Boyce Crew, Haudricourt, France
Lancaster LM218 EM-N
failed to return from the second July 1944 attack on the
huge St.Leu d'Esserent V1 handling and storage facility
(night of July 7/8).
P/O Kenneth Boyce's aircraft crashed 2km
SW of Aumale. Two of the crew, F/Sgt Alan Nichol
and Sgt John Parkinson, managed to evade
capture with the help of French helpers.
The other five crew members were killed. After five days
the Germans allowed a local man to remove the bodies for
burial in Haudricourt Communal Cemetery.
Alan Nichol has since died. John Parkinson was among
Association members present when the memorial to the crew
was unveiled on 10th July 1999 close to where his
aircraft fell.
Earlier, much of the village was present at a service to
commemorate the crew - and all who gave their lives -
followed by a wreath laying at the cemetery.photo source: Phelps
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