Saint-Nazaire

The twin engine aircraft was returning to Paris-Le Bourget on a taxi flight, carrying nine industrialists based in Paris. Just passing over Alençon, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy snow falls and icing conditions. He informed ATC about technical problems, stated he was unable to maintain control and requested assistance to divert to the nearest airport. Less than a minute later, the airplane struck a tree and crashed in a field located just outside Le Pin-la-Garenne. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

The airplane departed RAF Syerston at 2007LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Robert Leslie Pickup, pilot,
Sgt Roland William Lea, flight engineer,
Sgt Arthur Eddie Bagley, navigator,
Sgt Henry Philip Hunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt William Geoffrey Barnes, wireless operator,
Sgt Kenneth Arthur Tester, air gunner,
F/Sgt Calvin Warren Dahl, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Middleton Saint George at 1940LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Robert Francis Beckett, pilot,
F/Sgt Charles St. Clair Foster, flight engineer,
Sgt Dennis Ansley, navigator,
Sgt William James Stonard Boyd, navigator,
F/Sgt Roderic Murray McLeod, bomb aimer,
Sgt Joseph John Goldspink, air gunner,
F/Sgt Gerald McGrath, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Holme-on-Spalding-Moor at 1845LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Raymond Lewis, pilot,
Sgt William Rishton, flight engineer,
Sgt John Conroy, navigator,
P/O John Leslie Metcalfe, bomb aimer,
Sgt John Henry Sibley, wireless operator,
Sgt John Richard Jeffrey, air gunner,
Sgt Eric Davies, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 1845LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
P/O Sylvester Danahy, pilot,
Sgt Clarence Edgar Tanner, flight engineer,
P/O John McCartney, navigator,
F/Sgt Charles Thomas Clifton, bomb aimer,
W/O Glen Howard Corrie, wireless operator,
Sgt John Henry McKenna, air gunner,
F/O Francis Arthur Mallett Shooter, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Fiskerton at 1825LT to lay mines off the French coast. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Saint-Nazaire. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Frederick Colin Duncan, pilot,
Sgt Reginald Brooks, flight engineer,
P/O Ronald George McCracken, navigator,
W/O Alexander McKeen Dickie, bomb aimer,
Sgt Herbert Kay, wireless operator,
Sgt David William Belsham, air gunner,
Sgt James Andrew Kelly, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Molesworth on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off the city. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt James B. Clark, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul Bouton Jr.,copilot,
2nd Lt Charles E. Hoffman, navigator,
S/Sgt Leroy W. Wilder, radio operator,
2nd Lt Don W. Lusk Jr., bomb aimer,
Sgt Arthur Brunnet, air gunner,
S/Sgt George F. Hall Jr., air gunner,
Sgt Jonathan S. Land, air gunner,
T/Sgt Thomas J. Reino, air gunner,
S/Sgt Merlyn D. Rukes, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Molesworth on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter, exploded in the air and crashed into the sea off the city. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt William H. Goetz, pilot,
Maj Charles C. Sheridan, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert L. Madrid, navigator,
T/Sgt Joseph H. Walters, radio operator,
2nd Lt Robert W. Smith, bomb aimer,
Sgt Merel D. Bradley, air gunner,
Sgt Martin F. McDonald, air gunner,
Sgt Walter E. Runge, air gunner,
S/Sgt Donald H. Rutt, air gunner,
T/Sgt James F. Shelly, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh at 1000LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 16 km off the city. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt James M. Stewart, pilot,
2nd Lt William W. Dickey Jr., copilot,
T/Sgt Charles J. Meriwether, mechanic,
2nd Lt Joseph A. Creed Jr., navigator,
T/Sgt Thomas E. McMillan, radio operator,
1st Lt John A. Creamer Jr., bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Martin R. Barthe, air gunner,
S/Sgt George R. Rumph, air gunner,
S/Sgt Raymond C. Schmoyer, air gunner,
S/Sgt Jack M. Wheeler, air gunner,
Cpl Hugh L. Langan, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed 8 km from the city. Six crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt John R. Barnett, pilot,
2nd Lt Lowell E. Kinney, copilot, †
Sgt Frederick Mannello, mechanic,
2nd Lt Thomas D. Hall, navigator, †
T/Sgt Francis M. Counselman, radio operator,
2nd Lt Norman R. Nelson, bomb aimer, †
S/Sgt Jack W. Madison, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Bernard P. Papeika, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Charles R. Wilson, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Walter Crawford, air gunner.