Personnel Index - Detail
16/17 October, 1940; BORDEAUX:
At 16.00hrs on the afternoon of Wednesday 16th, orders were received detailing 12 aircraft for bombing and gardening; the main target being the submarines at Bordeaux. Take-off began at 19.00hrs at 5 minute intervals until all 12 were airborne. Bad weather was to play a significant part in the night’s proceedings, especially when the aircraft returned. Four crews managed to complete successful sorties, despite some considerable resistance.
Another tragedy occurred near Andover in Hampshire, where desperately short of fuel, F/O Charles Pitman (aged 30) and crew, F/O R.C. Parker, Sgt J. Brown and Sgt P. Flanagan in Hampden P2143 crashed and were sadly all killed.
Hampden P2143
F/O C.D. Pitman Pilot (Killed)
F/O R.C. Parker Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J. Brown W/OP (Killed)
Sgt P. Flanagan W/AG (Killed)