William Bell

Lancaster W4121

Flight Sergeant DK Potter (AG), Sergeant W C Colwill AG), Sergeant W G Woodhouse AG), Sergeant L H Bell (W/Op), Sergeant W Bell (FE): killed; Flight Sergeant L R Wright (P), Flight Sergeant S D G Roberts (N), Flight Sergeant J F McCallum (RCAF) (W/Op), Sergeant A J V Hunt (RNZAF) (W/Op): missing believed killed; aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Milan, Italy.

BLONVILLE SUR MER CHURCHYARD

88 5 Group Lancasters took part in this very risky daytime operation to bomb Milan which took the Italian city by complete surprise. 30 large fires were started and 441 houses destroyed. The following public buildings were hit: university, the prison, offices of the local Fascist Party, 2 churches i, 2 schools and 2 hospitals (one a maternity unit). The Caproni aircraft factoru was also hit. 171 people were killed. 3 Lancasters were lost, 1 near MIlan 2 (including W4121) over northern France or in the Channel and 1 on return to the UK (crew all killed). Source: Middlebrook & Everitt, Bomber Command War Diaries p.319.

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