[Andy Saunders]

Plt Off A W Dunn, Plt Off C J D Montagu and Plt Off L W J Watt were all awarded the DFC for this action. Sgt J M Dawson and (Acting) Sgt B L Savill were all awarded the DFM for the same action.

The aircraft was repeatedly hit by AA fire, then attacked by an Me 109. The first attack disabled the intercom gear and wounded the observer, Sgt Savill and W/Op Sgt Dawson. The rear gunner, Plt Off Watt, delivered a short burst at short range and destroyed the enemy (sic). The crew then went on to bomb target on one engine before turning for home on bearings supplied by the wounded Dawson.

I know some of the rescuers of the crew (think at least two still alive) and have a bundle of target maps the navigator left in the rescue boat.

Feel free to use this information in any caption at your museum, although it is a shame that any visitor who might be interested will be unable to make notes of this should they so wish.

Just to add; Hastings then had its own Police Force (Hastings County Borough) and none of their records survive. The records for the East and West Sussex forces survive, but there is no reference in them to this incident