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	Fairey Battle - France

The story of the almost suicidal attempts to halt the German advance south towards Paris is little known. After the fall of Dunkirk the RAF continued to support retreating British and French troops as they fought to halt the German tanks at the natural barrier formed by the River Somme and its estuary.

On 8th June 1940 several Fairey Battles were lost in the Somme area; one fell near the village of Lamaronde after a combat with Me109s. The pilot baled out and was captured, but his crew in the rear were posted missing. In 1942 a message was received by the RAF from the French Red Cross giving some details of an unidentified aircraft. Sufficient clues were contained in the message enable the aircraft and crew to be identified.

Fairey Battle L5546 of 12 Squadron. Shot down by Bf109s at Lamaronde, near Poix, Somme.

Flying Officer Brereton (pilot) baled out safely and captured.

Sergeant Boddington killed and now buried at Abbeville.

Leading Aircraftsman Burt killed and now buried at Abbeville.

	The bent and rusted remains of the Vickers K gun from the rear cockpit.
	The dig was carried out over two days by hand only, however, a tractor was used to pull the Merlin engine from the bottom of the hole.
	The 'spade grip' control column, of the Dunlop Patent, similar to those fitted to Hurricanes. The gun button was set to 'fire'. The jubilee clip on the right help a camera gun button.
	The local herd showed particular interest in the disturbance to their home.
	Several strikes from 7.92mm ammunition were found; this one in a propeller blade entered from the front, indicating a head-on attack.
	The two crewmen in the rear did not bale out, presumably killed by gun fire as the pilot did have time to escape. Both were buried in the Lamaronde cemetery and were later moved to Abbeville. These coins were left in the wreck.
	Most of the components were badly burnt and coroded.
	A rare sight in a muddy field, noted historian Peter Cornwell who is preparing a work on the air losses during the Battle of France.