LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 466 Squadron Wellington aircraft HF601), off the French Coast, 6 July 1943
Wellington HF601 took off from RAF Leconfield at 2211 hours on the night of 5/6 July 1943 to carry out a mine-laying mission off Brest, France. Eight aircraft from the Squadron took part in the mission and of these HF601 failed to return. Following post war searches and enquiries it was presumed the aircraft crashed in the target area. All the crew had been killed. Flying Officer Darbyshire is missing and his name is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK. The other four crew members are buried in the Le Conquet Communal Cemetery, France.
The crew members of HF601 were:
Flying Officer Frank Darbyshire (126819) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer)
Pilot Officer Albert Morgan Long (J/17237) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Wing Commander John Jervis Owen MID (26062) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer John Frederick Ray (145801) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flying Officer Egbert Horace Swain (119477) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Wing Commander Owen who joined the RAF in 1926 was 35 years of age and was on attachment to No. 466 Squadron from Group Headquarters, while the other crew members came from No. 196 Squadron (RAF).
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