Archard, Leonard Thomas
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Leonard Thomas |
Surname | Archard |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 25-06-1944 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ753 |
Markings | DY-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Fontaine l'Etalon, Pas-de-Calais |
Grave Reference | Grave 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 123 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1894301 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-06-1944 |
End Date | 25-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Montorgueil- to attack flying bomb sites. Part of a 323 strong bomber force to attack three V-bomb sites. The weather was clear and it is thought that all the raids were accurate. Two Halifaxes were Lost (0.6%) |
Reason for Loss | Said to have collided mid-air with a 77 Sqn Halifax (LL549, KN-N), both aircraft falling on Fontaine l'Etalon, Pas-de-Calais, France, although in reality it is almost certain that this aircraft was hit by bombs from an aircraft flying at a higher altitude, i.e. a "friendly fire" incident. It is equally likely that LL549 suffered the same fate. Six of the 10 Squadron crew which was said to have released their bombs onto the two Halifaxes (Halifax LK753- Rosen) were themselves lost just a week later while flying MZ584. |