FLYING-BOMB STORAGE SITES
291 aircraft - 169 Halifaxes, 112 Lancasters, 10 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Bois de Cassan and Trossy-St-Maxim sites in clear visibility. 2 Halifaxes of 6 Group were lost on the Bois de Cassan raid and 2 Lancasters on the Trossy-St-Maxim raid.
A posthumous Victoria Cross was later awarded to Squadron Leader I. W. Bazalgette of 635 Squadron, captain of one of the aircraft lost on the all-8 Group raid on Trossy-St-Maxim. Bazalgette's Lancaster was hit by Flak and set on fire while approaching the target but the pilot carried on to release his markers and bombs on the target. (The statement in the V.C. citation that Bazalgette was Master Bomber for this raid is not correct, although he had acted as Master Bomber on earlier raids.) On leaving the target, the Lancaster dived steeply, almost out of control, but the pilot was able to recover from this and 4 members of his crew were able to bale out. Bazalgette then made a good crash-landing in an attempt to save his wounded bomb aimer and the mid-upper gunner who was overcome by fumes or smoke, but the Lancaster exploded and all 3 men still inside were killed.
Squadron Leader Bazalgette and his 2 comrades are buried at the small village of Senantes.
OIL-STORAGE DEPOTS
288 Lancasters of 1, 3 and 8 Groups attacked Bec-d'Ambes and Pauillac in clear conditions and without loss. 27 Serrate Mosquitoes were used as escorts to the bombers attacking these 2 targets; this was the first use of 100 Group Mosquito fighters in this way. They did not encounter any German fighters.
TAPLES
27 Lancasters, 2 Mosquitoes and 1 Mustang of 617 Squadron attacked a railway bridge at taples. Some hits were scored but the 1,000-lb bombs used failed to destroy the bridge. No aircraft lost.
3 Mosquitoes attacked the Fort de Nieppe storage site without loss.
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MINOR OPERATIONS
12 Halifaxes minelaying off Brest, 29 aircraft on Resistance operations, 11 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Halifax and 1 Lysander lost on Resistance operations.
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Carried out the first operational trials of the Lancaster Mark VI from July to November 1944.
640 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed in 4 Group and flew Halifaxes from Lissett (only 2 raids) and Leconfield until the end of the war.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
640 Squadron flew 2,423 Halifax sorties and lost 40 aircraft (1.7 percent) in 170 bombing raids.
692 (FELLOWSHIP OF THE BELLOWS) SQUADRON
SERVICE
Formed in 8 Group on
