The aircraft could have been hit by Flak. Several eye witnesses confirmed that the plane was burning before it crashed. A wristwatch, brand Reliance,
was found at the crash site with the hour-hand still intact enabling us to calculate the moment of the crash somewhere around 22.47 hours UK and local
Belgian time (official German time was one hour ahead). Eye witnesses and death certificates indicate the time of crash of Hampden AD859 at 23.00 hours. A few months after we had found the wristwatch, we dug up a dented pocket watch, brand Ingersoll Crown. Again only the hour hand has survived and again it is positioned somewhere past 22.30 hours. It's seems to have stopped running about ten minutes earlier as compared to the wristwatch.
The huge impact from the crash may have caused the hour hand to turn back though...
Ron G. Low, 83 Sqn electrician in 1940 at Scampton on the wing of Hampden AD859-OL-O
R.G. Low holding the ladder (note the frost and standing on a Hampden wing. The tent covers on the engines)
Wristwatch Reliance - Pocket watch Ingersoll Crown (Pictures: Lost Planes)