LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations (No. 464 Squadron Mosquito aircraft MM400), English Channel area, 25 April 1944
Mosquito MM400 took off from RAF Gravesend at 1340 hours on 25th April 1944 being one of 14 aircraft from the Squadron detailed to bomb construction works in Northern France. MM 400 failed to return from the mission. The Leader of the mission Wing Commander Robert Wilson Iredale DFC & Bar (400590) and Flying Officer Fittock in MM400 overshot the target and bombed an alternative target. On the way home MM400 was believed to have hit the sea and ditched. Air Sea Rescue vessels were soon on the scene after the Commanding Officer had circled a dinghy for fixing purposes. Flying Officer Fittock’s body was not brought ashore, but his navigator was rescued and hospitalised.
The crew members of MM400 were:
Flying Officer Lorenzo James Shann Fittock (415753) (RNZAF) (Pilot)
Warrant Officer James William Haugh (413412) (RNZAF) (Navigator) Rescued
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Bibliography:
Lax, M. (Mark) and Leon Kane-Maguire The Gestapo Hunters: 464 Squadron RAAF 1942-5, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 1999
Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982