419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB731

Crew members of Lancaster KB731

The crew of KB731 were posted to 419 squadron in May of 1944 from No. 61 Base and had flown several missions in quick succession with the squadron. Merville on night June 5/6th, Coutannges on night of 6/7th and Achers on night of June 7/8th.
On the mission to Coutanges rear gunner Sgt. Carruthers and Mid-Upper gunner Sgt. R Larkin claimed damage to a Ju-88. This attack came as they were coming into the target and but the Lancaster was not to be left alone for long. For on completing the bomb run, while flying KB704, they were set upon four times in quick succession by a Fokker Wulf 190, but the pilot P/O Lacey's ability to put the big Lanc through evasive manoeuvres guided by the commands of the gunners to corkscrew left or right saved the crew and the aircraft.
Lancaster KB731 squadron ID VR-S took off at 2140 on the night of June 12/13th for an attack on Cambrai France. At some point before or after the target was reached the aircraft was hit by flak which damaged the aircraft causing it to come down near Vieux-Berquin. Two members of the crew did manage to bailout, F/O Forbes and Sgt. Wilson-Law became evaders from capture. Forbes escaped through France and was back in Britain by September. Wilson-Law's records seemed to be mixed up with some one else so I have no information of his escape route.
It was very costly raid for 419 squadron, with the loss of 12 airmen and 3 aircraft . Of the other crew members of these aircraft four became evaders and two became POWs. The other aircraft lost were KB714 with all the crew killed and KB726.

Flag Exchange with Vieux Berquin
F/O William Lacey
Sgt. Barry Wilson-Law

Crew members of Lancaster KB731

Flying Officer

William Morris Lacey

Pilot Age 22
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Driver Saskatchewan
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Flying Officer

Edward Ronald Lowe

Navigator Age 34
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Vancouver B.C
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

Mark Richard Larkin

Upper Gunner Age 21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From St. Brides Alberta
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

George William Carruthers

Rear Gunner Age 21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Dauphin Manitoba
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

Donald John Applin

WAG Age21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Westmount Quebec
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Sergeant

Barry.D. Wilson-Law

RAF Flight Engineer Evader

Flying Officer

Roy A. Forbes

Bomb Aimer Evader

Crew members of Lancaster KB731

Flying Officer

William Morris Lacey

Pilot Age 22 Killed In Action June 13 1944 From Driver Saskatchewan Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Flying Officer

Edward Ronald Lowe

Navigator Age 34 Killed In Action June 13 1944 From Vancouver B.C Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

Mark Richard Larkin

Upper Gunner Age 21 Killed In Action June 13 1944 From St. Brides Alberta Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

George William Carruthers

Rear Gunner Age 21 Killed In Action June 13 1944 From Dauphin Manitoba Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer

Donald John Applin

WAG Age21 Killed In Action June 13 1944 From Westmount Quebec Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Sergeant

Barry.D. Wilson-Law

RAF Flight Engineer Evader

Flying Officer

Roy A. Forbes

Bomb Aimer Evader

Pilot Age 22
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Driver Saskatchewan
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Navigator Age 34
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Vancouver B.C
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Upper Gunner Age 21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From St. Brides Alberta
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

Rear Gunner Age 21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Dauphin Manitoba
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France

WAG Age21
Killed In Action June 13 1944
From Westmount Quebec
Burial Vieux-Berquin Communal Cemetery, France