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.
Returning to English shores, P/O Evans (L4195) made a forced landing at Lenham. In the crash, the rear gunner, LAC Glover was thrown clear and the navigator Sgt Molineux received a broken leg. The wireless set caught fire where, tragically. the W/op Sgt Robert Potter (aged 20) was trapped; he unfortunately perished in the wreck. The accident happened at about 04.15hrs.
Hampden L4195 (EA-H)
P/O Evans Pilot (Uninjured)
Sgt Molineux NAV (Injured)
Sgt R. Potter W/AG (Killed)
LAC Glover A/G (Uninjured)