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Flight Lieutenant William Ford Watson Porteous, DSO, DFM and Bar, Service Number 171282, was killed in action over
Le Mans, Sarthe, France during the night of 19-20 May 1944. He had been taking part in air operations against the
railway yards at Le Mans as Bomb Aimer for the Deputy Master Bomber.
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He and the rest of the crew, from No. 7 Squadron based at RAF
Oakington, took off from Oakington at 22:23 in Lancaster III JB653 with Squadron markings of MG:R, never to return.
The other crew members were Squadron Leader John Mervyn DENNIS, DSO, DFC, Service No. 41783, Pilot; Sergeant Peter
Joseph John KOFOED, Service No. 1640191, Flight Engineer; Flight Lieutenant Ronald James HEWETT, DFM, Service No.
109307, Navigator; Warrant Officer Reginald Thomas HUNT, Service No. 1319408, Wireless Operator; Sergeant Leonard
TIMMINS, Service No. 1896307, Mid-upper Gunner; Flight Sergeant Alfred George LAWRENCE, Service No. 1319292, Rear
Gunner.
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All were killed and all, with the exception of W/O Hunt, are buried in
Le Mans West Cemetery.
W/O Hunt is
remembered on panel 214 of the
Runnymede Memorial, and also on the
Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
My mother (Bill's sister) has kept Bill's Flying Log Book and has kindly consented for me to make it available in this form. I would be delighted to receive information about Bill or any of the other crew members. Please contact me at the address below. Likewise, if there are any inaccuracies or broken links, please let me know.
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