Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

Allied Air Forces Losses and Incidents Database.

Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
Check the Databases Menu for the extensive list of our databases which represent decades of original research by our Editors

Search Tips • Researching Your Loved OneContact us via Helpdesk for research on your loved one

Names in Database A -D • Names in Database E - K • Names in Database L - R • Names in Database S -Z
If you are unsure of the spelling of the name you are searching for, you can check all the names in this database

Data derived from many sources. Corrections/Additions welcomed via Helpdesk

NOTE ON DATES: IMPORTANT: For consistency, the Date is given as the date the mission TOOK OFF since the precise time of a loss is not always certain. Take Off date is unambigous and fixed in the official records, but obviously in those cases where the incident occurred before midnight UK time, then the Take Off Date will be the same as the Incident Date. Of course, most Bomber Command missions flew through midnight, therefore a Luftwaffe claim against a plane - or a locally generated crash report - may record the incident as occurring on the day following our Take Off Date. Bear this in mind when cross-referencing to our Luftwaffe Victories by Name/Date Database and other Luftwaffe sources. In some cases other sources may quote the date following our date, using locally generated reports as their source. To add to the potential for confusion, remember to take into account a Luftwaffe recorded date will be in local time, 1 hour ahead of UK time. When we discover a validated Incident Date we change our record if necessary

(1) Check spelling in 'Names in Database' link
(2) Cannot search on less than 4 characters
(3) Check Serial has no spaces eg NB456
(4) Check date format is YYYY-MM-DD include hyphens
(5) Check you have seen all pages, see bottom of table
(6) Single digit squadron uses form '5 sqd' must include 'sqd'
(7) Read Search Tips: Database section
(8) Scroll to right to see last column
(9) Try using a portion of searchword (Contains option) (10) If no luck, contact us via Helpdesk

Owing to a restriction placed by our hosting service, searches cannot be made on less than 4 characters. Searching on 3 or less will produce no results even though the name IS in our database. If you seek info on a name with less than 4 characters, EMAIL with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.
We are working on techniques to mitigate this restriction.
TO SEARCH ON SQUADRON APPEND 'Sqn', USING FORMAT '72Sqn'

Thanks to Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain for supplementary data and images (marked with a chequerboard device) related to the Polish Air Force, and many images courtesy of our respected colleagues Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Gretzyngier. Other images from our own archives.
Responding to requests that respects may be paid in this database to a loved one or friend, or someone you want to recognize, an In Memoriam plaque may now be placed next to any entry. See our Donate Page for details. Search for In Memoriam in this database to see examples of plaques which have been placed.

Polish Air Force personnel have a supplementary database containing more information and many more entries. Check the following:
Personel Polskich Sił Powietrznych posiada dodatkową bazę danych zawierającą więcej informacji i wiele innych wpisów. Sprawdź następujące elementy:
Archiwum: PSP 1939 -1947 Database 17,000+ Polish Air Force Entries
ON REQUEST, MORE INFORMATION CAN OFTEN BE RETRIEVED FROM OUR RESEARCH ARCHIVE ON EVERY ENTRY, AND ON NAMES YET TO BE ENTERED.

See a sample search

If you would like our team to research a family member or friend who appears in this database, contact us via the Helpdesk. We will send you instructions.

Enter Your search conditions and click Search This (to Search for Squadron append 'Sqn' e.g. 602Sqn. In Archiwum use Polish form e.g. 303DM)

AND(Optional)

Exact Match Contains Word

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “Hammond, Leonard Douglas”

