Hi Clive I hope you don't mind me replying to your PM via these means but I wasn't sure whether or not I could add images. This is what I have discovered to date. We are talking about your father, who served in 166 Squadron, the same one as my own late brother and I reprint your dad's details below: Sgt. A.C.Smith 1459147 Navigator, Lancaster JA.865 Shot down on flight to Berlin 22/23 /11/43 POW -Stalag 1vb Sorry to report that the "Wings of War" only mentions him twice (see pics below) although the Berlin raid dies get a bit of coverage on Page 42. In case I've missed something I will carry on looking through the book and if I find anything further I will send you a PM. Best regards Ron
Hello I am trying to find more details of the events that led to my Uncles death on D Day in Calais. Geoffrey David Jones I have been to his grave in France, found thanks to the War Graves website. It appears that he was buried alongside the rest of the crew in France He was a pilot in 166 squadron flying a Lancaster? Thank You David Howard
David am trying to find more details of the events that led to my Uncles death on D Day in Calais. Geoffrey David Jones I have been to his grave in France, found thanks to the War Graves website. It appears that he was buried alongside the rest of the crew in France He was a pilot in 166 squadron flying a Lancaster? Bit of a mystery here ? Have looked through all the Jones's in the Squadron Roll of honour and there is no one of that name for the date you have given. The "nearest" is P/O D.G.Jones and the date is 2nd June 1944 Any further info ? Ron
Hello David, welcome to the forum. Seems your uncle was lost on 2-3 June 1944 on an op to Calais, the following are taken from 'Bomber Command Losses' Vol.5 - W R. Chorley. 2-3 June 1944 166 squadron Lancaster III ND651 AS-G Took off from Kirmington at 2255 hrs to bomb a coastal battery. The aircraft was shot down in the target area. All were buried on 6 June in Marquise Communal Cemetery. Crew. P/O. G D. Jones + Sgt. H T. Gregory + F/O. R D. Crone RCAF + F/O. C G. Neville RCAF + Sgt. J. Maguire + Sgt. B T. Williams + Sgt. C E. Mayne + .................. The Calais raid 2-3 June 1944. 271 aircraft - 136 Lancasters, 119 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitos - attacked 4 coastal gun positions with the loss of 1 Lancaster. In only 1 raid was the bombing accurate but this was not too serious because these raids were part of the invasion deception plan. None of the targets were in the Normandy area; all were on the Pas de Calais coast. 'The Bomber Command War Diaries' - M. Middlebrook / C. Everitt
David Bit of a mystery here ? Have looked through all the Jones's in the Squadron Roll of honour and there is no one of that name for the date you have given. The "nearest" is P/O D.G.Jones and the date is 2nd June 1944 Any further info ? Ron Ron, I would think that would be the chap, the initials have just been transposed. From Lost Bombers Lancaster ND651 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number ND651 Squadron166 X1DAS-G Operation Calais Date 12nd June 1944 Date 23rd June 1944 Further Information Serial Range ND324 - NE181 This aircraft was one of 600 Lancaster Mk.111s ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) and delivered from Dec43 to May44 with Merlin 38 engines. ND651 was delivered to 166 Sqdn 5Mar44. ND651 took part in the following key Operations: Stuttgart 15/16Mar44; Berlin 24/25Mar44; Nuremburg 30/31Mar44; Mailly-le-Camp 3/4May44; Calais 2/3 Jun 44-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 64 hours. Airborne 2255 2 Jun 44 from Kirmington to bomb a coastal railway gun. shot down in the target area. All were buried 6 Jun 44 in Marquise Communal Cemetery. P/O G.D.Jones KIA Sgt H.T.Gregory KIA F/O R.D.Crone RCAF KIA F/O C.G.Neville RCAF KIA Sgt J.Maguire KIA Sgt B.T.Williams KIA Sgt C.E.Mayne KIA
Gents You are quite quite right, of course, that is the right man. I was obviously thrown by David's reference to the plane being lost on D-Day,. the 6th of June, when as Peter's info points out it was clearly on D-day-4. I have also just realised that in my haste to post I failed to welcome David to the forum so I will close by saying Welcome Aboard Dave ! Ron
Sorry about the incorrect date, I was aware that the fatal mission over France was for a decoy in regard to D day. Thanks to you all for the information that you have supplied. I have seen the factory that the Lancaster he was in was built in and never realised? (Chadderton) There was a family whisper that Geoffrey David had been shot after a succesful emergency landing? The War graves at one time listed Geoffrey David as being buried at Bray Dunes and then being reburied at his final resting place, but now say he was buried a few days after his death with no movement. I have no critisism of the War Graves, their website allowed us to locate and visit(taking his sister for the first time) his final resting place. What a wonderful thing technology and helpful people! Regards to you all Dave
David, As promised in my PM, i've started looking, and so far 18 previous ops have come to light, will carry on in the morning, when hopefully we'll get more. Alan.
