Fairey Battle Mk1

RAF Serial: L5546 (Squadron code PH-U)

12 Squadron

Crew:

Pilot - F/O T F S Brereton (PoW)

Bomb Aimer - Sgt J P Boddington (killed)

Gunner - LAC C S Burt (killed)

Date: 8 June 1940 - 15.15 hrs

Place: Lamaronde, France

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On 8 June 1940 - four days after Dunkirk evacuations had finished - the German troops were advancing towards the French ports of Dieppe and Le Havre. The Fairey Battle bombers were attempting to slow the German advance

This crew were flying at low level near the fronline at Aumal when their aircraft was shot down by Me109s - probably Hptm Trubenbach Stab I(J)/LG2. The pilot managed to bale out before the aircraft crashed, but his two crewmen were not positively identified until after the war.

The site was excavated in 2005. In 2006 a memorial in Lamaronde was dedicated to the crew. The engine is now on display at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum.