The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J L Feather

John Leslie Feather, from Liverpool, was born on 7th November 1920 and joined the RAF about May 1939 as an Airman u/t WOp/AG. After training he joined 22 Squadron in May 1940.

He was then posted to 235 Squadron in August while 22 Squadron was non-operational and flew with 235 during the Battle until returning to 22 Squadron at Thorney Island some time before 18th September 1940.

On this date he was killed when Beaufort I, L4508 AO-K, crashed at Bourbourg, east of Cherbourg, while participating in a night torpedo strike against shipping in Cherbourg's outer harbour in company with five other 22 Squadron Beauforts plus 12 Blenheims from 53 and 59 Squadrons.

Also lost in this aircraft were P/O T Atherton, Sgt. CJ Harvey and P/O RA Macfarlane.

The Beaufort had struck an electricity pylon in the rue de l'Hotel Giffard and crashed without exploding into a house, killing seven French civilians:

Louise Bernal 70
Eugene Bernal 40
Marie Burnel 42
Robert Auvray 35
Renee Auvray 38
Louis Auvray 11
Albertine Lecouvray 15

The Germans recovered the bodies of the crew and they were buried at the cemetery at Tourlaville, east of Cherbourg. In about 1948 they were moved to Bayeux War Cemetery.

Below: a memorial marks the spot.

Above image courtesy of Aerosteles