In memory of
Francis George Hurleston DENCH
Pilot Officer
42487
Pilot
15 Squadron
Royal Air force
who died on
Sunday 13 August 1940. Age 22
Additional information
Son of Herbert George and Helen Mabel Dench, of Beckenham, Kent.
Personal inscription
“THEY SHALL FLOURISH IN IMMORTAL YOUTH, BELOVED ALWAYS”
Angus Nigel GRAY
Sergeant
581175
Observer
15 Squadron
Royal Air force
who died on
Sunday 13 August 1940. Age 20
Additional information
Son of George Albert and Evelyn Amy Gray.
Personal inscription
“HE DID THE RIGHT”
Edgar Enoch SCRASE
Sergeant
615919
Air Gunner
15 Squadron
Royal Air force
who died on
Sunday 13 August 1940. Age 19
Additional information
Son of Edward William and Ellen Scrase, of Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Cemetery: Fermanville Churchyard, Manche, Normandy, France.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Collective grave.
Location Information:
The village and commune of Fermanville is 14 kilometres east-north-east of Cherbourg. There are 3 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, 10 metres east of the north-eastern corner of the church.
Number of Identified Casualties: 3.
Circumstances
Sunday 13 August 1940.
15 Squadron, 2 Group, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force.
Operation
Reconnaissance over several cities in Brittany, France.
On Saturday 12 August 1940 (the day 15 Squadron started night operations), the Blenheim IV R3768 LS- (with onboard Pilot Officer Dench, Sergeant Gray and Sergeant Scrase) and 2 other Blenheims took off from RAF Station Wyton.
R3768 had to carry out reconnaissance duties over Saint-Malo, Rennes and Saint-Brieuc area, Brittany, France. R3768 crashed at Les Landes du Brûlé, west of Fermanville, Manche (14 kilometers north-east of Cherbourg and 2 kilometers north of Cherbourg-Maupertus Airport), killing all the crew.
No Blenheim was claimed by the Luftwaffe on Sunday 13 August 1940.
R3768 was shot down by the 5th Battery of Marine Flak-Abteilung 364 (During an attack on Maupertus Airport?).
In the document of Marine Flak-Abteilung 364, R3768 was shot down at 23h45 on Saturday 12 August 1940.
Sadly, it was the third Blenheim shot down by the batteries of Marine Flak-Abteilung 364 in 3 days.
Sources
National Archives Kew (15 Squadron Operational Record Books in Series AIR 27)
Marine Flak Abteilung 364 list of claims
A special thanks to PeteS – 630 Squadron historian
© The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
© RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited