Chapel Notre-Dame du Chénel and Memorial R.A.F.

The British memorial is located at the chapel Notre-Dame du Chénel.

In the chapel hangs an ex voto:
"Thanks to Our Lady
The fighters, prisoners and resisters
1940-1945 "

To the left of the chapel is the memorial stone:
"Memory of the 3 airmen of the R.A.F.
died for our freedom
on August 10, 1943
NT HOLMES
JT KENDALL
GM SPRIGGS "

In the night of 9/10 August 457 British planes left for Mannheim for the scattered bombing of the city. The Lancaster W4236 "QR-K" of the 61st Squadron was one of the aircraft that did not return.
At night, during their fifth operation, their aircraft was intercepted by the German night fighter guarding sector 7B, manned by the young Lieutenant Norbert Pietrek.
The bomber was hit, caught fire and fell near Marbehan station.
The occupier soon arrived at the scene of the disaster where the three victims were recovered: Sgt. George Spriggs, meccano, 21 years old, Sgt. Nevil Holmes, dorsal turret gunner and John Kendall, Canadian rear gunner, age 24. They were killed by the bullets of Norbert Pietrek.
The 4 survivors would later arrive in Great Britain with the help of the resistance.

Source: Aviation History

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck