LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations (No. 464 Squadron Mosquito aircraft LR389), France, 29 February 1944
Mosquito LR389 took off from RAF Hunsdon at 0940 hours on the 29 February 1944 to bomb construction works at Belleville-en-Caux in Northern France. Six aircraft from the Squadron were detailed for this ‘No Ball’ mission and of these LR389 failed to return. The weather turned out to be the exact opposite of that forecast. On reaching the French coast several snow storms with heavy icing were encountered. Some crews ‘pressed on’ and others turned back. LR389 which failed to return was last seen near the enemy coast on the way back in cloud. Later is was learned that both the crew had been killed and they are buried in the Grandcourt War Cemetery, France. All the other aircraft returned safely.
The crew members of LR398 were:
Sergeant Philip Henry Edwards (1451834) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Cyril Timson (145686) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
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
Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982