Date: 15/16th March 1944.
Unit: No. 77 Squadron (R.A.F).
Type: Halifax V.
Serial: LK667.
Code: KN-A.
Base: Elvington, Yorkshire.
Location: Longueau (Somme).
Pilot: Fl/Lt Peter Charles Edwards J/10600 R.C.A.F. Age ? Killed.
Fl/Eng: Sgt Robert John Service 1044703 R.A.F.V.R. Age ? Killed.
Nav: F/O Archibald Edgar Guthrie J/24010 R.C A.F. Age 26. Killed.
Air/Bmr: F/O John Duncan J/26545 R.C.A.F. Age 19. Killed.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt Douglas William James Smith 1323374 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed,
Air/Gnr: P/O John Norgaard J/89120 R.C.A.F. Age 35. Killed.
Air/Gnr: Sgt Eustace Henry Orchard 926349 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF Elvington at 1812 hrs, tasked to bomb the railway yards at Amiens. Part of a force of 140 aircraft, made up from 94 Halifax's, 38 Stirlings and 8 Mosquitos. The Halifax fell foul of Flak over the target and crashed into a marsh, 500 metres North of the railway station at Longueau (Somme) and 15 km South East of Amiens, France. LK667 was initially issued to 76 Squadron Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire.
One of two 77 Squadron Halifax's lost on this operation, the other LL229 KN-Z was also thought to have been hit by flak. The pilot, Fl/Lt. Ronald George Spicer together with 5 crew members were killed, Sgt. McAllister taken as a P.O.W.
Bomber command claimed much damage to the railway yards but no further details available - 18 French civilians were killed during the bombing.
Fl/Lt Edwards joined 77 Squadron (RAF) in February 1944. He started flying training in Tiger Moth aircraft at Boundary Bay near Vancouver, B.C., in September 1941. He then trained to Wings Standrds in Anson aircraft at Fort MacLeod, Alberta. After graduating he trained as a flying instructor.
He then instructed in Cessna Crane aircraft at Yorkton, Saskatchewan, from May 1942 to May 1943. Posted overseas he ferried a B-25 aircraft to Britain from Dorval, Quebec, in June 1943 via Goose Bay, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland.
After a number of brief operational training postings he converted to Halifax bombers.
Fl/Lt Edwards 1942 (Front Right) Courtesy of Garth C. Gordon (Nephew)
Fl/Lt Edwards grave marker (Courtesy Garth C. Gordon)
Longueau British Cemetery (C.W.G.C) St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens (C.W.G.C)
Burial Details:
F/L Peter Charles Edwards. Longueau British Cemetery. Grave 5. A. 1.
No further information
F/O John Duncan. St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens Plot 3. Row D. Grave 13.
Son of Robert John ana Mary Anne Duncan, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
F/O Archibald Gordon Guthrie. St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens Plot 7. Row A. Grave 12. Cemetery. Son of Archibald Gordon Guthrie, and of Ellen Guthrie (nee Thompson), of Goderich, Ontario, Canada.
No further information
Sgt Robert John Service. St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens Plot 3. Row E. Grave 13.
No further information
Sgt Douglas William James Smith. St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens. Plot 3. Row E. Grave 11.
Son of Frederick James Smith and Ethel May Smith, of South Lambeth, London; husband of Alice Margaret Smith, of South Lambeth.
P/O John Norgaard. St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens. Plot 7. Row A. Grave 11.
Son of Hans and Helga Norgaard, of Orsted, Jutland, Denmark.
Sgt Eustace Henry Orchard..St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens Plot 3. Row D. Grave 11.
Son of Thomas Cory Orchard and Ethelwyn Dayman Orchard, of Week St. Mary, Cornwall; husband of Doris Mary Orchard, of Week St. Mary.
Researched by Mike Harrison volunteer researcher for the A.R. Society.
Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt "Bomber Command War Diaries". The Commonwealth Graves Commission.
