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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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59 squadron badge
31.08.1940 No. 59 Squadron Blenheim IV R3880 TR-S P/O. Finlay

Operation: Cherbourg

Date: 31st August 1940 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 59 Squadron (Coastal Command)

Type: Blenheim IV

Serial: R3880

Code: TR-S

Base: RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex

Location: English Channel off France

Pilot: P/O. James Jackson Finlay 42826 RAF Age 18. Missing

Obs: Sgt. Frederick John Leonhardt 751200 RAFVR Age ? Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Andrew Liggat Peddie 747834 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Six Blenheims from 59 Squadron took off at 04.15 hrs and ordered to attack several oil tanks at Cherbourg. The results of the operations were successful, but sadly R3880 never returned. The body of Sgt. Peddie was recovered, the other two crew members are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

                       

59 Squadron Blenheinm IV at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex

                                 

                                          Above left: Sgt. Frederick Leonhardt, right: Sgt. Andrew Peddie

                      

Above and left Quiberville Churchyard as photographed by our Kate Tame during her visit in 2011. Any relative who would like a higher resolution of the grave or indeed the Church, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Burial details:

P/O. James Jackson Finlay. None, missing. Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial. Panel 8. Son of James Jackson Finlay and Janet Murdoch Finlay. 

Sgt. Frederick John Leonhardt. None, missing. Commemorated on Runnymede Memorial. Panel 8. Next of Kin Details not currently available.

Sgt. Andrew Liggat Peddie. Quiberville Churchyard. Grave 7. Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Donald Peddie, of Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Researched for relatives of these crews with thanks for additional information to Ross Mcneill - 'Coastal Command Losses', Graham Warner - 'The Bristol Blenheim', Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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