Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website

Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website



Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.


227369

Sgt. John Lewis

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 44 Sqdn.

from:Lampeter

(d.25th Jun 1944)

Johnny Lewis was a Sergeant Air Gunner, 1445360, RAF Volunteer Reserve. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Lewis from Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales. He served with 44 Squadron RAF which was equipped with the Avro Lancaster BIII based at RAF Dunholme Lodge. He was killed when his Lancaster was shot down over France on 25th June 1944. Johnny is buried at Criquetot-Sur-Longueville Churchyard with six other colleagues:

Pilot Officer Douglas Earl Aiken Sunday, 25 June 1944 23 J/85822 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 2. Joint grave.

Sergeant John Hare Sunday, 25 June 1944 21 1439383 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 4. Joint grave.

Sergeant Horace Arnold Lewarne Sunday, 25 June 1944 Unknown 1279022 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 4. Joint grave.

Sergeant Johnny Lewis Sunday, 25 June 1944 22 1445360 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 1.

Flight Sergeant Frank Sidney Rawson Sunday, 25 June 1944 22 1324690 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 3. Joint grave. Warrant Officer Class II Robert Alexander Riddoch Sunday, 25 June 1944 23 R/172357 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 3. Joint grave.

Pilot Officer Alfred Montague Simmons Sunday, 25 June 1944 Unknown J/89960 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 2. Joint grave.

The crew's missions started in April 1944 until the 24/25th June 1944. List of missions for June is as follows:

2nd June 1944: Lancaster B1 ND869 KM-M. Attack on Wimereux

5-6th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on La Pernelle

6-7th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on Caen

8-9th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on Pontaubault

9-10th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on Etampes

12-13th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on Caen

24-25th June 1944: Lancaster BIII ND751 KM-J. Attack on Pommereval

Weather was fine but slightly hazy on the evening of 24th June 1944. 15 aircraft were detailed to carry out a bombing attack on Pommereval. P/S Oswald and P/O Aiken crews were reported missing without trace from this operation. All other aircraft reached and bombed the target successfully and returned to base safely.



Please type your message:     

We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit.
Your Name:            
Email Address:       @

**Please type the first part our your email in the first box (eg. john.smith) the @ sign is added automaticallly, please type the second part in the second box (eg. gmail.com). Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**

Please type in the code shown here: CAPTCHA Image   

If you are unable to read the code please click here.

If you have received an error message for incorrect code, please click to refresh the code before resending. This should overcome the error message.