Personnel Index - Detail
Awarded the DFM.
Flew 14 operations with 49Sqn.
P/O Vanderdasson was killed on 12th May 1944 flying with 103Sqn on a raid to Hasselt and is buried in the Schoonselhof Cemetery, Belgium.
The above images are displayed with the kind permission of researcher Luc Cox.
Luc has been doing research into aeroplane crashes in Northern Belgium for over 20 years.
Click this link to view the research on Lancaster ND700.
Extract is from Bill Chorley's Bomber Command Losses
Details of an earlier incident:
6/7 September, 1942; DUISBURG - NICKELS/RHEIMS:
Sgt Thom (R5744), flying as captain for the first time, successfully completed a leaflet sortie in the Rheims area of France. Meanwhile, the Main Force, comprising 207 bombers attacked Duisburg. The squadron dispatched 9 aircraft, all of which attacked the target successfully. Whilst on their bomb run P/O Jeffreys (R5752) and crew received three direct hits from flak, during which time the 2nd pilot, Sgt Gregory-Coleman RAAF and Sgt Maloney were wounded. The aircraft Captain managed to nurse his Lancaster back to England where over Orfordness he ordered four crew members to parachute to safety. P/O Jeffreys remained at the controls in order to attempt a safe landing with his wounded comrades onboard. A belly landing was made at Martlesham Heath airfield, but sadly too late for Sgt Gregory-Coleman who had succumbed to his injuries.
Lancaster R5752
P/O G.S. Jeffreys Pilot (Injured)
Sgt W.P.J. Gregory-Coleman RAAF 2nd Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J. Harrison (Safe)
Sgt O.D. Blaha W/AG (Safe)
Sgt W.L. Vanderdasson RCAF (Safe)
Sgt J.C. Morgan (Safe)
Sgt P. Maloney W/AG (Injured)