Pilon International - Pilon Stories - The Crew of BB-343(EQ-X), 408 Squadron, RCAF


	Crew of EQ-X BB-343 408 Squadron RCAF


This photograph was kindly made available by Madame Marcelle Pilon, sister-in-law of François Rolland Pilon.	The photograph on the left was sent home by François Roland Pilon. He is shown here with 4 other crew members of the ill-fated BB-343 (EQ-X) of the 408 Squadron, RCAF. His journal indicates he joined the 408 Squadron on March 25, 1943. This photograph must have been taken sometime between that date and April 16, 1943. Their smiles betray little of the apprehension and at times terror that they faced, nor of the horror which eventually ended their all too short lives. The following is our translation of the caption Roland Pilon wrote on the back of this photograph: "Our Crew" Standing - from left to right -Lloyd Haines - bombadier - from Montréal -Tony Gielty - gunner - our good Scotsman -the "Navigator" (François Rolland Pilon) -Ronnie Winter - wireless, Englishman Kneeling: - Jacques Guay - pilot - from Québec P.S. Our two new members are not present.	This photograph of the full crew of BB-343 was in the possession of Monsieur Raymond Bondon of Lesquielles-St-Germain who, as a 13 year old was an eye witness to the crash and as an adult saw to it that the crash site was marked and remembered.

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