. Grave 281. Husband to Zdenka Richter from Vysočany in Prague, Czechoslovakia

Flt Sgt. Jaroslav Kovanda. Scottow Cemetery, Norfolk. Grave 280. Next of kin details not available - can you add to this information? From Czechoslovakia.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Peter Croft ‘History of 68 Squadron Peter Croft’, Pat Littleboy and family. Thanks to Karel Filip for the information regarding WO. Richter whose wife was a Great Aunt. (Jun 2021).