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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22/23.05.1944 No. 425 Squadron Halifax III LK810 KW-Y F/O. La Porte

Operation: Le Mans

Date: 22/23rd May 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit: 425 Squadron (RCAF)

Type: Halifax III

Serial: LK810

Code: KW-Y

Base: RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire

Location: Le Mans - Target area

Pilot: F/O. Edmund Elie La Porte J/25390 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Norman Vincent Ward 1819837 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Nav: F/O. Joseph Octave Arthur Remi Tétrault J/23910 RCAF Age 26. Killed

Air/Bmr: P/O. Joseph Raoul Henry Bernard Clovis Mallette J/89459 RCAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O. John Arthur Laing J/90517 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: P/O. Joseph Jean Marie Levasseur J/89685 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. R. McGovern J/83716 RCAF Survived PoW No: 53389 Camp: Stalag Muhlhausen - 9C

REASON FOR LOSS:

112 aircraft taking part to bomb the railway facilities at le Mans in France. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, releasing 826,000 lbs. of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

Halifax LK810 after taking off at 00:10 hrs on the 23rd May is thought to have been hit by flak over the target area.

Burial details:

F/O. Edmund Elie La Porte. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 35. Son of Edmon S. La Porte and Eugenie E. La Porte, of Val Barrette, Province of Quebec, Canada.

Sgt. Norman Vincent Ward. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 36. Son of William Herbert and Lucy Phyllis Ward, of Coundon, Warwickshire, England. Grave inscription reads: “To a A fuller Life. Most Glorious, Free From Pain. We And He Will Meet Again. E.G.D.”

F/O. Joseph Octave Arthur Remi Tétrault. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 37. Born in Transcona on the 01st October 1917 the son of Joseph Octave Tétrault and Caroline Coulombe Tétrault, of 158 Regent Avenue East, Transcona, Manitoba, Canada. Grave inscription reads: “Dear Son And Brother. Rest In Peace.”

Tétrault Lake northeast of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, Canada was named after F/O. Joseph Tétrault in 1973. Sadly the family also lost his brother, 41 year old Fl/Lt. Joseph Wilfred Tétrault 30112 RCAF. On Canadair CP-107 Argus II 20727 which crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on the 23rd March 1965. All the crew of 15 and a scientist were lost without trace during a military exercise with 404 Squadron.

P/O. Joseph Raoul Henry Bernard Clovis Mallette. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 31. Son of Ovila and Maria Mallette, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. Grave inscription reads: Qui Mariam Absolvvisit, Et Latronem Exaudisti, Mihi Quoque Spem Dedisti.”

P/O. John Arthur Laing. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 32. Understood to be from Toronto, Canada. No further information - are you able to assist?

P/O. Joseph Jean Marie Levasseur. Le Mans West Cemetery. Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 30. Son of J. Alphonse Levasseur and Marie Claire Levasseur, of Mont Joli, Co. Matane, Province of Quebec, Canada. Grave inscription reads: “En Memoire De Notre Cher Fils Unique Honneur Sacrifices Dévouement.”

Sources as quoted below.

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