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15/16 June 1944 Lancaster Mk I - HK550 KO-Y |
Shot down by a night fighter shortly after bombing the target.
A graphic description of this incident by F/O Morder is on page 415. "They shall Grow Not Qold" by Allison & Hayward
where he describes the unfortunate FE appearing to "explode" as he was hit by cannos shells from the fighter.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan - more info Aircrew Remembered
224 aircraft - 184 Lancasters, 30 Stirlings, 10 Mosquitos - of Nos 3 and 8 Groups, attacked railway yards at Lens and Valenciennes.
The raids took place in clear visibility and both targets were accurately bombed.
6 Lancasters were lost from the Lens raid and 5 Lancasters from Valenciennes.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary June 1944.
ORB 15th June 1944. 21 aircraft were detailed to attack VALENCIENNES
but one failed to take off due to starboard generator being unserviceable.
The remainder took off between 23.05 and 23.27 hours.
1 aircraft (Y.HK.550 - Captain F/O. P. ANAKA) failed to return from Operations - no news being received.
19 aircraft succesfully identified the target visually & by means of red & green indicator markers.
Most of the aircraft bombed short of the markers on the instructions of the Master Bomber from heights between 6,500 feet & 10,000 feet.
Many bombs bursts, fires & explosions were seen in the marshalling yards.
Attack appeared to be very successful. Photographs were attempted.
02.45, 19 aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.
Anaka Peter J. - Pilot
F/O - Service No
Age: - Evade capture
RCAF
Son of
His brother Harry John died in service, age 25.
Captain, R.C.I.C. attd. 7th Bn Hampshire Reg.,
Servive No CDN/123 , +04 Ocktober 1944,
Mook War Cemetery, Netherlands, grave I. E. 4.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan -
photo Aircrew Remembered
Fieldhouse Cyril William - FE
Sgt - Service No 1642303
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Benjamin and Harriet Fieldhouse,
of Stramshall, Staffordshire.
Runnymede Memorial - panel 229
Source: CWGC.
Morden Allister G. - Nav
F/O - Service No
Age: °November 17, 1921 - +May 27, 2015, his obituary
RCAF - Evade capture
Son of John and Bertha Morden.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
Thomas Richard John - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1671438
Age: 21
RAFVR
Son of William John and Florence Mabel Thomas,
of Ecdeshill, Bradford, Yorkshire.
Oisy-le-Verger Communal Cemetery,
Departement Pas-de-Calais - grave 4.
Source: CWGC - Photo via ww2cemeteries.com
Leckie Robert Clarke - BA
F/O - Service No J28502
Age: 27
RCAF
Son of Robert and Frances Prudence Leckie,
of Swift Currant, Saskat chewan, Canada.
Oisy-le-Verger Communal Cemetery,
Departement Pas-de-Calais - grave 1.
Source: CWGC -
more photo's and letters Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Hughes Owen Peter - MUG
P/O - Service No J93658
Age: 20
RCAF
Son of Charles and Mary Eleanor Emma Hughes,
of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada.
Oisy-le-Verger Communal Cemetery,
Departement Pas-de-Calais - grave 3.
Source: CWGC - photo Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Armstrong David - RG
Sgt - Service No 1795827
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of Robert and Margaret Armstrong,
of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Oisy-le-Verger Communal Cemetery,
Departement Pas-de-Calais - grave 2.
Source: CWGC - Photo via ww2cemeteries.com