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F/O. Bruce Graham Black
Royal Air Force 158 Squadron
from:New York, New York
(d.3rd June 1944)
On Friday 2nd of June 1944, Flying Officer (Bomb Aimer) Bruce Black, took off from Lissett in the United Kingdom. The plane left at 22:13.
Crew:
- Flying Officer (Pilot) W. M. Chant
- Flying Officer (Bomb Aimer) B. G. Black
- Flying Officer (Air Gunner) C. J. Nibblet
- Sergeant (Flight Engineer) S. Thompson
- Sergeant (Wireless Operator) J. K. Dunn
- Sergeant (Air Gunner) W. Wales
- Warrant Officer CL2 (Navigator) S. T. Lawrence
They flew with 158 Squadron in a Handley Page Halifax MK III, serial LV921, code NP-B. His mission and that of the other crew members was planned for Saturday, 3rd of June 1944. The mission was a bombing raid on the railway marshaling yards at Trappes. After bombing the target and before the pilot could gain altitude their plane was hit by a ME110 flown by Ltn. Frithjof Fensch of NJG 4. The plane was on fire and Bill Chant the pilot gave the order to bail out immediately. Stan Lawrence bailed out through the escape hatch below his seat and Bruce Black was ready to bail out, however it is assumed that his parachute did not fully deploy because of the low altitude. The plane made a large circle and crashed into a wooded area near the small town of Emance (Yvelines), 11 kms South West of the town of Rambouillet. Stan Lawrence was the only survivor and was rescued by the French Resistance, the remaining six crew members died in the crash.
