F/Sgt CTW Downing
224 Sqn, Cstl Cmd, St Eval, England, 29 July 1943

In remembrance of those that made the ultimate sacrifice....

At 16h05 on 29 July 1943 F/Sgt Cyril Downing of Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, took off aboard Mk V Liberator FL965 coded A for Apple for patrol over the Bay of Biscay. At 20h24 an incomplete radio transmission was received reporting the sighting of a Ju88. No further transmissions were received.

This report is reflected in 'A History of 5./B.F.Gr. 196, 1./S.A.Gr. 128, and 10./Z.G. 1' By Andrew Arthy where on 29 July 1943 Ofw. Hans Gryz claimed a Liberator in the late afternoon (20:36) in the area of Pl.Qu. 15 West S/7044. The big four-engined aircraft was shot down into the sea from a height of ten metres. Ofw. Gryz’s victim was probably FL965 of 224 Sqdn. (www.airwarpublications.com)

The crew are commemorated on the Runnymeade Memorial.
F/Sgt W E Smith
P/O R G Ballantine
Sgt W Warrington
F/O J W I Day
Sgt R Sumner
F/Sgt C T W Downing
F/Sgt G A Briggs
Sgt H E Richardson
P/O W P Drew

Op: Musketry 58/2 Patrol, St Eval, Time up 16:05 hrs