This story-line involves a differing number of aircrew from across the Commonwealth and the United States of America to New Zealand. It is the journey of various members of an aircrew who belonged to A flight, 97 (Straits Settlements) Path Finder Force Squadron. It starts with the details of the initial pilot/captain of the crew, and the first members of his crew who joined him after their respective specialised training, at differing locations in the UK, USA and Canada. Various crew members were posted, and some joined differing crews within the same squadron. The story ends in May 1944 when their aircraft, Lancaster 111 JB708 OF-J blew up in mid-air on the outskirts of Lille Airport, then under German occupation. The data presented is ‘live’ in that ongoing research is being carried out to locate other crew members and their relatives.

 

There are two files that relate to the bombing raid at Lille on the 10/11th May 1944. Richard Jozefiak, who lives close to the crash site of JB708 OF-J and who worked at Lille Airport, carried out extensive research to provide a picture of the bombing raid, and the crew of this aircraft. I am indebted to him for this.

 

There are a number of relatives of the aircrew who are in contact with each other:

 

Jean Burdett daughter of Sgt Tinsdeall, Air Engineer

Howard Chapman, the nephew of Warrant Officer Chapman DFC, Gunner

Pat Chapman daughter of Warrant Officer Chapman DFC, Gunner

Peter Harvey, nephew of Pilot Officer Harvey DFM Wireless Operator

Paul Richardson the nephew of Flight Lieutenant Jones DFC, Bomb Aimer

Peter Roberts, the son of Flying Officer Roberts DFM, the original pilot

 

The following is a 'sister' site for this aircraft and crew: http://tribalgecko.wix.com/lancasterjb708

 

The following page has a number of PDF files regarding the crew members and the operations that they undertook, both with: 9,  49, 97 and 466  Squadrons.