![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
18 June 1944 Lancaster Mk I - HK559 A4-H |
Crashed at St. Just-en-Chausee, France.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.
317 aircraft - 196 Lancasters, 90 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitos, 12 Stirlings - of Nos 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups ,
attacked railway targets at Aulnoye, Montdidier and St Martin l'Hortier.
1 Lancaster was lost on the Montdidier raid.
All targets were covered by cloud and the Master Bombers at Aulnoye and Montdidier ordered their forces to
stop bombing after only 7 and 12 aircraft had bombed respectively. 87 aircraft of No 4 Group bombed their target
at St Martin l'Hortier but no results were seen.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary June 1944.
ORB. 18th June, 1944.
14 aircraft were detailed to attack MONTDIDIER and took off between 01.01 hours and 01.21 hours.
1 aircraft failed to return from operations - no news being received.
The Master Bomber instructed the aircraft to return to base as it was impossible to find 10/10 cloud base.
11 aircraft acted on these instructions and returned to base, the majority of them bringing back all their bombs.
The remaining two aircraft did not hear the Master Bomber and identified the target by means of red glow indicator markers
on which they dropped their bombs from a height of 10,000 feet.
Results were unobserved due to dense cloud but an explosion was observed at 03.03 hours.
04.50. 13 aircraft had returned safely to base.
More info and photo's
Asa a Picardie 39/45

P/O - Service No 423186
Age: 21
RAAF
Son of Dr. Alan James Traill, and Katharine Mary Traill,
of Burwood, New South Wales, Australia.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

Sgt - Service No 574270
Age: 22
RAF
Son of Albert and Alice Dawson,
of Ossett, Yorkshire.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

F/S - Service No 423913
Age: 21
RAAF
Son of William Harrison Smith and Clyda Ann Smith,
of North Bondi, New South Wales, Australia.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

W/O - Service No 1059197
Age: 34
RAFVR
Son of Alexander and Margaret Duff, of Dundee.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

F/S - Service No 426716
Age: 22
RAAF
Son of William John Fraser Van Cooten and Lucy Van Cooten,
of South Brisbane, Queensland. Australia.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

Sgt - Service No 1896471
Age: 35
RAFVR
Son of Frank Stuart Stapley and Frances Sarah Stapley.
Husband of Dorothy Rose Stapley,
of Wood Green, Middlesex.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.

Sgt - Service No 1816757
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of John William and Lizzie Laxton,
of Hall Green, Birmingham.
Gannes Communal Cemetery,
Departement Oise - collective grave
Source: CWGC - photo Asaa Picardie 39/45 - Find a Grave.