Sydney Wilson Ainsworth

Lancaster III DV275 took off from Ludford Magna to bomb the large military camp at Maiily-Le-Camp. Hit by Flak from Batteries in the NE areaa of the camp and crashed 1 km SW of Poivres (Aube) 20 km NNE of Arcis-sur-aube.

No survivors. Fatalities:

Ainsworth + George Baker, George Alexander Blair, David Harry Cro, Michael John Hackett, Donald Hubert McNaught, Arthur John Ridgway, John Edward Steward.

Approaching 'D' Day, Mailly-Le-Camp was one of a number of important German encampments in northern France selected by Bomber Command because it housed crack SS troops and Panzer tanks. The attack by 346 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes had to be at low level and in three quarter moonlight. A couple more problems made this raid costly.

Firstly, the target was close to a number of night fighter bases and, whilst the Luftwaffe was largely defeated elsewahere, it was certainly active in the Normandy area. Bombers circling awaiting their turn to go in became easy prey for defending German fighters.

Secondly, it is believed 'Marker Leader' W/Co Leonard Cheshire's ordering the bombers in could not be transmitted through W/Co L C Deane, as planned because the the latter's VHF radio set was being drowned by an American forces broadcast.

Despite these difficulties, eventually 1,500 tons of bombs were accurately dropped on 114 barrack buildings, 47 transport sheds and some ammunition stores. 102 vehicles including 37 tanks were destroyed. 218 German soldiers were killed and 156 wounded.

The price of this success was high. 42 allied aircraft were lost (11% of the attacking force) and 258 airmen died. Group 1, which made up the second wave of the attack, suffered worst losing 28 of their 173 ac dispatched. 460 (Australian) Sqdn from Binbrook lost 5 of its 17 Lancasters on the raid. Ainsworth's 101 Sqdn lost 3 out of 17.

Unknown