Crash Site Hawker Hurricane N2556

On 11 May 1940, the RAF's Hawker Hurricane N2556 made an emergency landing at this site.

That day, around 15.15 local time (16.15 Dutch time), twelve Hawker Hurricane Mk.I fighter aircraft took off from RAF Martlasham Heath in England. The formation belonged to RAF. No. 17 squadron and its task was to support the Dutch Air Force fighting the German invaders.

The four sections of three fighters each reached the airspace over Rotterdam after about 30 minutes. Here the formation got into combat with Messerschmitt Bf-109s of the German Luftwaffe. The Messerschmitt BF-109s, which flew at a higher altitude than the Hawker Hurricanes of 17 squadron, belonged to the 1st Gruppe of the Jagdgeschwader 51 (I./JG51).

The German fighters managed to shoot down five of the nine Hawker Hurricanes. Among them was the Hurricane Mk.1 with serial number N2556, fuselage code YB-I, flown by F/L Michael Donne. At about 17:30, it was hit by the gunfire of a Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-3, believed to have been flown by Oberleutnant (Oblt.) Heinrich Kraft of the 3rd Staffel, 1st Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 (3./JG51). For a moment it seemed that F/L Donne's Hawker Hurricane made a successful emergency landing on W.A. Quartel's plot on West Biesakkersweg near Numansdorp.

During the emergency landing, the Dutch soldiers present at the scene shot at F/L Donne's Hawker Hurricane, believing it to be a German aircraft. Only after the emergency landing, when the Dutch soldiers arrived at the aircraft, did they realise their mistake. Pilot F/L Michael Donne was found to be badly injured and, after being treated for his injuries on the spot, was transferred to the infirmary of the 34th Infantry Regiment in Numansdorp, where he died the same evening. Michael Donne was only 23 years old.

Nothing remains of the crash today. The plane was quickly cleaned up and no memorial or other marker has been placed.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Corin Gelderblom
• Photos: Jurre Dekker (1), Oorlogsgravenstichting (2)
• - Michael Stephen Donne | Oorlogsgravenstichting
  
• - 17 Squadron Hurricane N2556 Fl/Lt. Donne Martlesham Heath Rotterdam Biesakkersweg, Holland