Other aircraft over the target prior to bomb release, say a RAF Lancaster suffer a direct hit to the Port Wing, completely ripping off the wing and throwing the acft into an uncontrollable spin. From the light of the fires and searchlights it is believed that 3 parachutes were seen.
German Luftwaffee troops sent to the crash site found 4 RAF airmen dead in the wreakage. These were taken to a nearby church and buried with honors. Later that afternoon in the nearby woods a german army patrol were alerted by locals of the remaining 3 crewmembers. They were quickly taken into custody and taken to Luft Stalag.