6 Group Unavailable
405 (City of Vancouver) Squadron (Ducimus). RAF Pocklington, Halifax II aircraft W 7718 LQ-T lost over Belgium, while homeward-bound during an attack against Dusseldorf, Germany. Shot down by the night fighter crew of Feldwebel Spille & Unteroffizier Becker of the 3/NJG 1, who were flying a Bf 110 from Venlo airfield in the Netherlands
The crew abandoned the aircraft over Belgium. Sergeant I Watters (RAF) was killed in the parachute jump. Pilot Officer LJO Nadeau (RCAF) was severely injured and died as a Prisoner of War in the Field Hospital, St Gilleia, Brussels on August 3, 1942. Pilot Officer W R Bandeen (RCAF) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Pilot Officer WR Howard (RCAF) of Milestone, Saskatchewan, and Pilot Officer DE West (RCAF) of Edmonton, Alberta, W.D. Gibbon (RAF) were taken Prisoners of War.. Sgt. R.E. Pearce (RAAF) evaded capture
Wm. Bandeen, now of Victoria, British Columbia says, 'We were hit on our return trip by a night fighter at about 20,000 feet. I was the navigator and knew our Welsh rear air gunner was killed outright. Pilot Officer West, the pilot, ordered a bale out. Everything was happening so fast as we got out that I didn't know exactly who didn't get out.
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB
