I live in France and during WW2 a number of arms drops took place in the region.I am interested in finding information on a certain drop which took place two miles from my house. The coded massage,broadcasted by the BBC was : If i die,avenge me. The drop was on 24/25 July 1943. Can anyone help me in finding the plane/squadren/crew ? There is a sad ending to the story which any surviving crew members may wish to read about.
Hello David. Welcome. I'm new myself here. That's an interesting story. Can you give anymore details on it? Which region was it?
Hi David, welcome to the forum. As RJL says a few more details would help, although I have details of an SOE operation coded 'Operation Mistral 3' with a dropping zone near St.Sauvier 20 km WNW of Montlucon, although the date is stated as 22/23 July 1943. Would this be a help? Regards Peter.
During this period,No 138 and No 161 Squadrons were the only Allied special duties squadrons involved in dropping supplies at the behest of the SOE into France. The only loss around this date was that already indicated of a No 161 Squadron Halifax which resulted in five crew evading,two POWs and one casualty. The casualty was F/S Louis Max Lavallee RCAF who now lies in the concentrated military cemetery at Choloy and appears to have been the Dispatcher. Princesse and Tomcodio may have been the reseaux involved,possibily sub circuits of a main network. If David can indicate the area of the drop,it would be helpful in order to link the incident to the loss of this aircraft.
During this period,No 138 and No 161 Squadrons were the only Allied special duties squadrons involved in dropping supplies at the behest of the SOE into France. The only loss around this date was that already indicated of a No 161 Squadron Halifax which resulted in five crew evading,two POWs and one casualty. The casualty was F/S Louis Max Lavallee RCAF who now lies in the concentrated military cemetery at Choloy and appears to have been the Dispatcher. Princesse and Tomcodio may have been the reseaux involved,possibily sub circuits of a main network. If David can indicate the area of the drop,it would be helpful in order to link the incident to the loss of this aircraft. Hi Harry,and Welcome David, Could the following be the Evaders from F/Sgt.Lavalee's Crew. Sgt.D.G.Patterson - Sgt.D.Crome - Sgt.R.W.Paulin - Sgt.R.O.Hunter - Sgt.T.J.Kanakos. They all made E or E Reports in 1943. There were just three others from 161 Squadron that I can find for 1943. Brian
The following is taken from BCL Vol.4 - W R. Chorley / Footprints On The Sands Of Time -Clutton-Brock. 22-23 July 1943 161 Squadron Halifax V DK119 MA-U Op: SOE. Crew. Sgt. D A. Crome. evd. Sgt. R O. Hunter. evd. Sgt. S F. Hathaway. pow. (Camp 357, Thorn and Oerbke. pow No. 43261) Sgt. D G. Patterson. evd. Sgt. R W. Pullin. evd. Sgt. E A. Allen. pow. (Camp 4B, Muhlberg. pow No. 261238) Sgt. T J. Kanakos RCAF. evd. F/S. L M. Lavallee RCAF. + Took off 2342 hrs from Tempsford on Operation Mistral 3 Princesse and Tomcodio, heading for France and a dropping Zone near St-Sauvier (Allier) 20 km WNW of Montlucon. The Halifax arrived in the area circa 0300 hrs, but crashed soon afterwards, coming down at le Boucheroux on the NE outskirts of St-Sauvier. F/S. Lavalee RCAF, whose death was reported in the Sunday Express on 29 August 1943, now rests in Choloy War Cemetery. Name: LAVALLEE, LOUIS MAX Initials: L M Nationality: Canadian Rank: Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force Unit Text: 161 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 23/07/1943 Service No: J/18759 Additional information: Son of F. O. Lavallee and of Leonie Lavallee (nee Duvernois), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. F. 15. Cemetery: CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY
There were Reports made by six Polish members of 138 Squadron just prior to the ones mentioned, and by six more from the same Squadron just after. The latter contains a Report made by S/Ldr.C.W.Passey. In total during 1943 & 1944 there were eight evaders from 161 Sqn. and thirty six from 138 Sqn. Brian
There is a sad ending to the story which any surviving crew members may wish to read about. For aircrew to evade,in the majority of cases there had to be helpers and these brave people faced death or in the least, deportation to a concentration camp if found to be aiding the Allied cause. On the other hand for those airmen who could prove combat status when captured, a POW camp awaited them if they were lucky.Some were kept out of reach from the Protecting Power by the Gestapo or SD and incarcerated in order to reveal the source of their help.Persistent escapers vanished according to Hitler's "Night and Fog" decree. It will be interesting if David reveals the fate of those who helped the evaders from this aircraft loss.It would appear that he has a story to relate.
If the Evaders from 161 Squadron are the men involved in the incident perhaps the clue would be in the Appendix C to their Reports. This lists help Given and by whom. All five men made such Reports. Given a chance on Friday I will look at the relevent Files. Brian
Hello David and welcome. I see information is being given in relation to your request. I hope its what you are looking for.
Sorry about the delay in getting back.I am still finding my way around the site. The drop was made in Maisontiers,dep 79,Deux Sevres in the Poitou-Charentes region of mid-west France. I am hoping to get my info translated on Wednesday. if i can find my way back here,i will post all the info ( in English ).
In 2005 I wrote my grandfathers account of the events of that night on the BBC people's war website. I'm not sure the link works any more, but if you google Sgt. Stanley Hathaway RAF. Halifax DK119 you should find the article BBC - WW2 People's War - RAF 161 Squadron (special duties) A veterans story
There is a parallel thread running which references the loss of this Halifax aircraft. Halifax crew designations Looking at the 8 listed crew to ascertain who took on the role of the dispatcher. Sgt E A Allen was listed as the Front Gunner and dispatcher from one source. Seeing that Sgt Allen died as a POW,I thought I would be able to locate his details on the CWGC Register of which I find that there is no record. I also searched for the under name of Allan since was the name recorded on the official evasion report listed on the link above. It would appear that the name of the particular POW who died was Sgt A E Allen(typo.. should be E A) and not Allan as referenced in the official evasion report. Further from my checking of both names, I cannot see that the POW is listed in the CWGC register of deaths and is recorded on the evasion report as dying in hospital in France. I realise that the official evasion report might be recognised as interim with reviews of such cases being conducted after the war.