Operation: Salbris France

Date: 7th/8th May 1944 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: 106 squadron

Type: Lancaster MkI

Serial: LL891

Code: ZN:B

Base: RAF Metheringham, Lincolnshire

Location: Loreux (Loir-et-Cher) France

Pilot: Fg.Off. ‘Dickie’ Ernest Richard Penman 150252 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

2nd Pilot: Fg.Off. Louis David Steylaerts 152408 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Flt.Eng: Sgt. Robert Newton Johnson 1488745 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Fg.Off. Eric Lewis Sharp 151339 RAFVR Killed

Air Bmr: Fg.Off. Elmer Oscar Aaron J25067 RCAF Age 23. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Samuel Roger Patti 1576385 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr: Flt.Sgt. Robert Ford Stubelt R200124 RCAF Age 34. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. John Andrew Roberts 2208978 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Metheringham in Lincolnshire at 22:19 hrs to bomb the ammunition dumps at Salbris - several operations taking part this night on various tactical targets, the Salbris bombers suffered the most attacks from night fighters.

LL891 was claimed by Hptm Hans-Karl Kamp Stab III/NJG4, his 16th Abschuss, over Vatan or Romorantin area (HD or GD): 2,000m at 00:15. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

The Squadron were to lose some 4 crews during this operation, the others:

Lancaster JN292 ZN:E Flown by 24 year old, Plt.Off. Cyril Alfred Bartlett 170963 RAFVR from Finsbury Park, Middlesex - killed wth all other 6 crew members.
Lancaster JB612 ZN:U Flown by 31 year old, Plt.Off. Harold Kenty Rose J85352 RCAF from British Columbia, Canada, killed with 5 other crew, 1 evaded capture.
Lancaster ND870 ZN:S Flown by 20 year old, Plt.Off. Kenneth Rowe Warren 410765 RAAF from Victoria, Australia, killed with all 6 other crew.

Burial details:

Fg.Off. Ernest Richard Penman. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. Son of Thomas Robinson Penman and Priscilla Penman and husband of Jessica Virginia Penman, of Mossley Hill, Liverpool, England. Epitaph reads: “Dickie, Beloved Son Of Thomas And Priscilla, Husband Of Jesica, Till We Meet Again.”

Fg.Off. Louis David Steylaerts. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. No further details - are you able to assist?

Sgt. Robert Newton Johnson. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. Son of Robert Henry and Eva Johnson, of Bryneglwys, Merionethshire, Wales. Epitaph reads: “Resting, Where No Shadows Fall Your Memory Is For Ever Dear.”

Fg.Off. Eric Lewis Sharp. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. No further details - are you able to assist?

Fg.Off. Elmer Oscar Aaron. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. Son of Harry Aaron, and of Jeanne Aaron, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Epitaph reads: Beloved Son And Brother. You Will Always Live In Our Hearts, Rest In Peace.”

Flt.Sgt. Samuel Roger Patti. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. Son of Samuel Roger and Elsie Rebecca Patti, of Glenfield, Leicestershire, England. Epitaph reads: “To Live In The Hears Of Those We Love Is Not To Die.”

Flt.Sgt. Robert Ford Stubelt. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. No further details - are you able to assist?

Sgt. John Andrew Roberts. Orleans Main Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row A. Collective grave 16-27. Son of John and Pauline Roberts, of Liverpool, England. Epitaph reads:” Faithful Unto Death.”

Researcher: Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered April 2017. With thanks to J.A. Mallet for grave photographs, A Charpentier for photo of Fg.Off. Steylaerts - others from the collection of Michel Beckers. Thanks to John Jones fo the Night Fighter claim correction (Aug 2020).

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