Halifax LW522 and LV946 mid air collision 18.04.1944

[North American]

Hi,

Halifax Mk III LW522 (coded MH-J) from No 51 Sqn and Halifax Mk III LV946 (coded NP-K) from No 158 Sqn took part at the Operation on Tergnier's marshalling yard 18/19th April 1944. Both aircrafts collided certainly after the bomb run but not sure as witnesses said that one of the aircrafts had always the bombs when they collided causing a big explosion in air.

All airmen were buried in Grand Seraucourt cemetery.
The accident was over the village of Ly-Fontaine (Aisne). The mayor wants to honor the fallen and I need to find pictures of these Halifaxes and crew members to write their story in the news bulletin of the village. I search also crew members' relatives, names of the fallen are below:

Halifax LW522 MH-J 51 Sqn

Sgt C. Shackleton
Sgt C. Christie
F/S E. O. D. Yorke
Sgt D. W. Kennedy
Sgt P. Latchford
Sgt W. J. Gilchrist
F/S F. Taylor

Halifax LV946 NP-K 158 Sqn

F/O W. A. Hughes RCAF
Sgt O. Mc D. Brown
F/S F. Salmond
F/O B. A. Trewin RCAF
W/O J. A. Leaver RAAF
F/S J Heyes
F/O R. Stakes

Thanks for you help.
Phil

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Photo of AUS412455 W/O James Alfred LEAVER RAAF:

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P09307.006

Col.

[North American]

Thank you for your reply Col,in fact I had already found it before posting... that is why I asked for help here.
But Thanks again ; )

I have found F/O Ronald Stakes' relative on that forum (see the post of Chops in the middle of the page)

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index...07801.340.html

but it's impossible to contact him directly by PM...