Liberator BZ 915 of 224 Sqn RAF took off from RAF Station St. Eval, Cornwall, in the early hours of 7 June 1944. The aircraft was detailed to patrol the coast of Ushant, France but failed to return to base. The last signal received from the aircraft at 0207 hours stated that they were attacking the enemy, the position of the aircraft then was off the French coast near Ushant. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft.
Crew:
RAAF 414988 FO Buchan-Hepburn, Ronald Henry, Captain, (Pilot) +
RAF 657007 Flt Sgt Fairs, Geoffrey John Harry (2nd Pilot) +
RAAF 420386 PO Hogan, Phillip William (Navigator Bombarder) +
RAAF 422822 Flt Sgt Whitby, John Downton (Navigator) +
RAAF 422512 Flt Sgt Hands, Bruce Alfred (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 408388 Flt Sgt Dickenson, Max Elwin (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 422464 Flt Sgt Earl, Harold John (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 418506 Flt Sgt Kennedy, Albert Alexander (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAF 1390853 Flt Sgt Barnes, Leonard James (Wireless Operator Mechanic/Air Gunner) +
RAF 626539 Sgt Collins, Arthur (Flight Engineer) +
In a 1949 report it was stated that all efforts to find any trace of the aircraft or crew were unsuccessful and the crew had been recorded as missing lost at sea.
RAAF 414988 FO Buchan-Hepburn, Ronald Henry, Captain, (Pilot)
Aged 21, Son of Walter Scot Buchan-Hepburn and Julia Amy Buchan-Hepburn, of Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
RAF Flt Sgt Fairs, Geoffrey John Harry (2nd Pilot)
Aged 25, Son of Sidney Chester Fairs and Mildred Elizabeth Fairs, of Walberswick, Suffolk; husband of Doris Letitia Fairs.
RAAF 420386 PO Hogan, Phillip William (Navigator Bombaimer)
Aged 27, Son of John Alphonsus Hogan and Mary Hogan; husband of Margaret Jane Rudkin Hogan, of Bronte, New South Wales, Australia. B.A., Dip.Ed.
RAAF 422822 Flt Sgt Whitby, John Downton (Navigator)
Aged 22, Son of John Webidale Whitby and Ivy Whitby, of Barmedman, New South Wales, Australia.
RAAF 422512 Flt Sgt Hands, Bruce Alfred (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of Alfred and Helen Webster Hands, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
RAAF 408388 Flt Sgt Dickenson, Max Elwin (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 32, Son of Douglas and Jessie Agness Dickenson, of Granton, Tasmania, Australia.
RAAF 422464 Flt Sgt Earl, Harold John (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 23, Son of Harold Arthur and Constance Winifred Earl; husband of Sheila Earl, of Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
RAAF 418506 Flt Sgt Kennedy, Albert Alexander (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 23, Son of Parry Alexander and Minnie Josephine Kennedy, of Ararat, Victoria, Australia.
RAF 1390853 Flt Sgt Barnes, Leonard James (Wireless Operator Mechanic/Air Gunner) 24
Aged 24, Son of James George and Ellen Barnes, of Bedford.
RAF 626539 Sgt Collins, Arthur (Flight Engineer)