fletcherjj

DATE	TARGET FOR TONIGHT	AIRCRAFT	COMMENTS
27/28.5.44	Nantes	DV229 JO.P
28/29.5.44	St-Martin-de-Verravilles	DV229 JO.P
3/4.6.44	Ferme D'Urville	DV229 JO.P
5/6.6.44	St Pierre Du Mont	DV229 JO.P
6/7.6.44	Argentan	DV229 JO.P
8/9.6.44	Rennes	DV229 JO.P
10/11.6.44	Orleans	DV229 JO.P	Missing.
10/11.6.44. In the op to Orleans in support of the invasion DV229 JO.P was hit crossing the channel. P/O Fletcher managed to reach the French coast and hold the A/C while the crew bailed out but was to low to bale out himself and was killed in the attempt.
Some of the crew returned to Waddington 19.8.44 and reported that they were hit by friendly gun fire crossing the channel (The Royal Navy gunfire was classed as friendly). They called Southampton continually until they had to abandon the A/C then clamped the key down.
DV229 was Nobby Blundel's original JO-P. It was named Admiral Shite Hawk during it's service in the Middle East. It had flown 541 hours and had always performed poorly and slow.
Author's Comment -- The lack of recognition for acts such as P/O Fletcher in giving his life for the crew is one of the contentious omissions of the services.