here. - Lancaster ND424 of 12 Squadron

Lancaster ND42412 Squadron 16 aircraft and 626 Squadron 18 aircraft.33 aircraft attacked the primary.1 aircraft (P/O Guilfoyle 12/G) is missing.Bomber Command despatched 107 aircraft to attack the marshalling yards at Vaires nearParis. It was clear at the target and a good attack developed although perhaps a littlescattered. Several explosions were reported.2 aircraft did not return.12 Squadron ORB – ‘Summary of Events’ 27.6.44 (AIR 27/168)This document extract summarises the events of the raid on 27.6.44 and reports:Weather: Mainly fair with occasional showers. Visibility good. Wind westerly 15-20 m.p.h.Operations as ordered for sixteen aircraft. Target Vaires. 14th raid. Captains of aircraft asfollows: S/L Corry, F/O Landon, P/O Leuty, P/O Honor, F/Lt Gray, W/O Dyre-Matthews F/OVernon, P/O Guilfoyle, P/O Starr, P/O Pappas, P/O Thompson, P/O Pollard, F/S Lowry, F/OOwens, P/O Hancox, P/O Downing. The marshalling of Vaires near Paris was the mission tothe sixteen aircraft of this squadron. All attacked the “primary” target and one aircraft is to bereported as missing. Fair weather accompanied by a slight ground haze, prevailed from themidnight “take off” to the target itself. The marking was punctual and very accurate. Burntflashes enabled the crews to see the railway installations quite clearly, and the resultant ofan extremely concentrated attack was only to be expected. Explosions of a spectacularnature are to be recorded, and savour of ammunition trucks being hit. The opposition can bewritten off as insignificant.12 Squadron ORB – Details of Sorties or Flight ND424 (AIR 27/168)This document extract shows the entry for ND424 and our crew and reports that they took off at0029 and their bomb load was 9,000 lb.Lanc III ND424P/O Guilfoyle M.A. (Capt), W/O Sonshine J.R. (Nav), W/O Yates R.F. (W/T), Sgt StephenJ.S.J (A/B), Sgt Davies H.D (F/E), Sgt Faircloth L.J (MUG), Sgt Jordin D.F (R/G).6 x 500 lb GP USA TD.025, 10 x 500 GP TD.025, 2 x 500 GPLD. API H2S Fishpond. A/Cfailed to return. Nothing heard since take-off.12 Squadron ORB – ‘Special Recco Report’The following ‘Special Recco Report’ on the Vaires raid was found during our visit to the NationalArchive. The report was compiled following the raid by F/O Honor and crew in Lancaster ND842PH-K. See Appendix D for the original document.Special Recco Report. 27/28 June 1944. Vaires M/YWickenby. P/O Honor. K/12. 0302 HRS. 12,000 FT.38