Hello Michel,
Two Spitfires from 411 Squadron were lost at about 1510 during Rodeo 203, a "Wing Rhubarb" over the Caen-Cherbourg railway line, west of Bayeux:
- F/Lt JG Banford (RCAF) on EN907 collided with the locomotive he was strafing, 2 km east of Lison station, and he died in the crash.
- P8715 was hit by light Flak near Saint-Martin-de-Varreville and F/Lt WT Johnstone (RCAF, 411 'B' Flight Commander) had to bale out over the sea, north-east of Barfleur.
Johnstone was seen climbing in his dinghy and a large scale ASR operation involving several Walrus flying boats escorted by Spitfires was launched. A Walrus was lost to I./JG 27 at 1618. Later, while returning from Johnstone's search, a flight of six 411 Squadron Spitfires led by S/L DGE Ball (411 Squadron Commander) was attacked by 12 Fw 190 of I./JG 2 at 1805. During the ensuing dogfight, Ball (on EP489) and a Fw 190 were destroyed. Ball was killed and Johnstone was never found.
There are several pages (in French) about Rodeo 203 on my website
https://14-4-43.fr/.
Best wishes,
Jérémie Tarpon