Cause of Death: |
Died in Aircraft Accident, Lancaster BI PA278, met with bad weather while flying at 2000 feet (since there was no heating or oxygen for the nurses on board) over Corsica. Radioed other aircraft to indicate turning back to Marseilles due to engine difficulties. Nothing further was heard and no wreckage was found during the subsequent air-sea rescue operation. The passengers, including Sadler, sat on canvas folding seats in the fuselage, but due to a lack of heating or parachutes, "F" for Freddie was forced to fly at just 2,000 feet. A partner Lancaster simply spotted a flash of flames at 0440 hours. It is considered the plane crashed near Corsica, Sadler amongst 6 crew and 19 female passengers. It remains to date the worst loss of female British Commonwealth life |
