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9/10 June, 1944; ETAMPES:
This was a 5 Group attack, led by Mosquito Pathfinders, on the
railway junction at Etampes, south of Paris. It had rained for
most of the day across Lincolnshire with the dull overcast bringing
visibility down to 1 mile. But in the evening, shortly after
21.00hrs, a force of 108 Lancasters took to the air including
21 Lancasters from Fiskerton, all bound for France once again.
Over the target marking was accurate but late, causing the Lancasters
to orbit. During this dangerous period many aircraft were seen
to go down in flames.
Back at base, it soon became clear that two of the aircraft seen
being shot down in flames, may have been from 49 Squadron; P/O
Thomas Smiley (JB714) and crew were all killed in K-King and
are buried in Morginy-Champigny Cemetery. Altogether six Lancasters
failed to return from the raid.
Lancaster JB714 (EA-K)
P/O T.S. Smiley Pilot (Killed)
Sgt B.F.
Webb F/E (Killed)
F/S I.D.
Stuart RAAF NAV (Killed)
Sgt
D.A. Sanderson W/AG (Killed)
Sgt L.J.C.
Rainbow A/G (Killed)
F/S L.A.
Hinch A/B (Killed)
Sgt D.V. Blaikie A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 3rd operation
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