6 Bomber Group August 5, 1944
172 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432,433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 52 Lancasters from 408, 419 and 428squadrons on an attack of a V-1 storage site at Saint-Leu D'Esserent. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing2,553,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was good and damage was caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
The aircraft (KC-V), piloted by Flying Officer D Cheney RCAF, had left Woodhall Spa at 9:49 for a daylight raid on the U-boat pens at Brest, France . It had successfully dropped its Tallboy bomb when it was hit by flak and extensively damaged, and the navigator and wireless operator were severely injured. Cheney ordered the crew to bail out. The aircraft crashed into the sea at Douarnenez Bay . Three of the crew were killed.
There were two Canadians in the crew, Flying Officer Don Cheney and Warrant Officer 2nd Class KR Porter. Cheney landed in the water, and was picked up by a fishing boat manned by the Maquis who held off the Germans with machine-gun fire. Porter landed safely and was also collected by the Maquis. Both were later put in touch with the US 5th Armoured Division at the end of August and returned to England. Cheney then returned to Canada. The other members of the crew were all in the RAF. Pilot Officer R Welch was shot by the Germans as he descended by parachute, Flying Officer WN Watt and Flight Sergeant EH Pool were killed and Flight Sergeant J Rosher evaded capture and Flight Sergeant A Curtis was taken prisoner. He was released from a camp near Brest by the US 8th Infantry Division in September.
