166th Squadron Avro Lancaster ME720 crash

[António Fragoeiro]

28th of April, 1944, a RAF Lancaster from the 166th squadron based out of Kirmington, Lincolnshire,

Mission : Bomb Friedrichshafen.

After completing the bomb run they were lost above Zurich for some time and shortly after they received fire from Baden.
The swiss fire was effective and the bomber was shot and damaged.

The bomber crashed in a field about 500 meters from the town of Hämikon and five airmen died.
A sixt was injured and recovered on site by swiss authorities, while a seventh crew member escaped, being later found 3 km away in the town of Ermensee.

Since the details of briefing given to the Bristish vice-cônsul were not clear, confusion was left in the air….. the plane had already a defective landing gear and they were lost, the swiss fired at them but the swiss claim they didnt….

Today, parts of the details are still blurry.
Was it really a plane mal function that let to the crash ? Or did the Swiss actually fire at them ?
The probable part was, the plane had problems and the swiss did fire at them.

Pilot: Robert Burns Ridley, P/O, deceased
Navigator: A.C. Piggott, F/O
Bombardier: Roy E. A. Phillipps, F/O
Engineer: John James Eaton, Sgt, deceased
Radio: Leslie Cotton, Sgt, deceased
Gunner: Ross Lewis Clark, Sgt, deceased
Gunner: Allan Mackay Weir, Sgt, deceased

There are many sources out there but by far, "warbird.ch" has the more complete story on it.
Von Schweizer Flab getroffen - Warbird - Information Files Switzerland : Warbird – Information Files Switzerland

I was at the field this morning, and here are my photos.
Regards
Antonio