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18/19 July, 1944; REVIGNY:
Two railway targets at Aulnoye and Revigny in France had been
selected for attack by 253 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes of 1,3,5
and 8 Groups.
The first crews were away from Fiskerton at 22.38hrs, ahead of
14 other Lancasters from the squadron all bound for the rail
junction at Revigny.
At interrogation, crews once again reported an extremely large
amount of fighter activity. A glance at Fiskerton's operation
board showed 5 crews were still overdue. By 06.00hrs, news had
come through that F/O Arnold and crew had safely made Woodbridge,
but of the remaining four crews, nothing more was heard; 49 Squadron
had received yet another sickening blow, as four crews were reported
'missing'.
The crew of Australian skipper, F/O William Appleyard, were also
near to completing their tour; none of the crew survived when
they too were brought down over France. Their graves are in Granges-sur-Aube
Churchyard near Marne.
Lancaster ND684
F/O W.D. Appleyard RAAF Pilot (Killed)
P/O H.E. Turner F/E (Killed)
F/S D.W.
Blumfield NAV (Killed)
F/S G.J.
Perry W/AG (Killed)
P/O E.M.
Matheson RCAF A/G (Killed)
F/S
G.W. Jameson B/A (Killed)
Sgt
R.F.H.Viollet A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 26th operation
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