#	Name*	First Names	Rank	Service No.	Born	Nationality	Role	Awards	Air Force	Command	Unit	DateofIncident *See Note	Aircraft	Type	Serial	Code	Victories (Fighters)	Base	Time	Mission	Incident	Fate	Commemorated	Photo (Click to Expand)	Referring Database	Notes	Links/Archive Reports
251	Cameron	Douglas Alexander	Flying Officer	39455		Australia			RAAF		226 Squadron	1940-05-10													RAAF Honour Roll
252	Campbell	Nigel Douglas	Flight Sergeant	426774			Pilot		RAAF	Bomber Command	102 (Ceylon) Sqn	1944-06-28	Halifax	III	LW143	DY:O		Pocklington	21:57	Blainville	See archive report for details	KiA	Marissel French National Cemetery Grave 265				Read Archive Report
253	Campbell	Colin Millis	Sergeant	Aus/402436	19 December 1912 at Quirindi, NSW, Australia	Australian	Air Gunner		RAAF	Bomber Command	460Sqn RAAF	1942-06-08	Wellington	IV	Z1412	UV-W		RAF Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire	2314	Essen	Shot down by Oblt Leopold Fellerer II/NJG 2 - St Maartensvlotbrug 3km NE of Petten at 0215.	Died from his wounds in hospital on 29 August 1942	Durnbach War Cemetery 5 E 14			Read Archive Report
254	Campbell	George Law	Sergeant	1366510			W/Op/Air Gunner		RAFVR	Bomber Command	156Sqn	1943-07-27	Lancaster	III	JA709	GT-		RAF Warboys, Cambridgeshire	2157	Hamburg	See archive report for full details	Killed	Hamburg Cemetery (Ohlsdorf) Collective grave 4A.H.1-7			Read Archive Report
255	Campbell	Douglas Noel	Sergeant	1345600			W/Op/Air Gunner		RAFVR	Bomber Command	12Sqn	1943-06-11	Lancaster	I	ED357	PH-S		RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire	2240	Düsseldorf	See Archive report for further details	Killed	Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery. Plot 69. Row C. Collective grave 19			Read Archive Report
256	Campbell	Nigel Douglas	Flight Sergeant	426774		Australia			RAAF		102Sqn (Ceylon)	1944-06-29													RAAF Honour Roll
257	Campbell	W.	Pte	7403076	Age ?		Passenger		Army			1946-02-13	Douglas DC-3 Dakota	lll	KG397	12432		RAF Croydon, Surrey	1140	Ferry flight	See archive report	Slightly injured	Survived			Read Archive Report
258	Campbell-Rogers	Leonard Herculese	Pilot Officer	J/3274	India	Canadian	Navigator		RCAF	Bomber Command	15 OTU / OADU	1941-06-27	Wellington	IC	P9277			Luqa Malta	09:00	Ferry to Egypt	Ditched in Mediterranean	Drowned	Runnymede Memorial, Panel 59		Accident report		Paradie RCAF Database
259	Cann	Leonard William	Flight Sergeant	427436		Australia			RAAF		29 OTU RAF	1945-01-05													RAAF Honour Roll
260	Cantrell	John Douglas	Flight Lieutenant	153835			Pilot		RAFVR	Bomber Command	115Sqn	1946-02-21	Lancaster	III	PB373	KO-?		RAF Graveley, Huntingdon	1120	Training	See archive report for further details	Killed	Fulford Cemetery. Plot 16. Row X. Grave 34			Read Archive Report
261	Capel	Douglas John	Sergeant	759110	1920	Canadian	Pilot		RAFVR	Bomber Command	149Sqn (East India)	1941-03-17	Wellington	Ic	R1474	OJ-M		Mildenhall	122	Bremen	Shot down by a Ju 88C intruder (Lt Rudolf Pfeiffer: I./NG2) at 0610 hours while preparing to land at Mildenhall and crashed onto a bungalow at Beck Row, Mildenhall.	Killed	Bristol (Canford) Cemetery. Sec. QQ. Grave 301A . Commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Page 604 of the 'Second World War Book of Remembrance' )			Son of Allan Reginald and Hilda Capel
262	Capon	Alfred Laurence	Sergeant	NZ/426881	Age 20	New Zealand	Navigator		RNZAF	2 Training Command	1 Central Navigation School (RCAF)	1943-03-05	Anson	I	DG872	-		RCAF Rivers, Manitoba, Canada	2340	Training	See archive report for detailed information - Mid-air collision with 6642	Killed	Rivers Cemetery, Manitoba. Plot 2, Block 29, Section 25, Range 21			Born on the 07th April 1905 in Auckland. Educated at the Correspondence School Son of Alfred Leonard (died 27th October 1939) and Katharine Clarissa Anne Capon (died 26th May 1985, age 81 - née Johnson, later Patterson), of Frankton Junction, Auckland, New Zealand. (Note: birth certificate states Alfred Lawrence Johnson)	Read Archive Report
263	Carius	Leonard Robert	Flight Sergeant	414622		Australia			RAAF		463Sqn RAAF	1944-01-30													RAAF Honour Roll
