559 18 June 1944

Lancaster Mk I - HK559 A4-H

T/O Witchford 0102 - target Montdidier, France.
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. HK559
More info and photo's
Asa a Picardie 39/45

Lancaster HK559

Traill John Alan Traill John AlanTraill John Alan - Pilot

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.

Dawson Douglas Albert Dawson Douglas AlbertDawson Douglas Albert - FE

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.

Smith Ian Harrison Smith Ian HarrisonSmith Ian Harrison - Nav

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.

Duff Peter Duff PeterDuff Peter - WOP

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.

Van Cooten John William Van Cooten John WilliamVan Cooten John William - BA

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.

Stapley Ernest Edwin Stapley Ernest EdwinStapley Ernest Edwin - MUG

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.

Laxton Kenneth Edgar Laxton Kenneth EdgarLaxton Kenneth Edgar - RG

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.