On December 31, 1943 Don Howell was the navigator of Lockheed Hudson FK761 on the way from England to Egypt.
Over the Bay of Biscay they were attacked by a Luftwaffe patrol. One of their engines was hit, but they were able to escape and reach Portugal, where they made a emergency landing.
In 2000 Don came to Portugal and we made a trip to the Grândola area in search for the place where 60 years earlier he and his friends ended their trip to Egypt.
We found witnesses of the event and also the exact place where the Lockheed crash-landed and burned.
I made a couple of images at the location and a friend of mine – Jorge Belo – helped me recording a interview with Don.
Don Howell at the left and the two witnesses of the crash-landing - José and Julio Pereira. The son of one the men is also in the picture.
The images I collected are not in the best shape, as I used a friend camera that I did not knew how to use. In 2007 from the one hour interview and the pictures I collected I made a 20 minute movie for a English class of the University of the Algarve, where I was studying.
My English is not always the best but I hope everybody understands it. The Portuguese witnesses are not translated, and I’m sorry for that…
Unfortunately Don was not more between us when the movie was finished.
This is also in his memory…
Best regards and a happy New year…
Carlos Guerreiro
