Operation: Marshalling Yards

Date: 01/02nd August 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 418 Squadron RCAF (11 Group)

Type: Boston III

Serial: W8264

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex

Location: Near Évreuz, France

Pilot: P/O. Ronald Gordon Blamires J/6951 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Obs: Fl/Sgt. Hamilton Earle Prime R/88205 RCAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Harold Lewis Green NZ/404602 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

With the great research carried out by Errol Martyn on the Royal New Zealand Airforce losses we have been able to compile this page. If you have further information and or photographs we would welcome contact from you.

Taking off at 23:59 hrs to attack the Sotteville Marshalling yards based in Rouen, France. Understood to have been brought down by anti-aircraft fire, although we have no details of this. We welcome any further information.

Burial details:

P/O. Ronald Gordon Blamires. Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Grave: XXVII.H.2. Born on the 28th July 1921 at Devenport, the son of Edgar Percy and Martha Olivia Blamires (née McKinney), of Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand. Moved to California, USA to join sister. Joined RCAF in November 1940.

Fl/Sgt. Hamilton Earle Prime. Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Grave: XXVII.H.4. Understood to be from Freeport, Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada but no next of kin details - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Harold Lewis Green. Evreux Communal Cemetery. Row C. Grave 1. Son of James Edwin Green and of Helena Victoria Green (née Horrox), of Kaitaia, Auckland, New Zealand. At the time of his death his parents were living at Turua, Hauraki Plains, New Zealand. A total of 218 flying hours logged and had completed 1 operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below: