Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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26/27.09.1942 No. 138 Squadron Whitley V Z9275 NF-G Fl/Sgt. David H. Freeland

Operation: S.O.E. (Incomparable 1 - Belgium)

Date: 26/27th September 1942 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit: No. 138 Squadron

Type: Whitley V

Serial: Z9275

Code: NF-G

Base: RAF Tempsford

Location: Merville, France

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. David Harrison Freeland 979399 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Pilot 2: Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe 1290931 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: W/O. J.H. Cox RAFVR PoW No: 42705 Camp: Stalag Kopernikus

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green 618327 RAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: W/O. Peter Gilbert Moore RAFVR PoW No: 27192. Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

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We are appealing for further information on behalf of Peter Green in particular to the relatives of crew members who my have had information passed down to them.

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REASON FOR LOSS:

Research carried out by Peter Green has contributed greatly to this loss. However some questions still remain and we would appreciate anyone knowing any further information to contact us and that will be forwarded to Peter.

Whitley Z9275 is believed to have been hit by flak at approximately 06.00 hrs and made a controlled crash landing avoiding workers cottages and high power electricity cables. It is also understood that the aircraft collided with a bank by a small stream which ripped the undercarriage off. (Eye witness reports)

Both pilots and the wireless operator were killed during the crash landing but although some reports mention that the two survivors baled out this has been proven not to be the case and that they remained in the aircraft.

Above left: Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green probably taken whilst with 38 Squadron or 11 O.T.U. Right: Fl/Sgt. Green on the left shortly after joining the RAF (courtesy of Peter Green)

Above as described (courtesy Stuart Smith - relative and Peter Green)

Group picture showing Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green sitting right. Thought to have been taken during a training period. (courtesy Peter Green)

A poem was written by the brother of Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green, Peter and can be found in our poetry section.

Above as described. Name L-R: Standing - Sgt. McNeil, Sgt. Newness, Sgt.Navarro, Sgt. Gowland, Sgt. King, Wagstaff. Sitting - Sgt. Crump, Sgt. Masse, P/O. Morgan, P/O. Watts, P/O. Thorpe, Sgt. Lager, Sgt. Freeland, Sgt. Teasdale (courtesy Peter Green) Note: names listed to enable searching.

Fl/Sgt. Freeland and Fl/Sgt. Hayhoe Grave (courtesy Stuart Smith - relative) Fl/Sgt. Freeland Grave (courtesy Peter Green)

Merville Communal Cemetery (courtesy CWGC)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. David Harrison Freeland. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 15. Born on the 26th February 1916 in Jackson Hall Ballygrainey, County Down, Northern Ireland. The son of David and Helen (née Nelly) Freeland. Husband of Sarah McDowell who he married on the 15th May 1942 at Ballygilbert.

Fl/Sgt. Edmund George Hayhoe. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 7. Son of Edmund James Hayhoe, D.C.M., and Lillian Hayhoe, of Harrow Weald, Middlesex, England.

Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green. Merville Communal Cemetery Extension. Plot 2. Row B. Grave 6. Son of Frederick George and Alice Green, of Liverpool, England.

Researched assisted by and for Peter Green - relative of Fl/Sgt. Frederick George Green (also for further details supplied on Fl/Sgt. Freeland - June 2017). With thanks to Joss Leclercq French Aviation historian for his valuable assistance with detailed information, other sources as quoted.

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