In Memory of
George Edward PROUTING
Pilot Officer
175505
Pilot
616 Squadron
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on
Monday 22 May 1944. Age 22
Additional Information
Son of Gilbert and May Prouting, of Cosham, Hampshire.
Personal Inscription
At the going down
Of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember
Cemetery
EQUILLY CHURCHYARD, Manche, France.
Location
The village and commune of Equilly is 16 kilometres east of Granville, a town on the west coast of the Cherbourg peninsula, and on the road (D924) from Granville to Villedieu-les-Poêles.
The churchyard is on the eastern side of the village just over 1 kilometre north of the D924 road. The one british grave is near the southern boundary, 20 yards west of entrance gate.
Circumstances (According to documents kept in the National Archives – UK)
At 14h45 on 22 May 1944, 4 aircraft of 616 Squadron led by Flight Lieutenant Barry (‘A’ Flight) took off from RAF Culmhead on “Rhubarb 255” (*) to shoot up any trains or military objectives seen in Avranches/Rennes/Lamballe area. While attacking trains in Folligny Yards George Prouting (flying in Spitfire VII MD108 YQ-‘E’) was hit by Flak from an armoured train and sadly crashed just outside Folligny.
(*) Rhubarb: Small scale freelance fighter sorties against ground targets of opportunity.
© The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
© The National Archives
© RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited