15/16 March 1944
Avro Lancaster MkIII ND681
RAF 100 Squadron
Bonneuil-les-Eaux (Oise)
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En français 
The target of the mission on the night of 15 to 16 March 1944 was the bombing of the city of Stuttgart, Germany.
For this large-scale raid over Reich territory, a total of 863 British bombers, including 617 Lancasters, took off at around 7 p.m. from their bases in England.
16 Lancasters of Squadron 100 took part in the raid, taking off about 7 p.m from their base in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Among them was the Lancaster ND 681, with seven crew members on board.
|
F/S Arthur DAWSON |
Pilot |
27 |
RAF |
|
Sgt. Anthony G. REDMAN |
Flight engineer |
22 |
RAF |
|
F/S Gordon W. WILDFONG |
Navigator |
22 |
RCAF |
|
Sgt. Harold ELLISON |
Bomb aimer |
RAF |
|
|
Sgt. Victor FAVAGER |
Wireless operator |
20 |
RAF |
|
Sgt. David GIBSON |
Mid-upper gunner |
RAF |
|
|
Sgt. Edward SHATZ |
Rear gunner |
23 |
RAF |
Gordon W. WILDFONG
The Luftwaffe divided its forces into two parts. The bombers flew over France to the Swiss border before turning northeast towards Stuttgart. This delayed contact between the Luftwaffe and the bombers. When the German fighters arrived, just before reaching Stuttgart, fierce fighting ensued.
Thirty-seven aircraft (27 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes) were lost during this raid. Unfavourable winds delayed the start of the attack. Bombs struck the centre of Stuttgart, but most fell in open countryside to the south-west of the city. The bombing damaged the city centre and destroyed homes in the south-western suburbs. Eighty-eight people were killed and 203 were wounded.
During the return flight, Lancaster ND681 was shot down by Hauptmann Ludwig Meister of 1./NJG 4, who was flying a redoubtable Messerschmitt-110 night fighter.
The bomber crashed near Bonneuil-les-Eaux, at a place called "Bois-Mouton", killing all seven crew members. They were all buried in the Commonwealth military cemetery in Poix-de-Picardie (Somme), where they still rest today.
Temporary grave of Gordon Wildfong