Gavin John Lynes

8/9 May 1941 Wellington R1473 RAF crew flying with Polish 304 Sqn as advisors. Took off 23.08 RAF Syerston to bomb shipyards and city at Bremen, reportedly hit by Flak and damaged. Later claimed shot down by Unteroffizier Reinhard Schmolinsky of the 1./NJG 3, who was flying a Bf 110 from Vechta airfield (KIFA 3/7/1941). R1473 crashed at 02.16 Brumsel, Messinghausen, Germany.

DFC Citation:
"One night in August, 1940, this officer took part in a raid on the transformer station at Kelsterbach. Whilst passing over the Dutch coast, the inter-communication gear of his aircraft became unserviceable. He decided to continue, however, and passed over his
target at 7,000 feet, the actual area being obscured by cloud. As he was unable to pin-point the objective, he decided to descend below the clouds. He made several attempts to approach the objective, but had to carry out such violent evasive action on account of the intense anti aircraft fire that he was unable to make a satisfactory run.
Eventually, however, he managed to pass directly over the objective at 2,000 feet and he then released his bombs himself. He dived down to 100 feet at high speed to avoid being hit and whilst escaping from the target, the flash of the bombs could be seen as they burst on the buildings and the reflection of the flames was visible on the clouds as the
aircraft left the area. By his persistent determination and his outstanding skill as a pilot, Pilot Officer Lynes was able to destroy the primary objective in the face of heavy opposition. Since the 20th April, 1940, he has taken part in thirty-two major bombing operations over Norway, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy."

Unknown