ESCAPE AT MAILLY-LE-CAMP
The creation of a picture
By Graham Cowie of Project Propeller
At the outset, let me say that this is a shameless plug for the very talented Gary Eason of Flight Artworks, who creates pieces of aviation artwork on commission.
Many of you will know that I attended the unveiling of a memorial in Adnet, Austria, commemorating the crew of a 619 Squadron Lancaster that was shot down in the last days of the war. As part of the commemoration, a recreation of the last moments of F-Freddy was handed over to the town of Adnet.
This picture got me thinking about my friend Bill Viollet, and his amazing story. For those that don't know him, Bill served as a Wireless Operator with 166 Squadron. He was shot down on 3/4 May 1944 on the highly successful – but highly costly – raid on Mailly-le-Camp, part of the Allies' "Transport Plan" that laid the foundations for the Normandy landings later that year.