Operation: Intruder

Date: 18/19th June 1944 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 418 Squadron (RCAF)

Type: Mosquito FB.VI

Serial: NT140

Code: Not known

Base: RAF Holmsley South, Hampshire

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: F/O. Benjamin Peter Johnson J/13591 RCAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Nav: F/O. Robert Douglas Taylor J/25192 RCAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

Some reports state that they crashed near Chateauroux, France. Louise Barber, a friend of the family of F/O. Taylor, are in contact with a French Historical Group who may have connections with an eye witness of the crash! Further details may follow.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a night intruder operation to the area of Bourges / Avoid airfield the Mosquito was reported as lost without trace.

The Mosquito had only just been taken delivery from 60 Operational Training Unit on the 12th June. Further information regarding the Squadron (courtesy Wikipedia):

418 Squadron RCAF was Canada's highest-scoring squadron in World War II, in terms of both air-to-air and air-to-ground kills, and in terms of both day and night operations. The Squadron's most active period was 1944, when assigned to Intruder and Ranger sorties across occupied Europe.

These sorties, made at low level to escape radar detection, took 418 Squadron crews into the heart of enemy territory, there to wreak havoc among departing or returning Luftwaffe night-fighter crews (Intruder sorties), or to shoot up enemy airfields, or indeed anything else of military value, in Ranger sorties.

Left: F/O. Robert Douglas Taylor courtesy Louise Barber and the family of F/O. Taylor.

As an Intruder squadron, 418 Squadron aircraft did not carry radar sets - even at night targets had to be found, identified, lined up, and attacked all with the naked eye. The squadron's success speaks volumes of the skill of its crews that it achieved such success under these conditions.

Burial details:

F/O. Benjamin Peter Johnson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 246. Son of George R. and Vivian K. Johnson. Native of USA.

F/O. Robert Douglas Taylor. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 248. Son of Leslie G. and Jessie D. Taylor, of Sorrento, British Columbia, Canada.

Researched for Louise Barber and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below:

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