115 Squadron

8 June 1944

Lancaster Mk I - LL864 A4-H2

T/O Witchford 0027 - target Chevreuse, France.
Shot down by a night fighter and crashed into a field 200 yards from a road leading to Vernon,a small town 38 Km SE of Rouen.

The target was a major road bridge in Paris between Massy and Palaiseau. Its destruction would seriously hamper the movement
of reinforcements to the invasion Front.
To avoid loss of French civilian life orders were to wait for the Master Bomber to verify that the markers were correct before bombing took place.
There was thick ground haze and the Master Bomber went u/s.
The deputy took some time to get it all together and in the meantime the force of 337 bombers sent to various targets around Paris waited.
It was a clear night and the night fighters descended.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

337 aircraft - 195 Halifaxes, 122 Lancasters, 20 Mosquitos.

Attacks railway targets at Achères, Juvisy, Massey Palaiseau and Versailles. Bombing conditions were better than on the previous night.
All targets were accurately bombed and, although no details are available, it is probable that fewer civilians were killed.
The targets were mostly more distant from the battle front than those recently attacked and German night fighters had more
time to intercept the bomber forces.

17 Lancasters and 11 Halifaxes were lost, 8.3 per cent of the forces involved.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary June 1944.

ORB 8th June 1944.
18 aircraft were detailed to attack CHEVREUSE and all took off between 00.20 hours and 00.40 hours.
6 aircraft -
H.ND.790 (Captain P/O. S. FRANCIS) Lancaster Mk III ND790 KO-H, 7 KIA,
J.HK.552 (Captain P/O. J. TODD) Lancaster Mk I HK552 KO-J, 6 KIA, 1 POW,
W.HK.548 (Captain P/O. E. A. LAW) Lancaster Mk I HK548, KO-W, 2 KIA, 5 EVA,
C.ND.761 (Captain F/L. P. W. NORBURY) Lancaster Mk III ND761 A4-C, 7 KIA,
H.LL.864 (Captain P/O. MAUDE) &
K.ND.760 (Captain P/O. C. H. QUINTON) Lancaster Mk III ND760 A4-K, 7 KIA,
failed to return from Operations and no news was received from them.
The remainder identified the target by means of red & green indicator markers on which they dropped their bombs from heights
ranging between 4,000 feet & 6,500 feet. All the bombs bursts appeared to be concentrated around markers.
Many combats were seen.
Photographs attempted

04.03. 12 aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.

Lancaster LL864 A4-H2

In the background 115 Squadron Lancaster LL695.
She was delivered to 514 Squadron on 10 April 1944.
Lost on the Duisburg raid, 21/22 May 1944, 3 KIA, 2 POW, 2 EVA.

Back Row;

P/O. Maude Ronald
Sgt. Anderson Alan
F/O. Tovey Ronald
P/O. Forster Harold

Front row;

Sgt. Fyfe Jack
Sgt. Sutherland Robert
Sgt. Penton Kenneth

Source: photo and more info on Aircrew Remembered