Philip Bonnington Smith

In support of Canadian forces straining to liberate Calais, in German hands since 1940, 188 aircraft - 101 Lancasters, 62 Halifaxes & 25 Mosquitoes - set out 24/9/1943 to bomb Calais. German positions were covered in cloud at 200 feet and only 126 planes bombed, most using Oboe-aimed sky markers. However, some, including 12 Lancasters deployed from Mildenhall, came below the cloud to bomb visually. Flak, very accurate at such low altitude, shot down 1 Halifax and 7 Lancasters including LM 109E piloted by Flight Lieutenant Philip Bonnington Smith.

There were three fatalities from LM 109E: PB Smith (P), T Paterson (MUAG), W Shearer (RAG).

Four men escaped: T Mayer (FE), FS Flower (N, LM Riordan (W/Op), FS Raith (AB)

15 Sqdn's ORB (TNA Air 27/204/18) provides an unusually deatiled account of the incident compiled from interviews with the four survivors:

'On the run in to the target, the port outer (Engine) was hit by flak and caught fire, It is thought the rear gunner Sgt Shearer was killed in this attack. The engineer feathered the engine and the fire was extinguished. The bombing run was resumed and bombs dropped. The aircraft was hit again and the pilot (Smith) wounded.

The order to bale out was given and the mid upper gunner (Paterson) went back to see what had happened to the rear gunner (Shearer). All the crew baled out at 1800 feet except the pilot, mid upper and rear gunners. The pilot appeared to leave the aircraft by the upper escape hatch but his parachute was seen to catch in the hatch.

On landing, the survivors hid until they were certain that they had landed in our own territory. They were picked up by the Canadian Army and made their way back via various army units who looked after them very well. The finally made contact with an RAF Regiment unit and were passed on to Group on 25/9/1944. They were flown back from Ypres to this country and reported to this unit on 28/9/1944 (only 4 days after being shot down).'

NB: Austalian wireless operator Sgt Lex Maitland Riordan (426468) survived this crash but was killed in a flying accident over Norfolk, UK on 17/1/1945.

The Liberation of Calais - September/October 1944

RAF Bomber Command provided critical support to Canadian forces during the capture of Calais (Operation Undergo) in September 1944. As part of the efforts to clear German-occupied channel ports, Bomber Command conducted heavy bombing raids to break German resistance.

• Operation Undergo (September 1944): The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division led the assault on Calais. Bomber Command was called upon to soften up defences, including Fort Lapin, which were strongly held by German forces.

• Key Support Action: On September 28, 1944, Bomber Command delivered a heavy attack on the city's defences, which severely impacted German morale and led to a temporary truce requested by the German commander, Lt.-Colonel Ludwig Schroeder.

• Progressing the Siege: Following continued Canadian advances—such as the Canadian Scottish crossing the canal and the Regina Rifle Regiment attacking the southern fringes —further Bomber Command air attacks were scheduled to coincide with the expiration of a truce on September 30, 1944.

• Canadian Participation: The operation was a crucial part of the First Canadian Army's mandate to open Channel ports to Allied shipping.
Calais was eventually liberated on October 1st 1944 by the Canadian First Army, having been heavily bombed to break the German hold.