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18/19 April 1944 Lancaster Mk II - LL667 KO-R |
Shot down by an intruder at 0210 hours and crashed near Common Farm, Witchford.
* Claim by Hptm Dietrich Puttarken 5/KG51 30km South of King's Lynn (033) at 02:25.
Shot down on approach to landing.
Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan. * Info via John Jones.
273 Lancasters (26 a/c 115 Squadron) and 16 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3 and 8 Groups to Rouen.
Bomber Command claimed a concentrated attack on the railway yards, with much destruction.
No aircraft lost.
Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary April 1944.
ORB. 18th APRIL 1944.
27 aircraft (9 from 'A' Flight - 10 from 'B' Flight and 8 from 'C' Flight)
were detailed to attack ROUEN, 1 aircraft failed to take off.
26 aircraft took off between 22.27 hours and 22.55 hours.
In clear weather with some ground haze, the target was identified by red and green target indicators of Path Finder Force.
Some crews were able to identify the target visually by bend in river and lights from street in build up area.
Path Finder Force seemed scattered and also had two destined concentrations.
The master of Ceremonies advised bombing to South East target indicators,
and this advise was picked up by many crews and used.
Bombs were dropped from heights varying between 15,500 feet and 15,500 feet.
Many fires and bomb bursts were seen and generally the raid was considered successful.
Aircraft J.LL.867 (Captain F/Lt. C. EDDY) (Lancaster Mk II - LL867 A4-J, 7 KIA) shot down
over base on returning from operations by enemy aircraft.
There were no survivors.
Photographs were taken.
03.48. 23 aircraft had arrived back at base.
Birnie (Jock) John - Pilot
P/O - Service No 173326
Age: 20
RAFVR
Son of Walter and Bessie Birnie, of Gosforth.
One sister Lorna.
Gosforth (St. Mary) Churchyard, Cumberland
Source: CWGC - photo: Memories of RAF Witchford
Ferguson Jack - FE
Sgt - Service No 1591340
Age: 19
RAFVR
Son of John H. Ferguson and Mary Ferguson,
of Kendal.
Kendal (Parkside) Cemetery, Westmorland -
Sec. C. Cons. Grave 816.
Source: CWGC - photo: Memories of RAF Witchford -
Find a grave by Dimitrios Corcodilos.
Jones David Lloyd - Nav
F/S - Service No 975131
Age: 30
RAFVR
Son of John William and Elizabeth Ann Jones, of Aberystwyth.
Husband of Gwendoline Eva Jones.
Aberystwyth Cemetery, Wales - Sec. 3 Extn. Cons. Grave 124.
Source: CWGC - Find a Grave - photo: Memories of RAF Witchford
Kerwin Ernest - WOP
Sgt - Service No 1540856
Age: 30
RAFVR
Son of Thomas Harold and Jane Kerwin.
Husband of Martha Annie Kerwin,
of Wakefield, Yorkshire.
Cambridge City Cemetery - grave 13961
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by Len.
Feldman Arnold Lepine - BA
P/O - Service No J92605
Age: 27 - °21 November 1916
RCAF
Son of Samuel Feldman + and Beatrice Lepine Sabel,
of Norwalk, Connecticut. U.S.A.
Cambridge City Cemetery - grave 14361
Source: CWGC - photo and more info Canadian Virtual War Memorial -
Find a grave by darealjolo.
MacMillan William James - MUG
Sgt - Service No R209012
Age: 19
RCAF
Son of James and Catherine Macmillan,
of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey - grave 48. G. 10.
Source: CWGC - photo's and more info Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Find a Grave.
Bailey George Edward - RG
Sgt - Service No 1868473
Age: 23
RAFVR
Son of John Edward and Doris Evelyn Bailey,
of Rainham, Gillingham.
Rainham (St. Margaret) Churchyard, Gillingham, Kent - gravr 399
Source: CWGC - Photo: Find a grave by JS.