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 in 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.

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.

Above: F/O. Benjamin Peter Johnson and F/O. Robert Douglas 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. Born on the 17th January 1922. Enlisted on the 28th August 1942. Son of George R. and Vivian Johnson. (née Kirkpatrick), brother of George and Homer. of 322 Irvine Avenue, South Orange, New Jersey, USA. Fiancé - Miss Joanne Jenkins of 11 Winfield Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York.

F/O. Robert Douglas Taylor. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 248. Born on the 07th June 1921 in Vancouver. Son of Leslie Gordon (died 15th January 1955) and Jessie Donaldson Taylor, (née Dunn - died 16th May 1973, brother of Jean Constance of 655 2nd Avenue, Kamloops, 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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