264	Carmichael	John Arthur Lloyd	Flight Sergeant	AUS/420537	Age 25	Australian	Air Gunner		RAAF	Bomber Command	51Sqn	1944-02-24	Halifax	III	LV778	C6-B		RAF Snaith, Yorkshire	1825	Schweinfurt	See archive report for further details	Killed	Durnbach War Cemetery 9.E.28.			Read Archive Report
265	Carmichael	Peter Edward John	Sergeant	1601085	London, England on 25 June 1923 Age 20	British	W/Op		RAFVR	Bomber Command	101Sqn	1944-01-30	Lancaster	I	DV303	SR-U		RAF Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire	1720 hrs	Berlin	Shot down by night fighter and crashed at Alexanderdorf, Teltow Region, South West Berlin	PoW No. 1172 Camp: Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilute in Lithuania)				He was the son of a Belgian born father, Andre Florian "Frederick" Camichel and Mary Ann E. A. Canham. He had 4 siblings: Cyril Herbert F. Carmichael (1912-1976), Doreen Gertrude Florence Carmichael (1913-2001), Robert Joseph Ronald Carmichael (1915-1994) and Yvonne Nora P. Carmichael born 1917	Archive report on the loss
266	Carr	Leonard	Sergeant	416206		Australia			RAAF		20Sqn RAAF	1943-04-13													RAAF Honour Roll
267	Carrick	John Hammond	Flying Officer	J/10186			Navigator		RCAF	Bomber Command	78Sqn	1942-10-01	Halifax	II	BB236	EY-B		RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire	1759	Flensburg	See archive report for further details	Killed	Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 2.D.14		Paradie Archive Database	Read Archive Report
268	Carson	Leonard K	1st Lt	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-04-08	P-51 Mustang								0.5 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
269	Carson	Leonard K	1st Lt	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-04-13	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
270	Carson	Leonard K	1st Lt	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-05-28	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
271	Carson	Leonard K	1st Lt	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-05-30	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
272	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-07-25	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
273	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-07-29	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
274	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-11-02	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
275	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-11-27	P-51 Mustang								5 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
276	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-12-02	P-51 Mustang								2 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
277	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-12-05	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
278	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1944-12-24	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
279	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1945-01-14	P-51 Mustang								3 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
280	Carson	Leonard K	Captain	O-742962		USA	Pilot		USAAF	357th Fighter Group	362nd Fighter Squadron	1945-01-14	P-51 Mustang				18.5									Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
281	Carter	Leonard Thomas	Flying Officer	410304		Australia			RAAF		460Sqn RAAF	1943-10-18													RAAF Honour Roll
282	Carter	Douglas Alfred	Pilot Officer	410145		Australia			RAAF		7Sqn RAF	1944-03-15													RAAF Honour Roll
283	Carter	Leonard D	2nd Lt	O-707659		USA	Pilot		USAAF	358th Fighter Group	368th Fighter Squadron	1944-09-12	P-51 Mustang								1 Luftwaffe destroyed					Source: afhra.maxwell.af.mil ETO (European Theatre)
