Sgt
M. Lavoie and crew from 425 squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-683
coded
KW-A, was returning from Foret D’Eawy on 3 engines. On landing, the
Halifax
swung and crashed into LW-680 KW-U, which was loaded with bombs
and
MZ-618 KW-J, which had just returned from Foret D’Eawy. All
aircraft
caught fire. Aircrew and ground crew worked hard at extricating trapped
crewmembers amid fires and huge explosions. All crewmembers were
rescued
with injuries, some serious.
Air Commodore A. Ross was seriously injured
in these explosions helping with the rescue of the trapped airmen, his
arm was severed below the elbow. Lac MacKenzie and Lac Wolfe were also
injured during this rescue. A/C A. Ross received the George
Cross,
F/Sgt J. St. Germain and Cpl M. Marguet the George Medal, Lac M.
MacKenzie
and Lac R. Wolfe a BEM, for acts of bravery during this trying time.
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