Relatives of a World War Two Royal Air Force bomber pilot killed when his plane was shot down in the Netherlands are being sought by historians.

Sergeant Eric John Richards, of Worcester Park, died when his plane was shot down by German night fighter over Rottevale, Friesland, at 3.30am on January 15, 1942.

Two other crew on board died, but three survived and were captured and taken to a German prisoner of war camp.

Now a group of historians are appealing for information on Mr Richards to help build a full picture of the impact of the war over Friesland, which lies in the north of the country.

Douwer Drijver, who works at Fries Museum, and is a member of research group Friesche Luchtvaart Documentatie 1939-1945, said Mr Richards was last known to have lived at St Philips Avenue with his father.

Mr Drijver, 57, said: “All we know so far is that Mr Richards was a pilot of the Whitley bomber from no. 51 Squadron Royal Air Force.

“It took off from RAF Dishforth for an operational flight to Emden, Germany on January, 14.

“He was shot down by a German night fighter Kurt Zipperlein, who died later in the war.

“Lots of people in the area saw the plane come down, Mr Richards did not survive, but three others did.”

Mr Drijver, who has lived in Leeuwarden all his life, has spent more than thirty years researching his local history.

He said: “Thousands of people died over the northern part of this country.

“It played a big part in the war as the Germans had an infamous night fighter base in Leeuwarden and they were very successful in shooting the English down.

“Altogether there were more than five hundred crashes reported in Friesland alone and as many as six thousand in the whole of the Netherlands.”

Contact Mr Drijver at d.drijver@friesmuseum.nl.

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