284	Casey	Edward Daniel	Flight Lieutenant	NZ/42370	Age 38	New Zealand	Pilot		RNZAF	Transport Command	42 (NZ)Sqn	1955-02-17	De Havilland Devon	C.I	NZ1815	-		Ohakea Airbase, New Zealand	910	Training	See Archive report for further details	Killed	At crash site, Tararua range	Courtesy AWMM		Born on the 14th August 1916 at Dunedin. Worked as school teacher for Auckland Education Board. Enlisted on the 12th January 1942 at Levin. Trained at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 08th March 1942, then with No. 1 Service Flying Training School on the 02nd May 1942. Pilots badge awarded on the 27th July 1942 and commissioned on the 17th October 1942. Attached to No. 1 Service Flying Training School as a staff pilot on the 10th November 1942. Joined 9 squadron RNZAF on the 01st November 1944 flying the Ventura. Left with squadron to the South Pacific on the 03rd January 1945. Returned with squadron to New Zealand on the 29th May 1945. Joined 41 squadron on the 03rd May 1945. Placed on the reserve then re-enlisted on the 02nd February 1953. Joined 42 squadron on the 06th September 1954. Son of Leonard Francis Casey (died 08th October 1964, age 76) and Mary Letitia Casey (née O'Connelly - died 23rd July 1971, age 83). Husband of Muriel Lois Casey (née Evans). Father of a son and two daughters, of Stockburn, Christchurch, New Zealand. A total of 2732 flying hours were logged with 229 on the Devon. He had served a tour with 9 squadron in the South Pacific during the war.	Archive Report on loss
285	Casey	Leonard James	Sergeant	NZ/414957	Age 21	New Zealand	Pilot (U/T)		RNZAF	Training Command	51 Operational Training Unit. 81 Group	1942-11-28	Havoc	I	BJ501	-		RAF Cranfield, Bedfordshire	1830	Training	See archive report for further details	Killed	Kempston Cemetery. Block J. Grave 114	Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand		Born on the 10th February 1921 in Auckland. Educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. Worked as a warehouseman for Sargood, Son and Ewen Limited. Enlisted as a pilot under training at Levin on the 07th September 1941. With No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School 18th October 1941. Pilot training terminated at Rongotai on the 22nd November. With Initial Training Wing on the 15th December 1941. Joined No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School and recommended pilot training on the 20th December 1941. With No. 3 Service Flying Training School on the 07th February 1942. Then on the 07th March 1942 with No. 2 Service Flying Training School. Pilot badge awarded on the 11th May 1942 and promoted to sergeant on the 13th June 1942. Embarked for England on the 22nd June 1942 with No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on the 30th July 1942. Pilot Advanced Flying Unit 18th ASugust 1942. Course with 1512 Beam Approach Training flight for a week's course in September 1942. Joined 51 Operational Training Unit 06th October 1942. A total of 340 flying hours logged. Son of Joseph Michael Casey (died 13th October 1958, age 80) and Frances Delia Casey (married 1903 - née Kavanagh - died 14th August 1954, age 74), of 8 Bayfield Road, Herne Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.	Read Archive Report
286	Caswell	Harry Cosgrave	Flight Sergeant	AUS/413735	Age 28	Australian	Air Bomber		RAAF	Bomber Command	76Sqn	1944-06-02	Halifax	III	MZ604	MP-W		RAF Holme on Spalding Moor	2231	Trappes	See archive report for further brief details	Killed	Bretigny-Sur-Orge Communal Cemetery. Grave 10			Born on the 29th October 1915 at Coonamble, NSW. Enlisted 13th September 1941. Son of Arthur Thomas Caswell and Ethel Gertrude Caig Caswell of Brewarrina, NSW. Grave inscription: 'Loved Son Of The Late Arthur And Mrs. Caswell Of Brewarrina, N.S.W.'.	Read Archive Report
287	Cater	Ronald Charles George	Sergeant	1384736	1922		Navigator		RAFVR	Bomber Command	425Sqn RCAF	1943-02-01	Wellington	III	X3361	KW-		43 MU		Ferry	The a/c was to proceed to Kingscliffe with an extra crew and ground personnel, to transfer X3361 from 43 MU. Loss of power on Starboard engine and the a/c crashed shortly after T/O.	Killed	Horringer (St. Leonard) Churchyard.			First French Canadian squadron. Son of Charles Edward and Eliza May Cater, of Horringer.
288	Cavanagh	Leonard Ernest	Flight Sergeant	415377		Australia			RAAF		158Sqn RAF	1943-06-23													RAAF Honour Roll