Alan W Just a public thank you for the information you have sent me it your PM. My Uncle Geoffrey died when he was 21 and has no direct decendants, but quite a few nephews and neices and who all knew of his death during the war. When we vist his grave next time(more than likely this year) it will be with a greater knowledge of his exploits! Thank You David Howard
Hi David, I have a big file of information on Sgt Cyril Edward Mayne who was the rear gunner in Lanc ND651, killed along with your uncle on that day. I am not in the UK at the moment so cannot access it, but I know they were involved in at least 2 encounters with german fighters during their service. I visited the graves many years ago, they are not buried in a standard CWGC cemetery, but i think they are in a local church cemetery (I do know it was difficult to find). I would be gratefulfor any info you have so i can cross reference it with mine... Cheers, Rick
I have recently posted a thread entitled The Last Flight of Lancaster RF 154 As-B, viewable here: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/42597-last-flight-lancaster-rf154-b.html#post474860 I was unsure where the story should be posted and finally decided to place it under the forum heading of The War in the Air. Notwithstanding that, I am also placing the link here in case others may search for articles relating to 166 Squadron to whom this story is dedicated. Ron
Some years ago I donated some artefact's to the RAF Museum. The Chap I was talking to said we have thousands of RAF aircrew log books that were unclaimed and many microfilmed copies of those donated for copying. I imagine the museum has a list of logs retained. The logs of aircrew who did not return were held by the air ministry until 1959 then donated to the museum. some 6,500 feet of shelf space!
Hi David, I have a big file of information on Sgt Cyril Edward Mayne who was the rear gunner in Lanc ND651, killed along with your uncle on that day. I am not in the UK at the moment so cannot access it, but I know they were involved in at least 2 encounters with german fighters during their service. I visited the graves many years ago, they are not buried in a standard CWGC cemetery, but i think they are in a local church cemetery (I do know it was difficult to find). I would be gratefulfor any info you have so i can cross reference it with mine... Cheers, Rick My aunt, Irene Beryl Williams married Sgt Cyril Mayne in Autumn 1943. I had known for many years that her first husband was a flyer, killed during WW2, but have only recently discovered his identity. I have attempted to attach a wedding photograph which was amongst my late mother's effects. However, I'm new to this site so it may not have worked. I think I had managed to establish from his badge that he was an air gunner but I didn't know until now that he was a 'tail end Charley'. I also now know that he was a native of Hungerford in Berkshire and that he is commemorated there. I presume something catastrophic must have occurred to ND651 if they all died together. Does anyone know? How far had they got in their tour? Any information would be greatly appreciated. My aunt married again in 1947 and had two children. If she is still alive she will be 92 in August. Unfortunately we are not a close family and we have lost touch since my mother's death 16 years ago.
Hi, many thanks for the information, I can tell you that Sgt Mayne and crew were on their 21st Operation (2 thirds into the tour) when they were shot down by anti aircraft fire on the night of 2nd or very early morning on the 3rd of June 1944 during a raid over Calais. I have a file back in the UK with photos of his, grave, the Hungerford memorial and lots of information on the other raids.. Unfortunaley I am not back in the UK until September, so if you contact me nearer the time I would be only to happy to pass it on to you... Cheers, Rick
Are you Ivor, son of Marge (can't remember your dad's name). I am Susan, eldest daughter of Irene. We are now going through a very sad time as Mum (Irene) passed away on the 3rd July, 2012 at Willows Edge Nursing Home in Newbury. My sister Jane is now in the UK. We have both lived in Australia for many years. Would love to chat and learn how we are connected as a family. Please respond. My aunt, Irene Beryl Williams married Sgt Cyril Mayne in Autumn 1943. I had known for many years that her first husband was a flyer, killed during WW2, but have only recently discovered his identity. I have attempted to attach a wedding photograph which was amongst my late mother's effects. However, I'm new to this site so it may not have worked. I think I had managed to establish from his badge that he was an air gunner but I didn't know until now that he was a 'tail end Charley'. I also now know that he was a native of Hungerford in Berkshire and that he is commemorated there. I presume something catastrophic must have occurred to ND651 if they all died together. Does anyone know? How far had they got in their tour? Any information would be greatly appreciated. My aunt married again in 1947 and had two children. If she is still alive she will be 92 in August. Unfortunately we are not a close family and we have lost touch since my mother's death 16 years ago.
Hello Susan, I am indeed Ivor, son of Marge and Bert. I have your other email and I'll reply later today. Thanks so much for contacting me. I'll be at the funeral tomorrow. So sorry to hear about Rene. Please accept my sincere condolences. Kindest regards, Ivor
