Lancaster DV186 Mk.I/III - Bombing Milan Italy - 1943-08-15 to 1943-08-16
Squadron: 61 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-08-15
Completion Date: 1943-08-16
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Milan Italy
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Syerston
Take Off Time: 20:37:00
Squadron Code: QR-R
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: a farm near Le Bosc Robert, La Vespiere, Calvados
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Leutnant Detlef Grossfuss of 2/NJG2
War Diary Unavailable

6 Bomber Group August 15/16, 1943

88 Wellingtons from 432 Squadron were ordered on a mining operation to Lorient. The crews were over the garden at between 1,500 and 5,000 feet, releasing 16@1500 lb mines. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)

61 Squadron RAF (Per Puram Tunantes) RAF Syerston. Lancaster BIII aircraft DV 186 QR-R was shot down by a Focke-Wulf FW190 night fighter piloted by Leutnant Detlef Grossfuss of 2/NJG2, returning from an operation against targets in Milan, Italy. The Lancaster crashed at a farm near Le Bosc Robert, La Vespiere, Calvados, France with the loss of the entire crew and three French civilians on the ground

Flight Sergeant R A L Scott (RCAF), Flight Sergeant J D Pigeau (RCAF), Flying Officer F Clough (RAFVR), Sergeant A Hulmes (RAFVR), Sergeant P M H Salmond (RAFVR), Flight Lieutenant R Steer (RAFVR) and Sergeant H F Webster (RAFVR) were all killed in action

The civilians killed were: Mr. Almyre Girard, deputy mayor of La Vespiere (aged 78) Mr. Jean Houguet (aged 23) and the young Pierre Dupendant (aged 10)

General Royal Air force Serial and Image Database

General Aviation Safety Network

General Lancaster DV186 (Bosc-Robert) - La Vespiere-Friardel on 16 August 194...

General Norman association of aerial remembrance 39-45

General RAF Commands