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Before I write this guide, here is a forward to outline how it all came about:

A neighbour asked me to find out what happened to a relative of his, Sgt. Frank Cooney, from the 178 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserves who died in 1944. With help from Yorkshiretyke WW2, I found he had flown from Foggia No 1, Celone, Italy.

Following searches on the web, I found Malcom Charlish whose site was very helpfull and with assistance from Linzee WW2, all the pieces started to fit together and the story was taking shape.

THE LAST MISSION OF EW277

On the 13th June, 1944 some 90 planes, part of the 205 Group, were taking off on a mission to bomb the railway yards at Munich.

There where:-

32 - Wellingtons - 231-wing
13 - Wellingtons - 236-wing
22 - Wellingtons - 330-wing
10 - Pathfinder Halifax's - 614 Squadron
13 - Liberators - from the airfield at Foggia No 1, Celone, Italy (including number EW277).

The crew of EW277 are as follows:-

Sgt. Stephen Thomas Geraint Gill : Pilot
RAF number - 1452957.

Sgt. Patrick Cameron : Air Gunner
RAF number - 573311.

Sgt. Robert McLean : Air Bomber
RAF number - 1671314.

Sgt. Malcolm Charlish : Flight Engineer
RAF number - 2202796.

Sgt. Frank Cooney : W/Op/Air Gunner
RAF number - 1684744.

Two members of that fateful mission I still have to account for namely, Billing and Craig, however, I have found the following entry for June, 1944 in the POW Camp Stalag Luft 7, Bankau, Nr. Kreulberg, Upper Silesia, Poland.

Camp L7 146 : A. W. Billing
RAF number - 1355714.

Camp L7 155 : P. H. Craig
RAF number - 1578239.

This may or may not be the answer to complete my search, however, until it is confirmed then I shall keep looking.

On the 14th June 1944, EW277 did not return from its mission and was listed as missing in action. It was not until after the war had finished, when the Americans returned to recover their lost servicemen that the 5 crew members from EW277, mistaken for Americans, probably because both countries flew Liberators, were removed from their burial place in Furtenfeldbruck, Germany to St. Avoid in France. Later when the mistake was found the five were then moved once again to Choloy Memorial Cemetery, Nr. Nancy, France in collective grave 4 (1-5) where they now lie at rest.

My personal thanks to Malcolm Charlish, Linzee from WW2, Yorkshiretyke and also Tom Cranmer from 205 Group (Middle East and Italy) of 44, Gorringe Valley Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 9SS. Telephone : 01323 484 824 [e-mail tomcranmer205ATtesco.net]

Full permission has been given to supply the personal details included. Without their valued help I would never have been able to piece together the chain of events and of course, to pass the information on to my neighbour who started me off on this search in the first place.

Other Airmen and Aircraft on the same Mission

'A' Flight :

EW266 (L for Love)
W/Cdr. Steele, Sgt. Holmes, F/O Edwards, F/S Richardson, Sgt. Perryer, Sgt. Heizby, F/S Davies.
--------
EV974 (D for Dog)
Lt. Van der Merge, F/O Bootham, Sgt. Blunt,
F/L Lindsey, F/O Wood, F/S Basten, Sgt. Halsall,
W/O Farthing.
--------
KG828 (F for Fox)
P/O Blanckenburg, Sgt. Garner, F/O Davies, Sgt. Pain,
F/S McGuffie, F/S Symes.
--------
EV961 (C for Charlie)
Sgt. Nichols, Sgt. Dirch, Lt. Shtein, Sgt. Elgar
Sgt. Hampton, Sgt. Penhaligon, Sgt. Woodsford.
--------
EW260 (B for Baker)
Lt. Rosenthal, Sgt. Brown, Lt. Steel, Sgt. Cam,
Sgt. Horell, Sgt. Wilson, Sgt. Garbut.
--------
EW233 (H for How)
F/L Eardley, Sgt. Watson, Sgt. Dalrymple, P/O White, F/O Rasmuslen,
F/S Farnish, F/S Sutcliffe, Sgt. Bulgen.

'B' Flight :

EW139 (G for George)
W/Cdr Smythe, F/O Melton, F/O Ohrt, F/O Anselmo,
W/O Griffin, W/O Fedorchuk, P/O Johnstone, Sgt. Jones.
--------
EW106 (U for Uncle)
Lt. Knight, Sgt. Graves, F/S Green, Sgt. Allen, F/S Holdup,
Sgt. Paul, F/S Bradshaw.
--------
EW277 (W for William)
Sgt. Gill, Sgt. Charlish, Sgt. Craig, Sgt. Cooney, Sgt. Billing, Sgt. McLean, Sgt. Cameron.
--------
EV022 (V for Victor)
Lt. Hoskin, Sgt. Scott, F/S Warner, Sgt. Exton, Sgt. Cooper,
F/S Hoshbaire, Sgt. Oxford.
--------
EW231 (R for Roger)
Sgt. Rush, Sgt. Cowan, Lt. Nurmay, Sgt. Coates, Sgt. Green, Sgt. Dobie, Sgt. Hillson.
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EV959 (T for Tare)
Lt. Gibson, Sgt. Durie F/S Ellis, Sgt. Young, F/S Heel, Sgt. Jones,
Sgt. Allam.
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BZ947 (N for Nab)
F/O McNaughton Sgt. Johnstone, F/O Ellis, W/O Brothers, Sgt. Pratt, F/S Barrington, Sgt. Mitchell
--------

May the 5 Crew Members of EW277 be remembered and left to rest in the Choloy Memorial Cemetery, Nr. Nancy, France.

Written by Jim Deluce
[jimdeluce1ATactivemail.co.uk]

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