Short Stirling III (EF504 HA-P) on a mission to Chambly, Oise on 1944-05-02
On Monday, 01 May 1944, (a part of) the aircraft of the 218 squadron (RAAF), took off for a mission to Chambly, Oise in France from a station (airfield) in or near Woolfox Lodge.
One of the crew members was Flight Sergeant R H Osborne RAAF. He departed for his mission at 22:14.
He flew with a Short Stirling (type III, with serial EF504 and code HA-P). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Tuesday, 02 May 1944.
The crew:
-RAF FO Arthur Ieuan Iorwerth Jones (Pilot)
-RAF Sgt Eric Wright, (Flight Engineer)
-RCAF FO Taylor, Samuel (Navigator)
-RAAF 418560 Flt Sgt Ronald Henderson Osborne, (Air Bomber)
-RAF Sgt Alfred Arthur Snook, (Wireless Operator Air)
-RAF PO Twining, Robert Ernest Samuel (Air Gunner)
-RCAF WO2 Murray Richard Bell, (Air Gunner)
The aircraft crashed on 2nd May 1944 in the vicinity of Poix-de-la-Somme, France. Five of the crew were killed and Sgt Eric Wright and PO Samuel Taylor evaded capture. Those killed are buried in the Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard, France. The men who perished are buried, from left to right, Bell, Jones, Osborne, Snook, Twining - Row A Coll Grave 12-14. The two who did survive made their way to Freteval, were liberated by American troops in August and returned to England.
Photo: RCAF: Sam Taylor, Regina
Information about aircraft who did not return from this mission can be found here. Information about the other crew members on this flight can be found at this website (Aircrew Remembered). This website also provides the flight information for this record.
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