Prime Minister Churchill tasked the Special Intelligence Service who in turn organised the Admiralty to have RAAF No 10 Squadron fly the mission.

This chain of command brought about the June 18 1940, ill fated attempt to rescue Madam Yvonne de Gaulle and her three children; the family of General Charles de Gaulle.

The mission came to an abrupt end with the death of four men, two of whom were the very first RAAF members to die in action.