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Flight of Boston III W8351 and Flight Lieutenant A J Love on 1942-04-03

1942-04-03 · Montdidier · France

The story

On 1942-04-03, Pilot, navigator or other duty? A J Love (Flight Lieutenant, RAF) with servicenumber 85274 flew a Boston III with serial W8351 for this duty: Night Intruder. His mission was not completed. Circumstances of the aircraft loss are unknown. This aircraft was a part of squadron no. 418. The location for the map is the English Channel. Circumstances at the end of this mission for Love: he was killed. He is commemorated at: Montdidier French National Cemetery, France.

Edward Paul: Flight Sergeant H.E.D. Tilby (RAF Service Number 978862 - Please note, the surname is TiLby with an 'L' not two 'B's) was my Uncle and the Observer/Navigator in 'Jack' Love's crew. The Air Gunner was F/Sgt Malcolm Bunting.
They were lost on the night of 3rd/4th April, 1942 while 'Intruding' over known Luftwaffe Airfields in northern France with 418 Sqdn. R.C.A.F.
This crew were one of two or three others transferred from 23 Squadron R.A.F to 418 to train the Canadians in the art of 'Intruding' (23 Sqdn were regarded as the 'professionals' in this field at the time).

Uncle Harry Tilby is on the right in the photo taken at Ford Aerodrome when they were with 23 Squadron. The other is of their last resting place at Montdidier

All three were buried at the Montdidier National Cemetery after the Germans removed their bodies from the wreckage of W8351 and handed them over to the local Mayor for internment. Their graves are now maintained by the C.W.G.C, along with several other bomber crews in the same cemetery


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← Flight of Boston III W8351 and Flight Sergeant M Bunting on 1942-04-03Flight of Boston III W8394 and Sergeant J A Foran on 1942-06-23 →