The G. Philbin crew of 431 Squadron sometime in 1943.
On March 15/16, 1944, after returning from an attack on the
railyards at Amiens, the Philbin crew were
taxiing back to their dispersal, when a 500 lb bomb fell out of the
bomb bay and exploded, killing the two gunners, P/O Klein, and P/O
Barker.
The rest of the crew escaped with minor injuries.
Shown sitting on the wing
are three members of ground crew.
Back Row: Second from the left standing is F/O G. Philbin. The
other three, in no certain order are:
F/O A. Brook RCAF, Navigator, F/Sgt T. Lee RCAF, Bomb aimer, and
P/O L. Stamp RCAF, Wireless OP.
Front row L to R: F/Sgt W. Gracie
RCAF, F/Eng; P/O I. Klein
RCAF, Rear gunner, and P/O L.
Barker
RCAF, Mid upper
gunner.
Photo graciously supplied by Ken Cothliff, son of F/Sgt W. Gracie.