In a different thread I pointed to the graves of three men of 225 Para Field Ambulance who were killed during Op Varsity. Pte Towend, Pte Mathews and Pte Kennedy were buried far away from their designated DZ "B". A local source informed me that they were killed in a crashed US C-47. Yesterday I found out that they were passengers of C-47 #43-15251 of USAAF 43rd Sq/315th Troop Carrier Group which had departed from Boreham in the morning of March 24th, 1945. The above comes from the Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) in the US National archives. There were more British paras on board as the following document shows: The other paras on this plane are not listed as KIA by the CWGC - with one exception: Pte G A Barrett, RAMC. But he was killed and buried in an entirely different location on March 24th. For a start I'd like to concentrate on Townend, Mathews and Kennedy. They are buried here, next to what I think is a crash site of an aircraft: To give yo better orientation, here is the same location on a 1944 British map: By the time this aircraft crashed it was on the way back from DZ B - it had made a left turn and was flying west towards the Rhine. So, for some unknown reason the three British paras were still on board and had not jumped as all the other paras had. The crew of the US C-47 was also killed: S/Sgt Edward D Armitage (radio operator), T/Sgt Manuel L Cohen (engineer) 2nd Lt Robert L Hodge (co-pilot) and 1st Lt. Charles E Martin (pilot). I need to find out more about their graves and will ask a local historian in the area. For some reason the British GRU apparently did not bother to include them on their form when they exhumed their three British victims in 1947. Maybe the Americans had taken care of their men before.
The C-47 crashed about 4 kilometres to the north west of DZ "B". The only other casualty of the load of paras that this aircraft carried was Pte Gordon Albert Barrett (14384349), also a member of 225 Para Field Ambulance. He was buried also far off the DZ - but in the opposite direction.
For your orientation - the C-47 crash site again, identified by what I believe are marks of a place crash on the aerial photo posted above:
Hi alberk, Do you have the online site for The 3-1-5 Group? I may have missed it but I couldn't find anything on the crash of C-47 #43-15251 piloted by Lt. Martin in the 43 TC Sqn. section? Captain G. Holland, one of the passengers, is named as the Dentist of 225 PFA under the Normandy Orbat. So very likely he was with one of the 5 Dakotas carrying HQ and No. 4 Section of 225 PFA. Those aircraft are listed as CN 200 - 204. Sorry not much else at the moment. Regards ...
Hi Cee, yes, I am aware of the 3-1-5 site, very good information there but you're right, they do not mention it. My information comes from the Missing Air Crew Reports, and I guess they would have been able to take down the correct squadron number. And S/Sgt Armitage is listed on the website of the American Battle Monuments Commission as having served in 43rd TCS/315th TCG. He is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery - that's an easily solved case. The problem with researching US casualties is that many families brought their dead home - which means they no longer appear on the website.
This aircraft had a crew of four - although it carried paratroops into battle. Other aircraft had a five men crew - there was an additional crew chief who helped to ensure a smooth and quick jump of the stick. Or am I misinterpreting his role? Didn't all planes carrying paras need a crew chief?
Hi alberk, The role of a crew chief is explained in this article on Elmer Wisherd near beginning. On the few Varsity TCS rosters I have a crew chief is always listed whereas not all crews had a navigator. Not sure why that was the case? See attached: A couple of interesting photos of Crew Chief Ronald L. Roach that probably aren't new: Ronald L Roach | American Air Museum in Britain Regards ...
Perhaps they were going around again for a 2nd run to drop the rest of the men. Crazy as that sounds it happened at least twice over DZ A. Alex
Raynond Francis Sperry KIRKHAM 306023 listed as RAMC as a captain in the gazette 1949 (seniority date noted as 08/01/45) Then a Major in 1954. George Julius Mervyn Holland mentioned as a Lt in 1940, Army Dental Corps. (As noted by Cee) Alex
Staff-Sergeant Albert Edward Hodgson S/Sgt Hodgson made it down, so we know some of the guys jumped at the right place. I wonder if the guy on his own who is buried had trouble getting out and jumped way plus of the DZ and was isolated and killed. Then the aircraft banked left in order to have another pass and was hit making that move?
Also, the 3 that are buried together, their names are last on the list. If that’s the jumping order then it may tie in with them being last out of the plane, and in the event not making it out. Alex.
Chipping Ongar - that was 61st TCG. They lost one plane in Varsity- #42-93798 with the five men crew on board all killed.
