49 Squadron Association

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.

By mid morning, 11 of the squadron's aircraft had been accounted for, which left one outstanding. Sgt pilot Dennis Imber (aged 21) and crew had failed to return from the night’s operations. It is now known that their aircraft was shot down by flak and they were all killed.
The crew are buried together in Ambarès et Lagrave Cemetery near Bordeaux.

Hampden L4129
Sgt D.S. Imber Pilot (Killed)
Sgt R.F. Rose Pilot (Killed)
Sgt F. Corbett W/AG (Killed)
Sgt K.C. Friend W/AG (Killed)

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Part of the Daily Express circa Christmas 1940. The Association Secretary received this cryptic email.....

'Found this in an old book in Cleveleys. Thought it might be of interest.
Nick & Chris.'
 

The crew is remembered with a memorial in Ambarès et Lagrave

Amazing crashsite images courtesy of the Chris Goss Collection.
These images are not to be reproduced without the permission of the owner.


49 Squadron Researcher (Colin Cripps) has found a German flak report which matches this loss.
Note the bewildering range of unit initials.



Note the third point.....Zu 3 a) in the report
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