LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations (No. 464 Squadron Mosquito aircraft MM403), France, 18 January 1945
Mosquito MM403 took off from RAF Thorney Island at 0032 hours on 18 January 1945, being part of a force of 14 aircraft from the Squadron detailed to attack enemy targets in the rear of the Ardennes salient. MM403 failed to return from the mission. It was later established that the aircraft crashed 10 miles north east of Merville and that Flight Lieutenant Trites had been killed in the crash.
The crew members of MM403 were:
Flight Lieutenant Donald McKenzie Shanks (400839) (Navigator) Baled out, Discharged from the RAAF: 7 March 1946
Flight Lieutenant Richard Murray Trites (J/79017) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Shanks baled out of the aircraft at 600 feet and landed safely. He returned to the squadron on the 20 January 45. It was the second time that he had baled out. The previous time was on ‘D’ day when he spent some considerable time as an evader. He has also survived several crashes.
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
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
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