Operation: Caen, France

Date: 18th July 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 158 Squadron

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ730

Code: NP-Q

Base: RAF Lissett, Yorkshire

Location: Caen, France

Pilot: Fl/Lt. William George Davies 127814 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Ronald David Morgan 1893132 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Gladwin Meehan 1600595 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Bmr: F/O. William Robinson Morrison Can/J27396 RCAF Age 20. Killed (1)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth George Porter 1322181 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Andrew McIntyre 3030075 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Cecil Thomas William Carpenter 1294200 RAFVR Age ? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 03:29hrs from RAF Lissett to bomb target area's East of Caen (Operation Goodwood 18-20th July 1944). The raids took place at dawn in good weather conditions. Halifax MZ730 crashed in the target area. It may have been hit by flak or shot down by a night fighter. Over 850 R.A.F. heavy bombers took part in this first raid dropping 15,500 bombs.

This raid was either the most useful or one of the most useful of the operations carried out by Bomber Command in direct support of the Allied armies. Only 6 aircraft were lost 5 Halifaxs and 1 Lancaster on this first raid

Family headstone, Pinecrest Cemetery in memory of F/O. Morrison. Ranville War Cemetery and Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery

Runnymede Memorial. War Memorial in the old Northern Grammar School, Portsmouth now Mayfield School

Burial details:

F/Lt. William George Davies. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave. III. E. 12. Son of John and Margaret Elizabeth Davies. Husband of Rita Margaret Davies of Pocklington, Yorkshire. King's Scout and Asst. Scoutmaster. At the time of his death William's address was 42 George Street, Pocklinton, Yorkshire, England.

Sgt. Ronald David Morgan. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave. III. E. 9. Son of William David and Lilian May Morgan of Swansea, Wales.

Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Gladwin Meehan. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave. III. E. 13. Son of Henry Gladwin Meehan and Ethel Louisa Meehan of North End, Portsmouth. Kenneth is remembered on the War Memorial in the old Northern Grammar School (now Mayfield School) Portsmouth. At the time of his death Kenneth's address was 96 Balfour Road, North End, Portsmouth, England.

F/O. William Robinson Morrison. Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave. V. F. 3. Son of Alfred Leland and Jessie Ann Morrison of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. William is also remembered on a family headstone in Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa, Canada

(1) From the Ottawa Journal July 18, 1946

"William Robinson (Bill) Morrison 20 year old son of Mr & Mrs Alfred L Morrison, 70 Third Avenue was killed on active service on the night of July 18, 1944. According to word received by his parents from Air Force Headquarters, he was reported missing following an air operations over Caen, France, and was later presumed dead. Latest word received by his parents he was buried in Branneville, France.

In May 1942, Bill enlisted in the RCAF and trained at Lachine, Toronto, Centralia and Fingal, before graduating as an Air Bomber from London in June"

No. 5 Manning Depot, Lachine and No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto. "Life at a manning depot, where the recruits usually spent four to five weeks, was fairly strenuous. When not being interviewed, tested or lectured to, the would-be airmen spent long hours drilling on the parade square" A quote from the Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan 1939-1945

Bill would have continued his training at No. 4 Bomber and Gunnery School, Fingal and No 9 Service Flying Training School, Centralia, Ontario

Sgt. Kenneth George Porter. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave. III. E. 15. Son of Ernest William and Eleanor Rose Porter of Hooley, Coulsdon, Surrey. At the time of his death Kenneth's address was Dorald, 8 Church Lane Avenue, Hooley, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Andrew McIntyre. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Panel 289. Son of Matthew and Grace McIntyre of St. Colmac, Buteshire, Scotland. Andrew is remembered on a family headstone in North Bute Churchyard, Isle of Bute, Scotland

Sgt. Cecil Thomas William Carpenter. Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Panel 226. Son of Thomas W J J Carpenter and Daisy Carpenter. Are you able to provide further information?

Researched by: Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives and friends of the crew

Acknowledgements: W. R. Chorley Bomber Command Losses 1944, Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Bomber Command War Diaries - Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Veterans UK, Imperial War Museum

The following is the proposed wording for a panel to be erected in memory of this crew (courtesy Stephen Bowden)

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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