Lancaster DS726 at Linton on Ouse airfield.

On the night of 20th / 21st October 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 17.36hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Leipzig. All appears to have gone without incident and the crew bombed the target area and returned to base. On landing at Linton on Ouse at 00.35hrs Lancaster DS726 was being taxied around the periemter track when the crew were forced to stop behind 426 Squadron Lancaster DS771 that had received flak damage and while it had landed successfully at 00.15hrs it had been incorrectly parked. While waiting for DS771 to be moved DS726 ran into it. Lancaster DS726 received damage to the starboard outer engine and propeller and also the starboard wing tip.

Pilot - WO2 John Bleecker Mill RCAF (R/106673).

Navigator - F/O Gilmour Murray Reid RAFVR (127268).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Johnston RAFVR (656566).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Rankin RAFVR (171474).

Mid Upper Gunner? - Sgt T W Stewart.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Howard Dennis Jones RAFVR (1413674).

Rear Gunner? - Sgt A Mabon.

On the night of 21st / 22nd January 1944 Mill, Reid, Johnston, Rankin and Jones were flying together in 408 Squadron Lancaster DS790 on Ops to Magdeburg when the aircraft was set on fire by a night-fighter attacking. The aircraft broke up in the air but Mill and Johnston and one other were able to deploy their parachutes and survived to became PoWs. Rankin's body was found and he is now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Reid and Jones have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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