6 Bomber Group July 4/5, 1944
38 Lancasters from 408, 419, and 428 squadrons were joined by 64 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 squadron on an attack of the Rail yards at Villeneuve Saint-Georges. The crews were over the target at between 9,000and 13,000 feet, releasing 791,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was accurately bombed with severe damage to the rail yards. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LW166 ZL-S was missing from night operations to bomb the rail yards at Villeneuve St Georges, France. The Halifax was shot down by a night fighter after completing its bombing run and crashed at Obville, Yvelines, France. There are multiple claims for this loss but it was most likely shot down by Hptm Fritz Sothe of 4/NJG4
The pilot, Flying Officer Claude Alexander "Bud" Moss (RCAF) and Flight Engineer, Sergeant William Arthur Steel (RAFVR) were both killed in action
Flight Sergeant Grant George Cunningham Brown (RCAF) and Flying Officer James Erlund Finnie (RCAF) survived and captured to become Prisoners of War
Flight Sergeant Harold Atkin survived and evaded for a time with the aid if the French Resistance until he was betrayed and arrested. Atkin was one of 168 Allied Airmen deported to Germany and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The German Luftwaffe intervened on behalf of these airmen and they were transferred to Luftwaffe controlled POW camps
Flying Officer John David Siddall (RCAF) and Flying Officer John Francis Bester (RCAF) survived and avoided capture as Evaders
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
Search for France-Crashes 39-45
04/05 07 1944 427 (Lion) Squadron RCAF Halifax III LW166 Fg Off Claud...
Cimetiere d'Allainville-aux-Bois (78) I Ils venaient du ciel...
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