Page 14 - John George Blair

The crew flew on the evening of 4 June 1944 to Mailly-le-camp 85 miles east of
th
Paris where 332 Lancasters and 14 pathfinder Mosquitoes from 28 squadrons
attacked the 21 Panzer Division occupying a pre-war French barracks. The Master
st
Bomber instructed incoming crews to orbit the target as the target area was
becoming congested with Lancasters. This was a fatal decision as the Lancasters
circling the target area were lit up against the glare of the bombs exploding
on the encampment.

Experienced crews saw the danger and circled well clear of the target as Luftwaffe
night fighters from nearby airfields picked off the inexperienced crews. In total 42
Lancasters, one Electronic Counter measures Halifax and one pathfinder Mosquito
were shot down. In less than one hour 258 airmen were killed and just 42
parachuting safely to the ground. The Panzer Division suffered many casualties and
its operational readiness and ability to contest the forthcoming Allied invasion was
severely degraded by the bombing. Jack and his crew were very lucky to
survive this night.