Edward Bowes
RAAF age 21, Bomb Aimer 2 F/S Leslie
Frederick Jackson age 22, Wireless Operator
F/S Henry Archibald Shaw age 21,
Air Gunner Sgt Kenneth Walter Sansom age 21,
Air Gunner Sgt Charles David Boyce RCAF age
20.
On 19 May
1944 the crew very nearly crashed on a
mission to Amiens, France. On the bombing
run, their aircraft collided with another
bomber, which resulted in extensive damage
to the back of the plane and the wing. P/O
Smart however managed to fly the stricken
plane back to England and made an emergency
landing on Manston airfield. He was awarded
an immediate Distinguished Flying Cross for
this. His citation reads;
Flying
Officer Trevor Tressler SMART (151288),
R.A.F.V.R., 207 Sqn.
One night in May, 1944, this officer piloted
an
aircraft detailed to attack a target in
Northern
France. Whilst over the target 'his aircraft
sustained severe damage. In -spite of this,
Flying
Officer Smart maintained his bombing run and
executed his attack. The aircraft was now
becoming well nigh uncontrollable but,
although
he ordered his crew to don their parachutes,
this
resolute pilot decided to attempt to reach
home.
Twice, when crossing the English Channel,
the
aircraft went into spiral dives but, by
skilful
manipulation of the engine throttles, Flying
Officer
Smart recovered control. Finally, he
effected a
safe landing at an airfield near the coast.
An
inspection of the aircraft then revealed
that the
tip of the port wing and parts of the port
aileron,
rudder and fin had been torn away; a part of
the
port tailplane was also missing. On this his
fourth
sortie, Flying Officer Smart displayed
noteworthy
skill, great courage and tenacity, setting a
very
fine example."
On 21/22 June
1944 the crew participated in a mission to
the synthetic oil plant at Wesseling. The
crew took off in Lancaster LM578 EM-C at
23.21 from RAF Spilsby.
Nothing was
heard form the crew after take off. They are
believed to have crashed in the North Sea
off Overflakkee, Holland. It was one of two
Lancasters of 207 Squadron to be lost this
night. The other plane, piloted by S/L
Fisher, was shot down and crashed also in
the North Sea.
The body of
Sgt Bowes was washed up on the English
coast. The bodies of P/O Smart, F/O
Douglas Faires, Sgt Charles Boyce and F/S
Leslie Jackson were never recovered. The
others washed up on the Dutch coast
and are buried in different cemeteries in
Holland.
The cross that
was first erected over Sgt McArthur's
grave at Castricum, before the stone grave
marker was placed. (Picture courtesy of Paul
Patist)
Sgt McArthur
washed ashore near Castricum, where he is
buried. Wireless Operator F/S Henry
Archibald Shaw is buried at Bergen. Air
Gunner Sgt Kenneth Walter Sansom is buried
at Westduin Cemetery, The Hague. Bomb Aimer
F/O Lyle Edward Bowes is was recovered on
the English coast and is buried at Cambridge
City Cemetery.
Sgt McArthur
is buried at Castricum Protestant Cemetery,
Plot J. Joint grave 9.
