15-21 June 1943

Overview

During this week 12 Sqn carried out 2 attacks in Germany, to Cologne and Krefeld and a mine laying mission off the River Gironde in France. One aircraft was lost, with all the crew, during the Cologne attack and one aircraft was lost on a training exercise, with 4 crew members killed. It is interesting that there were 2 “second dicky” pilots in this aircraft, who both survived, having only arrived at RAF Wickenby that day – some welcome to RAF operational flying!

Sgt Henry Joseph Patrick Lackey, the Wireless Operator in Sgt Aylard’s aircraft, lost in Belgium during the Cologne operation, was the son of Pte Henry Thomas Lackey, Duke of Wellington’s Regt (killed in action in Belgium 21/09/1917) & Hannah Sarah Lackey. Therefore, both father and son were killed and are buried in Belgium. Sometimes fact can be stranger than fiction.