Sixty three years ago today, 19 deHavilland Mosquito’s lifted off from Hunsdons main runway. Forming 140 Wing, the three squadrons, 21, 464 and 487 were off to carry out an air raid, that would go down in the annals of RAF History.
The raid on the Gestapo prison at Amiens was contrived at short notice to try and free the 700 French prisoners held at the gaol. The raid was carried out at an extremely low level at the request of the French resistance. 258 political prisoners escaped after bombs breached the external walls and the main building itself. Two aircraft from Hunsdon failed to return.
Today a few people gathered at Hunsdon airfield to pay their respects to the three airmen lost on the raid. Group Captain Percy ‘Pick’ Pickard (RAF), Flight Lt Alan Broadley (RAF) and Flt Lt Dick Sampson (RNZAF).
Flt Lt Sampson was navigator to the Australian Squadron Leader Ian McRitchie, McRitchie survived the crash landing with serious injuries, It was on checking the crash-site of McRitchie’s Mosquito for survivors, when Pickards Mosquito was hit by fire from a Fw190 that severed the tail of his aircraft.
Lest We Forget.
By: Dave Homewood - 19th February 2007 at 07:30
Thanks Denis. I didn’t realise there was a memorial there.
More on Dick Sampson can be found on my website here:
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Richard%20Sampso.htm
By: QldSpitty - 19th February 2007 at 06:16
Thanks mate…
“Lest we Forget..”
By: pimpernel - 18th February 2007 at 20:22
Thanks for sharing Denis.
BP.
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February 18, 2007 at 12:32 pm