Kl. 21.03 den 18. august 1942 lettede STI W7618 fra RAF Downham Market på et bombetogt mod Flensborg. Det var flyets første operative flyvning.

De tre overlevende blev samlet op af en dansk fiskerbåd efter at have tilbragt tre dage i deres redningsflåde. (p101MACR) Se også Reddet af fiskere.

Sergeant William N. Wilkinson blev ført til Stalag VIII-B/344  Stalag 344 Lamsdorf. (Kilde: Air Force PoWs 1939 to 1945)
Han var Mid Upper Gunner på STI W7618. (Kilde: MACR)

2 flyvere fra STI W7618 blev begravet i TYSKLAND. 2 har ingen kendt grav. 3 flyvere blev som krigsfanger ført til Tyske krigsfangelejre.

7 flyvere.
 

At 21.03 hrs. on 18 August 1942 STI W7618 took off from RAF Downham Market on a bombing raid targeting Flensburg. See also Rescued by fishermen.
W7618's first operational sortie. The three survivors were picked up by a Danish fishing boat after spending three days in their dinghy. (p101MACR)

Sergeant William N. Wilkinson was taken to Stalag VIII-B/344. (Source: Air Force PoWs 1939 to 1945)
He was the Mid Upper Gunner of STI W7618. (Source: MACR)

2 airmen from STI W7618 were buried in GERMANY. 2 have no known grave. 3 airmen were as POWs taken to German POW-Camps.

See No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF * No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Association * Short Stirling 
Stirling I W7618 HA-V took off from RAF Downham Market at 2107 hours on 18 AUG 1942. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.)  7 airmen.