289	Chambers	Douglas Edward Cyril	Sergeant	1330903			W/Op/Air Gunner		RAFVR	Bomber Command	419Sqn RCAF	1943-06-11	Halifax	II	JD143	VR-A		RAF Middleton St. George, County Durham	2240	Dusseldorf	See Archive report for further details	Killed	Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 1.G.7			Read Archive Report
290	Chapman	Arthur Edward	Flight Sergeant	AUS/414764	Age 25 Born on the 31st January 1918	Australian	Air Gunner		RAAF	Bomber Command	100Sqn	1943-05-27	Lancaster	III	ED821	HW-A		RAF Grimsby, Lincolnshire	2232	Essen	See archive report for further details	Killed	Wonseradeel Protestant Churchyard (Witmarsum). Row 36. Grave 17			Read Archive Report
291	Chapman	Douglas Launcelot Blackmore	Flying Officer	NZ/414958	Born on the 09th July 1919	New Zealand	Pilot (U/T)		RNZAF	Coastal Command	489Sqn	1944-06-05	Beaufighter	TF.X	LZ435	P6-?		RAF Langham, Norfolk	1135	Training	See archive report for further brief details	Killed	Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 13507	Courtesy relatives		Read Archive Report
292	Chappell	Douglas Stanley Knox	Sergeant	976906			W/Op/Air/Gnr		RAFVR	Bomber Command	106Sqn	1943-10-08	Lancaster	III	DV272	ZN-F		RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire	2251	Hannover	See archive report for further information	Killed	Hannover War Cemetery. Grave: 3.D.6			Read Archive Report
293	Chappell	Douglas Stanley Knox	Sergeant	976906	Age 22		W/Op/Air/Gnr		RAFVR	Bomber Command	106Sqn	1943-09-03	Lancaster	III	JA893	ZN-C		RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire	1950	Berlin	See archive report for further details	Rescued				Read Archive Report
294	Chappell	Howard Douglas	Flight Sergeant	1431223			Air/Bmr		RAFVR	Bomber Command	97Sqn (Straits Settlements)	1944-08-25	Lancaster	III	PB398	OF-N		RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire	2102	Darmstadt	See archive report for further information	Killed	Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave Ref. 5. E. 21			Read Archive Report
295	Charlesworth	Douglas Neal	Flight Sergeant	422133		Australia			RAAF		460Sqn RAAF	1944-11-18													RAAF Honour Roll
296	Charnock	Edward	Sergeant	1337177	Prestwich, Lancashire, on 12 April 1917	British	W/Op Air/Gnr		RAFVR	Bomber Command	101Sqn	1944-01-30	Lancaster	I	DV303	SR-U		RAF Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire	1720 hrs	Berlin	Shot down by night fighter and crashed at Alexanderdorf, Teltow Region, South West Berlin	PoW No. 976 Camp: Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug, Memelland (now Šilute in Lithuania)				He was the son of John Edward Charnock and Millicent Charnock née Cass, of Bolton. He had 5 siblings: Elizabeth Charnock born 1908, John Charnock born 1909, James Charnock born 1912, Mary Charnock born 1919 and Dorothy Charnock born 1924. In 1939 the family lived at 8 Bedwell Close, Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire at which time Edward was a Storekeeper and his father was a Radio Parts Fitter. Edward Charnock enlisted on 23 April 1941. In 1942 he married Margery Ivy J. Playle at Hatfield. A daughter, Yvonne, was born at Hatfield in 1944.	Archive report on the loss
297	Cheatle	Allen Leonard	Flight Sergeant	432305		Australia			RAAF		1667 Conversion 11 Base RAF	1944-07-25													RAAF Honour Roll
298	Checchi	David Alwyen	LAC	NZ/409511	Age 22	New Zealand	Pilot (U/T)		RNZAF	Training Command		1942-05-13	Anson	I	R3561	-				Training	See archive report for detailed information	Killed	Willaura Cemetery. C. of E. Plot. Row B. Grave 5. (GRM/3)			Born on the 02nd November 1920 in Willaura. Son of Dr. Cyril Checchi (died 14th May 1997, age 104) and F	Read Archive Report
299	Cheshire	Kenneth George	Sergeant	159179	Age 19	British	Flight Engineer		RAFVR	Bomber Command	192Sqn	1945-02-08	Halifax	III	MZ342	DT-B		RAF Foulsham, Norfolk	1941	BS	Collided with 625 Sqn Lancaster PD376 and crashed into sea	Missing - believed killed	Runnymede Memorial. Panel 274			Son of Edith D Cheshire of Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England.	Read Archive Report on this incident
