ND688

630 Squadron

 

Final Mission

Took off from East Kirkby at 2244 hrs on 7th July 1944 for a raid on the V-Weapon storage facility at St. Leu d'Esserent (North of Paris). The aircraft crashed around 0130 hrs to the South East of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d'Oise), 11km SSW of Magny-en-Vexin.

Flight Lieutenant Farara had served with 97 squadron and was awarded the DFM on 15th June 1943.

All the  deceased crew are buried in Omerville Communal Cemetery alongside six  other airmen from the squadron who died on 10th June 1944.

NE688 (LE-R) was a Mk III Lancaster crewed by  the following:-

Pilot

Wing Commander

W.I. Deas

RAF 

William Inglis Deas

Nationality: South African
Rank: Wing Commander (Pilot)
Age: 29
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 87060
Awards: DSO, DFC and Bar
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional information: Son of William Inglis Deas and Ursula Grace Deas, of Piet Retief, Transvaal, South Africa.

Flight Engineer

Flying Officer

J.T.Taylor

RAF

 

Joseph Thomas Taylor

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Flt Engr.)
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 143798
Awards: DFC
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Navigator

Pilot Officer

C.N.Wright

RAF

Charles Norman Wright

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Nav.)
Age: 29
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 174338
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional information: Son of Joseph and Maud Eliza Wright, husband of Phyllis Collins Wright, of Dobshill, Flintshire.

Bomb-Aimer

Flight Lieutenant

G.G.H.Farara

RAF

George Grafron Haig Farara

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Air Bomber)
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 143472
Awards: DFC, DFM
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Wireless Operator - Air Gunner

Flying Officer

W.T.Upton

RAF

F/O Upton managed to bale out of the aircraft before it crashed, and although injured survived the war as a POW.

Mid-Upper Gunner

Sergeant

L.A.A.Page

RAF

Leonard Augustus Alfred Page

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Age: 19
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 1814068
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional information: Son of Arthur Walter and Jane Frances Page, of Surbiton, Surrey.

Rear Gunner

Flight Sergeant

R.J.Locke

RAF

Roland James Locke

Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.)
Age: 24
Date of Death: 08/07/1944
Service No: 182693
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 2.
Cemetery: OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Additional information: Son of Francis Albert and Louisa Locke, of Aston, Birmingham.

ND688  (LE - R) was a Mark III Lancaster and was built at the AVRO facility at Chadderton. The airframe was transported to the AVRO facility at Woodford for assembly and was taken "on charge" at 32 MU on 20/02/1944.  It was sent to 630 Squadron on 04/03/1944. ND688 was to take part in 13 operations before being lost on the night of 7/8th July 1944

 

 

 

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