Historical information

During World War II, the city of Modane in the southeast region of France was bombed on 13 or 17 September 1943 by Allied aircraft. The objective of the bombing was the station, an important centre of transit between France and Italy. The bombing caused 60 victims and 100 houses were destroyed. A second bombing took place on the night of 10–11 November 1943.

Crew of "M" for Mother, a Lancaster aircraft belonging to No. 467 Squadron RAAF in Bomber Command.included: - 417035 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt, later Flying Officer [FO]) John Warrington Scott of Ballarat, Victoria; 413558 Flt Sgt (later FO) George Edward Erickson of Sydney, NSW; 412890 Flt Sgt (later Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]) Albert Reginald Thomas Boys of Sydney, NSW; 414407 Flt Sgt (later Flt Lt) Bertram Raymond Jones of Wyandra, Queensland; 400444 Flt Sgt (later Flt Lt) John Hudson Wilkinson, (later Distinguished Flying Cross) of Rutherglen, Victoria (lost on operations over Europe on 30 August 1944); Sgt E L Tull, RAF.

From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944.

Significance

The significance of this item records the names of the Lancaster aircraft flight crew which took part in the second allied bombing of Modane a small city in the south eastern region of France which was an important centre of transit between France and Italy during the second world war. The bombing took place on the 10-11 November 1943 killing five civilians.

Physical description

oval shaped copy of black and white photograph of a Lancaster plane above scroll containing names of servicemen.

Inscriptions & markings

Modane 10/11.11.1943
Signatures of Sergeant Holt, Sergeant Tull and Flight Sergeant Boys