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| Name | SAUNDERS |
| First names | Christopher Arthur |
| Rank | W/O |
| Service | RAF |
| Service number | 562617 |
| Crew position | Pilot |
| Age | 28 |
| Date of death | 08/11/41 |
| Comments | Awarded the DFM |
| Cemetery | Bergen
Cemetery North Holland See Berkhout memorial |
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| 8/9 November, 1941; ESSEN/INTRUDER:
At 10.00hrs, 5 of the squadron's aircraft were detailed for operations against Essen; 3 on bombing sorties and 2 for searchlight-suppression and intruder attacks. The two intruders took off just after 17.14hrs. Bomber Command had dispatched 54 aircraft on the bombing raid assisted by 8 Hampden intruders. Large fires were started in the target area but the cost was high with 3 Wellingtons, 2 Whitleys and 1 Hampden reported missing. One Hampden failed to return from the intruder operations and it unfortunately came from 49 Squadron. W/O Christopher Saunders DFM (P1206) and crew were shot down by a German night fighter flown by Ofw Ney of II/NJG 2. The aircraft was hit over the Dutch coast and set on fire; it was seen to circle before crashing at Berkhout, south west of Hoorn in Holland. Hampden P1206 (EA-Z) W/O C.A. Saunders DFM Pilot (Killed) Sgt J.M. D'Arcy NAV (Killed) Sgt J.E. Kehoe W/AG (Killed) Sgt S.G. Mullenger W/AG (Killed) |
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