Halifax NA585 at Elvington airfield.

During the afternoon of 10th September 1944 this 346 Squadron aircraft left Elvington airfield to carry out an operational flight to a attack target in the Octeville area of France. The aircraft did not bomb the target area and made for home with at least one of the thousand pound bombs on board. On landing at Elvington at 18.34hrs the bomb that was still in the aircraft was shaken loose and fell onto the runway, it detonated and the aircraft was destroyed. Only the pilot, who was the commanding officer of 346 Squadron, survived the blast. His six crew were killed.

Pilot - Lcl Gaston Venot FFAF (000836). Seriously injured.

Flight Engineer - Sgc Wison Finale FFAF, aged 27. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

Navigator - Ltn Louis R Guillocheau FFAF, aged 30. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

Bomb Aimer - Adj Jules J Kipperle FFAF, aged 30. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Gabriel Lhomond FFAF, aged 22. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

Air Gunner - Sgc Marcel Coupeau FFAF, aged 24. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

Air Gunner - Sgc Dominique F Biaggi FFAF, aged 24. Initially buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Now buried in France.

This crew had survived an emergency landing at Carnaby on 13th June 1944 in Halifax LK955 after suffering battle damage on an operational flight to bomb Rouen.

I would welcome information to state this crew's service numbers and also their burial locations in France.

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