Sir – As a former aircrew member of the RAF, I was interested in the story of the recently found Caterpillar Club brooch awarded to Sergeant N. Stockford.
In Volume 5 of W. R.Chorley’s RAF Bomber Command Losses which deals with 1944, it tells us that Sergeant Stockford was a member of 207 Squadron and took off at 22.03 in Lancaster Mk. III, ND556, EM-F, from Spilsby on an operation to Mailly-le-Camp, the aircraft captained by Flight Sergeant L. S. Lissett, Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Soon after bombing, they were badly shot up by a night-fighter but after shaking it off, were attacked by another fighter, the badly-damaged Lancaster going down at Chaintreaux (Seine-et-Marne).
Flight Sergeant Lissett was badly wounded and died soon after being admitted to a French hospital. He is buried along with Sergeant R. Ellis, another crew member who died in the crash, in the Communal Cemetery at Chaintreaux.
Three other crew-members, together with Sergeant Stockford, evaded capture but Sergeant L. Wesley was taken prisoner.
Gordon Clack
Witney Road
Ducklington
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