| Lancaster LM586 AS-E | 166 Sqn | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date | : | 28 juin 1944 | Mission | : | bombardement du site de V1 de Bernapré (80) | ||||||||||||||
| Décollage | : | Kirmington à 01:30 | |||||||||||||||||
| Causes de la perte | : | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lieu de la perte | : | Belleville-sur-Mer (76) | |||||||||||||||||
 | FS | Charles Howard Michael | BEAUDOIN | AB | RCAF | R/155103 | KIA | ||||||||||||
 | Plt Off | Leonard | HUNT | Pil | RAFVR | 172474 | KIA |  | |||||||||||
| Sgt | Trevor Morgan | JONES | FE | RAFVR | 926315 | KIA | ||||||||||||
| Sgt | Augustus Martin | KEAN | AG | RAFVR | 1896606 | KIA | ||||||||||||
| Sgt | Ronald George Henry | KIRK | WOP | RAFVR | 1334735 | KIA | ||||||||||||
| Sgt | Charles George | REEVE | Nav | RAFVR | 1582577 | KIA | ||||||||||||
| FS | Peter Cyril | ROBINS | AG | RAFVR | 1874073 | KIA | ||||||||||||
| Distinguished Flying Cross. Pilot Officer Leonard HUNT (172474), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 166 Squadron. Distinguished Flying Medal. 1874602 Sergeant Montague William SAUNDERS, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 166 Squadron. One night in April, 1944, this officer and airman were pilot and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Friedrichshafen. When apprpaching the target the aircraft was struck by bursts of machine-gun fire from a fighter. The rear turret was shattered and its occupant was fatally hit; the Mid-upper turret was put out of action and .the gunner was wounded. A large hole was torn in the elevator and the fuselage. The bomb doors were damaged, causing a failure of the hydraulic gear, whilst the mainplane itself was riddled by flying splinters. The bomber dived steeply but Pilot Officer Hunt, aided by Sergeant Saunders succeeded in regaining control. Despite the havoc caused by the attacker, Pilot Officer Hunt was determined to deliver his bombs. As the run-in was begun, Sergeant Saunders was hit in the leg and thigh by fragments of shrapnel from a shell which burst near the aircraft. Despite this he refrained from informing his pilot however, and the bombing run was completed with Success. By this time, the aircraft was in a perilous position, being so nose heavy that it was beyond the strength of the pilot to keep the aircraft steady. Two members of the crew came to his assistance and finally they fixed a wire from the Mid-upper turret to the control column and were able to pull when directed by their pilot. Thus assisted, Pilot Officer Hunt eventually reached this country where he effected a safe landing although as the aircraft touched down the undercarriage collapsed. This officer displayed the finest qualities of skill, courage and tenacity in the face of almost impossible odds’. Sergeant Saunders also proved himself to be a brave and devoted member of aircraft crew. Although suffering acutely from his injuries he executed his engineering tasks with great skill, a factor which proved of the greatest assistance throughout the long and trying flight home. THIRD SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE Of FRIDAY, the igth of MAY, 1944 | |||||||||||||||||||
11 décembre 2020 : Ajout informations de la DFC du Plt Off HUNT