Just a straight forward question really. Would anyone know the particulars to this mans service in Normandy? Name: BINTLEY, THOMAS NORMAN Initials: T N Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C. Unit Text: 2nd Age: 29 Date of Death: 20/08/1944 Service No: 11052369 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XXVIII. G. 3. Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
Jonathan, Could be two Ops Dunhill or Trueform both used 2nd SAS at this time...Also both were in and around Normandy.. Cheers Tom
Thanks for the leads Tom. Just found this on the Whermacht Awards Forum.. One of the SAS tasks in August 1944 was to be a bl**dy nuisance behind enemy lines in Normandy and Operation Trueform, LtCol BM Franks MC comprised of troops from No.1 SAS, No.2 SAS and Belgian Indep. Para.Coy. was mounted to destroy petrol supplies and harass the enemy. On the night 16/17 Aug 44 the first 11 men were dropped (inc. Capt Holland) and 1901238 Sapper Erlis, H precisely on their DZ. 4 more landings took place overnight on 17/18 Aug 44. The report by Capt Holland (in the PRO, WO218) speaks of a successful mission, Harry Erlis his mate Private Bintley and Private Burke lay tyre bursters on the roads on 19 Aug and then went for German transport in a nearby farm yard. They captured the 4 German guards and then 16 more of the elite SS trooper with their officer. Suddenly more SS arrived and there was a gun battle. Private Burke and a French agent killed a German before escaping but Private Bintley was wounded in the head and Harry Erlis remained with him. The remainder of the team carried on laying tyre bursters and they later shot up a truck convoy after avoiding a column of Tiger tanks. No further was heard of Harry Erlis, I believe that he was shot by the SS because he is buried in St.Sever War Cemetery in Rouen, his date of death s given as 19 Aug 44 aged 25. He came from Liverpool. a No.2 SAS casualty, Operation Trueform, 1944 - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums
Thanks for the confirmation Jason. Is there any further recommended reading on Op. Trueform? Jonathan I would recommend contacting Paul McCue he is a member on here and in post 4 of this link he makes ref to a Nominal roll for OP Trueform.http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/searching-someone-military-genealogy/28747-317608-sgt-j-orwin-2-sas.html
Hi, T.N.E Bintley was indeed part of Operation Trueform He served with 2 SAS on Trueform III with Belgian SAS troops. They were dropped at height of 700ft to map reference R055925 West of Louvres. Not sure of his fate though. I have full details of Operation Trueform if required. MarkyB
Hi, T.N.E Bintley was indeed part of Operation Trueform He served with 2 SAS on Trueform III with Belgian SAS troops. They were dropped at height of 700ft to map reference R055925 West of Louvres. Not sure of his fate though. I have full details of Operation Trueform if required. MarkyB
The answer may be in this file at Kew The answer may be in these files: WO 361/719 Missing Men Files: France: special operations by the SAS (Special Air Service); Operation Trueform WO 361/729 Missing Men File: France: special operations by the SAS (Special Air Service); Operation Trueform IV WO 205/945 Operation Trueform: narrative and summary of results WO 218/191 Reports on operations Normandy to Paris: Operations Titanic, Haft, Defoe, Gaff, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dunhill, Bunyan, Trueform
After action reports held at TNA on Operation Trueform https://www.flickr.com/photos/124321773@N05/sets/72157644478805962
Major Roy Farran D.S.O. 3 x M/C's. took part in the behind the lines in Normandy as squadron leader in 2nd SAS - might be something in his obit on this action Cheers
Could it be that this pilot Anthony (Canadian) was part of the Trueform operation ? Is there some list and operation reports speaking about a crash in Saint André de l'Eure ? As the 16 and 17th of August some actions were done in this area ?
