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Ricky G
Lancaster B.I ED416 EA-J 49 Squadron "J-Johnny" was one of 12 Lancasters from RAF Fiskerton that took part in an attack by 605 bombers on Mannheim/Ludwigshaven, on 5/6 September, 1943.

34 aircraft were brought down during the raid on a night when fighters were very active. It was a fighter that raked the underneath of J-Johnny flown by F/Sgt Kirton, shortly after 'bombs away'. The pilot remembered preparing to leave his seat when the aircraft exploded and he found himself parachuting down. Only F/Sgt Kirton & 'Bunny' Perry, navigator, who was standing next to the pilot, survived. F/Sgt Kirton went to Stalag 357 and F/O Perry to Luft 3. An unopened parachute, belonging to Jim Davies the Wop/Ag, was found. The four remaining crew members were all reported killed but the cause is not clear. They were on their 14th operation.

"Ben" Kirton survived the war; and in the 1970's taught me mathematics...