Trafford

Born in 1914, the son of Frederick A. & Georganne T.(Fulloch)West.

1939 National Registration - No Trace.   His parents were residing at
"Holmelea", Moss Lane, Altrincham.   Frederick A. West - Born on the 21st
October 1891 - Married - occ: Gas Engineer.   Georgeann T. Fulloch West -
Born on the 1st June 1893 - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.    
Kenneth G. West - Born on the 14th November 1920 - occ: Pupil Construction
Engineering.    His absence would indicate that he a already serving by the
time of this census.

With a crew of seven, piloted by Flight Lieutenant William Leonard Powell,
they took off in a Lancaster MkIII bomber number JB701 EA-G, at 22.23 hours
from RAF Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, on the 28th July 1944 for a bombing
mission to Stuttgart.

The aircraft crashed at St. Martin-sur-Oreuse (Yonne) situated 12 km NNE of
Sens, France. 

The other crew members were:-  Flying Officers G.E. Franklin;  A.S. Cole; 
Sergeants D.C. Stephens;  G.E. Kirkpatrick;  T. Moore - they are all buried
in the Communal Cemetery at St. Martin-sur-Oreuse.

494 Lancaster bombers and 2 Moquitoes took off for the raid on Stuttgart
that night.   German fighters intercepted the bomber stream while over
France on the outward flight; there was a bright moon and 39 of the
Lancaster's were shot down - 7.9% of the bomber force.

See appeal in the Manchester Evening News dated 15th July 2004 - Jean-Luc
Prieur is co-ordinating the local residents search for relatives.  UK
contact is Janet Marsden Tel: 01691-655337 ??? e-mail:
marsdenjanet@hotmail.com.

From the 49 Sqn Association website -
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/personnel_index/detail/West_JF

28/29 July, 1944; STUTTGART:

If cloud and bad weather had caused problems on the previous raid, then the
bright moon conditions that prevailed over France this night were to prove
an even greater hazard to the bombers. As the force of nearly 500 aircraft
headed for Stuttgart, German night-fighters were waiting, and in the
ensuing air battle 39 Lancasters were shot down. Fiskerton had 12 aircraft
airborne.
F/Lt William Powell (JB701) and crew were all killed when their Lancaster
was shot down by a JU88 nightfighter over France. The flight engineer and
rear gunner have separate graves, but the remaining five crew members are
in a collective grave; all seven rest in St Martin-sur-Oreuse Cemetery,
Yonne.

FTR JB701 (EA-G)
F/L W.L. Powell Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.F. West F/E (Killed)
F/O G.E. Franklin NAV (Killed)
F/S D.C. Stephens W/OP (Killed)
Sgt G.E. Kirkpatrick A/G (Killed)
F/O A.S. Cole B/A (Killed)
Sgt T. Moore A/G (Killed)

The crew were on their 17th operation and are remembered on a memorial in
the local French churchyard.

Further information via Colin Cripps (49 Squadron Association Researcher)
Hptm Heinz-Horst Hissbach of 5./NJG2  claimed a  4-motored aircraft north
of the Montargis-Sens area (DF-DG), interception was at a height of
5,500mts at 00.46hrs. This was his 22 "Abschuss".
Hissbach claimed 26 night kills and 4 daylight during his service.
On the 14-15th of April 1945, near Gelnhausen, whilst carrying out a
ground-strafing sortie, Hissbach was shot down and killed by American
ack-ack.

CWGC - Son of Frederick A. &  Georgie T. West of Altrincham.

M.I. "Peace".