300	Cheshire	Geoffrey Leonard	Wng Cmdr				Pilot	Victoria Cross DSO DFC	RAFVR	Bomber Command	617Sqn		Lancaster													VC Citation: This officer began his operational career in June, 1940. Against strongly-defended targets, he soon displayed the courage and determination of an exceptional leader. He was always ready to accept extra risks to ensure success. Defying the formidable Ruhr defences, he frequently released his bombs from below 20,000 feet. Over Cologne in November, 1940, a shell burst inside his aircraft, blowing out one side and starting a fire; undeterred, he went on to bomb the target. About this time, he carried out a number of convoy patrols in addition to his bombing sessions. At the end of his first tour of operational duty in January, 1941, he immediately volunteered for a second. Again, he pressed home his attacks with the utmost gallantry. Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Duisburg, Essen and Kiel were among the heavily-defended targets which he attacked. When he was posted for instructional duties in January, 1942, he undertook four more operational missions. He started a third tour in August, 1942, when he was given command of a squadron. He led the squadron with outstanding skill on a number of missions before being appointed in March, 1942, as a station commander. In October, 1943, he undertook a fourth operational tour, relinquishing the rank of Group Captain at his own request so that he could again take part in operations. He immediately set to work as the pioneer of a new method of marking enemy targets involving very low flying. In June, 1944, when marking a target in the harbour of Le Havre in broad daylight and without cloud cover, he dived well below the range of the light batteries before releasing his marker-bombs, and he came very near to being destroyed by the strong barrage which concentrated on him. During his fourth tour which ended in July, 1944, Wing Commander Cheshire led his squadron personally on every occasion, always undertaking the most dangerous and difficult task of marking the target alone from a low level in the face of strong defences. Wing Commander Cheshire’s cold and calculated acceptance of risks is exemplified by his conduct in an attack on Munich in April, 1944. This was an experimental attack to test out the new method of target marking at low level against a heavily defended target situated deep in Reich territory. Munich was selected, at Wing Commander Cheshire’s request, because of the formidable nature of its light anti-aircraft and searchlight defences. He was obliged to follow, in bad weather, a direct route which took him over the defences of Augsburg and thereafter he was continuously under fire. As he reached the target, flares were being released by our high-flying aircraft. He was illuminated from above and below. All guns within range opened fire on him. Diving to 700 feet, he dropped his markers with great precision and began to climb away. So blinding were the searchlights that he almost lost control. He then flew over the city at 1,000 feet to assess the accuracy of his work and direct other aircraft. His own was badly hit by shell fragments but he continued to fly over the target area until he was satisfied that he had done all in his power to ensure success. Eventually, when he set course for base, the task of disengaging himself from the defences proved even more hazardous than the approach. For a full twelve minutes after leaving the target area he was under withering fire, but he came safely through. Wing Commander Cheshire has now completed a total of 100 missions. In four years of fighting against the bitterest opposition he has maintained a record of outstanding personal achievement, placing himself invariably in the forefront of the battle. What he did in the Munich operation was typical of the careful planning, brilliant execution and contempt for danger which has established for Wing Commander Cheshire a reputation second to none in Bomber Command. Extract from “The London Gazette” of 8th September, 1944