445 James Street

About 15 minutes after takeoff the crew noticed the #2 engine on fire. "Robinson the nose gunner met me head on in the tunnel, dragging his chest pack. I prevailed upon him to back up so I could get my chute, and we both then started toward the waist because the camera hatch was a better bail out opportunity than the nose wheel hatch. Going past the flight deck I sas Eclov (R/O) and Gautreau (FE), attempting to buckle their chute straps. By this time the situation was getting desperate because the wing was fully enveloped in flames and was loaded with gasoline. Upon reaching the waist three of the gunners waved goodbye and bailed out while we were still over the North Sea. The bail out signal had not yet been given.
Robinson and I positioned ourselves at the camera hatch and waited for the bail out signal as the plane continued down. As we crossed the shoreline Lindhe gave the signal and Robinson and I bailed out at less than 1000 feet. The bail out was witnessed by members of the British Air-Sea Rescue stationed at RAF Langham where we landed. The plane crashed on the other side of the field killing the pilot, co-pilot, engineer, radio operator and an Italian POW working on the ground."