LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations (No. 464 Squadron Ventura aircraft AJ188), English Channel, 22 January 1943
Ventura II AJ188 took off from RAF Station Feltwell, Norfolk, at 1220 hours on the 22 January 1943 to bomb Maupertus aerodrome near Cherbourg, France. Six aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and two of these including AJ188 failed to return. The target was attacked in conjunction with aircraft from No. 487 Squadron (RNZAF) and No. 21 Squadron (RAF) The intention was to draw enemy fighter aircraft into combat with RAF fighters cooperating from No 10 Group. While on the way out at low level AJ188 was seen to crash into the English Channel and all the four crew members were killed.
The crew members of AJ188 were:
Sergeant James Dunne (701861) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley John Newton (1319126) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Peter Arnold Nodes (1271711) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Norman Ernest Powell (1199942) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
No. 464 Squadron lost Ventura AE876 (Sergeant H. Pilkington (1133965) (RAFVR) (Pilot)) on 22 January 1943. AE876 was hit by flak and crash landed on the Isle of Wight, injuring one crew member.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Bibliography:
Lax, M. (Mark) and Leon Kane-Maguire The Gestapo Hunters: 464 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 1999