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Re: Searching some times night 14-15 August 1940
Laurent,
Please note that Raid No.498 was on the night of 13/14 August, 1940, not 14/15.
No.4 Group sent 20 Whitleys to attack the Fiat Works at Turin and another 17 Whitleys against the Caproni Works at Taliedo, Milan. The aircraft were drawn from Nos.10, 51, 58, and 102 Squadrons. One returned early due to undercarriage trouble and another landed in the sea off Lympne on return. The attacks took place between 0005 – 0125 hours (BST) when 57 x 500 lb, 129 x 250 lb bombs, and 1,680 x 4 lb incendiaries were dropped from heights between 15,000 and 1,000 feet.
(AIR 14/2666)
The No.10 Squadron Whitley P4965 ZA*H was badly damaged by fighter attack over Turin that disabled one engine and badly damaged the starboard aileron. It struggled back but while attempting a forced-landing on a beach near Dymchurch Redoubt the aileron detached and the aircraft crashed in the sea 0530 hours. Both pilots, P/O E.I. ‘Pip’ Parsons DFC and Sgt A.N. Campion, died and their bodies were later washed ashore near Boulogne. The rest of the crew were rescued unhurt; Sgt Chamberlain and Sgt Sharpe both picked up by fishermen and landed at Hythe, Sgt Marshall being rescued by a Miss Peggy Prince in her canoe for which action she was later awarded the BEM.
(Dungeness RNLI Records, Chorley: Bomber Command Losses & Donnelly: The Other Few)
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