Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND978 |
Markings | GT-T |
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium |
Grave Reference | Block W. Grave 743.. |
Epitaph | LEST WE FORGET |
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 232 |
Service Number | 3008479 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 514 |
Trade | Ground |
Country of origin if different | United Kingdom |
Thompson J F (LAC) |
Burrowes B E (LAC) |
Ellis J (AC1) |
Gill W E (Cpl) |
Graham T E H (LAC) |
Jones H B (LAC) |
Mole J A (Cpl) |
Start Date | 30-11--0001 |
End Date | 30-11--0001 |
Takeoff Station | Upwood |
Day/Night raid | |
Operation | Ground |
Reason for Loss | POSSIBLE INCIDENT: Exploded while ground crew were removing the bomb load after the aircraft returned from the le Havre raid. The aircraft was skippered by W/C T L Bingham-Hall DFC. Seven ground crew were tragically lost in this incident, four of whom are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial since their remains could not be found. The crew's Fight Engineer, W/O Norman McLennan Piercy, and the rear gunner were walking away from the aircraft when Norman decided to go back to talk to the ground crew. The rear gunner was carrying his guns, which were heavy, so he carried on. There was a large hole in the fuselage due to flak damage and the resultant inflow of air had spun the arming propeller on one of the bombs. As Norman approached the aircraft, the bomb exploded, severing his leg above the knee and killing seven of the ground crew. |