HMS Lancastria was sunk on 17 Jun 1940 off the coast of
Saint Nazaire in France while the former Cunard liner was evacuating
British Forces. When it was bombed there were between 7000 and 9000 people
on board. The ship sank in 25 minutes and took around 2850 down with
it. This number is only an approximation as the ship's purser stopped
counting after the first 7052 people had boarded.
RAF personnel on board HMS Lancastria came from 73
Sqn (which left RAF
Digby, with its Hurricanes, for France on 4 Sep 1939), 98 Sqn (RAF
Scampton,
with its Fairey Battles), 67 Wing, 70 Wing, No 2 Air Mission, D Squadron
and HQ British Air Forces France.
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