Date: 8/9th June 1944
Unit: No. 627 Squadron
Type: Mosquito IV
Serial: DZ353
Coded: AZ-B
Location: South of Rennes
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Harry Steel D.F.C. D.F.M. 46016 R.A.F. Age; 30, Killed
Nav: F/O. Kenneth William Gale D.F.C. 404241 R.A.A.F.Age; 24, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 23.47 hrs from Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire to attack railways to prevent German troop reinforcements reaching Normandy.
The first "Tallboy" (12,000lb bomb) was used on this night by 617 squadron. Classed as successful raid with, out of a total of 483 aircraft used on this and other railways, only 4 were lost (3 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito). DZ353 being the only Mosquito lost on this raid crashed between Orgeres and St. Erblon - the reason has not been established.
Fl/Lt. Harry Steel D.F.C. D.F.M. was a former Battle of Britain fighter pilot flying Spitfires with No. 19 Squadron and was awarded his D.F.M. for shooting down 3 enemy aircraft on the 25th June 1940. Prior to joining 627 Squadron both had served with 139 Squadron.
Mosquito IV DZ353
Mosquito DZ353 Oakington March 1944 (Courtesy of Brian Harris)
Burial Details:
Harry Steel St. Erblon Communal Cemetery Grave. 1.
Son of Ernest and of Wallasey, Cheshire; husband of Joan Margaret Steere, of Wallasey.
Kenneth William Gale St. Erblon Communal Cemetery Grave. 2.
Son of William James and Margaret Frances of Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.
Further information supplied by Mike Harrison. With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 4", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries" The Commonwealth Graves Commission.
