76 – Ellecourt

Lancaster HK536 JO-H 463 Sqn
Date :   05 juillet 1944
Mission :   Bombardement du site de V1 de Saint Leu d’Esserent (60)
    Décollage :  Waddington à 23:21
     
    Causes de la perte :   
    Lieu de la perte :
Ellecourt (76)      
Royaume-Uni  Sgt Arthur Charles BROWN AB RAFVR 1399195 KIA  
Australie
Fg Off Alfred Kyrwood CARTER Pil RAAF 421887 KIA  
Australie
FS George Edward DOWLING AG RAAF 429881 KIA  
Australie
FS Thomas Francis MAHER WOP AG RAAF 421812 KIA  
Royaume-Uni FS Robert Henry NORMAN Nav RAFVR 1394301 KIA  
Royaume-Uni Sgt Bernard John WATTS FE RAFVR 1653038 KIA  
Australie
FS Geoffrey Roy WHIMPEY AG RAAF 434299 KIA
Bristish Empire Medal (Military Division)
Aus./434299 Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Ray Whimpey Royal Australian Air Force.
One night in May 1944, Flight Sergeant Whimpey was the rear gunner of a Stirling aircraft which crashed and caught fire after stalling at an altitude of 300 feet. Five of the crew were killed but this airman was in his turret which was torn from the aircraft and flung some distance away from it. Flight Sergeant Whimpey was thrown out of the turret and althougt he was uninjured, he suffered badly from shock. Despite this experience he was one of the first to enter the blazing wreckage and rendered most valuable service in extricating other members of the crew. Throughout the rescue work there was considerable danger from exploding ammunition and the fuel tanks blew up with an explosion which shook buildings 2 miles distant. Flight Sergeant Whimpey continued to render assistance courageously until the medical officer ordered him to go to the ambulance.
THIRD SUPPLEMENT to THE LONDON GAZETTE of FRIDAY, the 18th of AUGUST, 1944.