419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB723

Crew members of Lancaster KB723

The night of July 4-5 1944 , 419 squadron was on an operation to Villeneuve when three of their crews and aircraft were lost.

Leaving Middleton St. George at 2201 hours, after KB727 and KB718 (which were also lost on the same mission) while over France the aircraft was hit by flak bringing the aircraft down near Chailly at the Fontainebleau Forest.

Three of the crew were killed Sgt. Gauthier, F/O G R Hodgson, and Sgt. A E Roe.
Other members for the crew F/O Murphy and F/O Steepe became evaders. Sgt. B A Reaume and F/O W J L Thomson became PoWs.
The two evaders soon joined up with four other 419 squadron evaders from KB718. The details are on this site, link is below. F/O Thomson's information cannot be found at present, still researching that.

Crew members of Lancaster KB723

Sgt.

Joseph Paul Adelard Gauthier

Flight Engineer
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Edmonton Alberta
Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Flying Officer

Gordon Ross Hodgson

Wireless Op.Age 20
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Pilot Officer

Arthur Emerson Roe

Rear Gunner
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Mount Royal Quebec
Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Sgt.

B A Reaume

Upper Gunner
POW # 367 in Stalag Luft VII at Bankau

Flying Officer

Dannie G Murphy

Navigator
Evader

Flying Officer

C A D "Don" Steepe

Pilot
Evader

Flying Officer

W J L Thomson

Bomb Aimer
POW , no information can be found at present

Crew members of Lancaster KB723

Sgt.

Joseph Paul Adelard Gauthier

Flight EngineerKilled in Action July 5th 1944 From Edmonton Alberta Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Flying Officer

Gordon Ross Hodgson

Wireless Op.Age 20Killed in Action July 5th 1944 From Toronto Ontario Burial Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Pilot Officer

Arthur Emerson Roe

Rear Gunner Killed in Action July 5th 1944 From Mount Royal Quebec Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Sgt.

B A Reaume

Upper GunnerPOW # 367 in Stalag Luft VII at Bankau

Flying Officer

Dannie G Murphy

NavigatorEvader

Flying Officer

C A D "Don" Steepe

PilotEvader

Flying Officer

W J L Thomson

Bomb AimerPOW , no information can be found at present

Flight Engineer
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Edmonton Alberta
Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Wireless Op.Age 20
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Rear Gunner
Killed in Action July 5th 1944
From Mount Royal Quebec
Burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Upper Gunner
POW # 367 in Stalag Luft VII at Bankau

Navigator
Evader

Pilot
Evader

Bomb Aimer
POW , no information can be found at present