Mission: Sedan

Date: 14th May 1940 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 226 Squadron

Type: Fairy Battle I

Serial: L5438

Code: MQ-?

Base: Reim/Champagne

Location: Mont Dieu

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. William Alfred Dunn 563086 R.A.F. Age ? Killed

Obs: Sgt. Arthur Francis Sedgwick 523566 R.A.F. Age 31. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: A.C.2 Michael Benedict Millar 616790 R.A.F. Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 15.25 hrs to bomb the bridge at Mouzon, France. 4 aircraft from 226 squadron, 4 from 103 squadron and 4 from 105 squadron were detailed for this operation. The operation was part of the heaviest daylight bombing raids by the R.A.F. of the war so far. It was made to try and halt the rapid advance of the German troops. The Hurricanes provided to support the Battles were as a whole ineffective and the accurate flak fire together with prowling Luftwaffe fighters decimated the bombers with all 4 from 226 squadron being lost as well as a further 34 aircraft shot down on this day!
L5438 was shot down during its attack on a bridge at Mouzon and crashed at 16.00hrs. All crew were killed and buried initially in the area of Mont Dieu. The bodies were exhumed in February 1947 and reinterred in Choloy War Cemetery.

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. William Alfred Dunn. Choloy War Cemetery. Joint Grave 2A.A. 2-3 No further details.

Sgt. Arthur Francis Sedgwick. Choloy War Cemetery. Grave 2A.A.1. Son of Thomas C. Sedgwick and Frances Sedgwick, of Liverpool; stepson of Mrs. M. Sedgwick, of Liverpool.

A.C.2 Michael Benedict Millar. Choloy War Cemetery. Joint Grave 2A.A. 2-3 Son of Andrew and Catherine Millar, of Dublin, Irish Republic.

Page constructed by Alexander King, Researched by David King for Lynn Millar (Great niece of A.C.2 Michael Millar) Remembrance page dedicated to all the crew. Acknowledgments: With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses", Peter Cornwell -"Battle of France Then and Now", the superb work of the C.W.G.C.