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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.
Bombs started to spread from the junction into the town, and
sadly over 400 houses were destroyed before the 'Master of Ceremonies'
could halt the attack.
Back at base, it soon became clear that two of the aircraft seen
being shot down in flames, may have been from 49 Squadron; one
of these being the plane piloted by F/O Bryan Bell (ND533). Records
show that the bomb aimer, F/O Philip Hemmens did not die until
September 1944.
Altogether six Lancasters failed to return from the raid.
Lancaster ND533 (EA-M)
F/O B.E. Bell Pilot (Killed)
Sgt S.C. Holmes F/E (Killed)
F/O D. MacFadyen RAAF NAV
(Killed)
Sgt J. Holden W/AG
(Killed)
F/O H.D.
Clark A/G (Killed)
F/O P.D. Hemmens
A/B (P.o.W.
but died in Buchenwald Concentration Camp 27-09-44)
Sgt J.J. Reed A/G (Killed)
Crew on their 9th operation|
There is a small
memorial in Normandy remembering this crew. Click for details.
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