Operation: Villiers-Bocage, France

Date: 30th June 1944 (Friday)

Unit No: 15 Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: ME695

Code: LS:Z

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: RAF Ford, Sussex

Pilot: Flt Sgt. John Walter Lovell French 1319935 RAFVR Age 22. Safe (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. T.J. Pavey 1606903 RAFVR Age? Safe

Nav: Flt Sgt. Geoffrey Arthur William Stubbing 1321488 Age 22. Safe (2)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Frederick George Smith 901391 Age? Safe (3)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. J.A. Hope 1317137 Age? Safe

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Harold Edwin Slingsby 1649129 Age 36. Safe (4)

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. Andrew Pawlyk R178830 RCAF Age 22. Killed

Above: Flt Sgt. Andrew Pawlyk (Courtesy of his Service Record)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Flt Sgt. French described that on 30th June 1944:

‘I was detailed with my crew to attack Villiers Bocage. Take off was at 18:20 hours and since that was late, we did not take up our position in the formation until after we had passed Luton at approximately 1900 hours. Position was No.2 in the third vic,

Then crossing the coast near Selsey Hill at approximately 19:25 hours, I glanced to starboard and saw a Lancaster aircraft heading straight for my aircraft. It was very close, and there was no time to take avoiding action. There was a collision and my aircraft fell out of control.

I gave the order to bale out and the Bomb Aimer and Flight Engineer left the aircraft (height 11,500 feet). The Mid Upper gunner and the Wireless Operator re-established communication at the rear door. They were told to hold on in case the aircraft became more controllable. At 6000 ft. they were told to abandon aircraft which they did. The Navigator volunteered to stay with me to help, for which I was very grateful. Bombs were jettisoned safe near Arundel.

The Navigator gave me a surface wind for we had decided to land at an aerodrome which he had seen. The aircraft was now flying in a diving spiral and could not be made to hold height. Full rudder and elevator and aileron control were utilised. ‘Darky’ was called and Tangmere answered with the QDM of their long runway. The undercarriage was lowered as the hydraulic system was not known to be damaged. Flaps were lowered crossing the aerodrome boundary and a landing was made at Ford. The starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing, and eye witnesses reported that the wheel was loose prior to touch down.

Damage to the aircraft was found to be, the starboard wing tip, starboard fin and rudder and elevator, the rear turret and a slit in the starboard side of the fuselage, and the starboard undercarriage. The tail wheel, the starboard outer motor, and the starboard inner propellor were also damaged. The main spar was also apparently twisted'.

Above: Photograph of ME695 after the crash-landing. Note that the caption incorrectly records the serial number of the aircraft (Courtesy of Colin Stubbing).

The rear turret, starboard rudder and fin were cut off by the collision. The aircraft was ‘crabbing’ as it touched down on the runway at RAF Ford, due to the pilot’s difficulty in maintains control over the damaged aircraft, which resulted in the collapse of the starboard undercarriage. Flt Sgt. Pawlyk was killed when his turret was severed from the aircraft.

The other aircraft in the collision was 514 Squadron Lancaster III PB178 JI:P was attempting to join onto the 15 Squadron formation. This aircraft should have been in the leading formation which was three (3) minutes ahead of 15 Squadron.

No blame was attached to Flt Sgt. French and it was considered that he put up a very fine show in landing his badly damaged aircraft and a commentary log book endorsement was recommended. Flt Sgt. Stubbings’ was also commended for remaining in the aircraft to help the pilot.

(1) Flt Sgt. French was appointed to a commission and promoted to 182367 Plt Off. on the 5th August 1944 (London Gazette 19th September 1944). His appointment was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. on the 5th February 1945 (London Gazette 16th March 1945).

He was awarded the Distinguished Fly Cross (DFC) whilst with 15 Sqn on the 22nd May 1945 (London Gazette 22nd May 1945).

John Walter Lovell French was born on the 15th September 1921 in Kensington, London. John passed away in August 2006 in Hillington, Great London, aged 85.

(2) WO. Stubbing was appointed to a commission and promoted to 188724 Plt Off. on the 7th November 1944 (London Gazette 23rd January 1945). His appointment was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. on the 7th May 1945 (London Gazette 15th June 1945).

He was awarded the Distinguished Fly Cross (DFC) whilst with 15 Sqn on the 25th May 1945 (London Gazette 25th May 1945).

Geoffrey Arthur William Stubbing was born on the 16th April 1922 in Camberwell, Greater London. Geoffrey passed away on the 27th August 2010 in Rochester, Kent.

(3) Flt Sgt. Smith was appointed to a commission and promoted to 187424 Plt Off. on the 5th November 1944 (London Gazette 26th December 1944). His appointment was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. on the 7th May 1945 (London Gazette 15th June 1945).

He was appointed as a Fg Off. to the RAFVR, Training Branch on the 28th September 1949 (London Gazette 8th November 1949). He resigned his commission on the 26th January 1955 (London Gazette 26th Jul 1955).

He was then reappointed to a commission as a Fg Off. in the RAFVR, Training Branch on the 6th October 1959 (London Gazette 16th February 1960). He extended his service by four years on the 3rd October 1963 (London Gazette 8th October 1963). He relinquished his commission retaining the rank of Flt Lt. on the 6th October 1967 (London Gazette 28th November 1967).

(4) Flt Sgt. Slingsby was appointed to a commission and promoted to 187565 Plt Off. on the 7th November 1944 (London Gazette 26th December 1944).

Plt Off. Slingsby was KiA on an operation to Dortmund on the night of the 3rd/4th February 1945 aboard 15 Squadron Lancaster I PD419 LS:V (5 PoW, 2 KiA).

Harold Edwin Slingsby was born on the 19th September 1907. At an age of 38 , Plt Off. Slingsby was well above the average age of operational aircrew.

Burial details:

Above grave marker for Flt Sgt. Andrew Pawlyk

Flt Sgt. Andrew Pawlyk. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Grave 54.J.10. Grave inscription: "SADLY MISSED BY PARENTS, SISTER, BROTHERS, AND ALL WHO LOVED HIM". Born on the 3rd June 1922 in Calmar, Alberta. Son of William and Euphrosina (née Sych) Pawlyk of Calmar, Alberta, Canada.

Researched by Ralph Snape and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Colin Stubbing, the son of Flt Sgt. Stubbing, for the photograph of the crashed aircraft (Mar 2026).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 19 March 2026, 09:11