Halifax LV880 B.Mk.III - Bombing Tergnier France - 1944-04-10 to 1944-04-11
Squadron: 51 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1944-04-10
Completion Date: 1944-04-11
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Tergnier France
Target Specific: Rail Yards
Base: Snaith
Take Off Time: 21:20
Squadron Code: MH-C
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Davenscourt France
Crash Specifics: 7 km NNE of Mondidier
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Hptm Gerhard Friedrich, his 10th Abschuss and second of this night, from 1./NJG6, east of Montdidier at 3,200 m at 00:13 hrs
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group April 10/11, 1944

24 Lancasters from 408 and 426 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Laon. The crews were over the target at between 10,000 and 12,000 feet, releasing 276,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were not seriously damaged.

While the Lancasters went to Laon, 122 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424,425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Ghent. The crews were over the target at between12,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 1,373,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the rail yards were damaged but some bombing fell into the town with civilian casualties. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

aircraft LV880 missing during night operations against Tergnier, France.

Additional Crew:

The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter and the port wing set on fire. The Pilot attempted to blow out the fire by diving steeply but this was unsuccessful and moments after the order was given for the crew to put on chutes. The aircraft then exploded and crashed at Davenscourt (Sornme), 7 krn NNE of Montdidier.

Four of the crew were killed and Flight Sergeant Fairclough and Sergeant Hegarty were PoWs whilst Flying Officer Kirkwood evaded capture.

Those killed are buried in the Davenscourt Communal Cemetery.

Flight Sergeant Fairclough later reported: "We were attacked by a night fighter from below. The port wing was set on fire and the Captain tried to put it out by diving the aircraft. He also ordered put on chutes. I went forward to see if the abandon order had been given as I couldn't make contact. I was thrown to the floor and couldn't get up, but finally blown out when the aircraft exploded. Later learnt that the abandon order had been given. Captured a few months late by the Grestapo"
Source: AWM 237 (65) NAA A705, 166/17/526 Micro Film 463 0A_FH
Commonwealth War Graves Records, W R Chorley, RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 168 Volume 1944.

unvetted Source Air Crew Remebered LV880

General RAF Commands