Operation: Torino, Italy

Date: 11th/12th January 1941 (Saturday/Sunday)

Unit No: 9 Squadron, 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1244

Code: WS:?

Base: RAF Honington, Suffolk

Location: Misérieux in Vichy France

Pilot: Sgt. Stuart Martin Parkeshouse Parkes 742649 RAFVR Age 21. Interned (Int)/Evd (1)

2nd Pilot: Flt Sgt. Lionel Richard Willis MM, 742172 RAFVR Age 24. Int/Repatriated (Rep) (2)

Obs: Sgt. Leslie Dennis Goldingay 968161 RAFVR Age 23. Int/Evd (3)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Harold William Bratley 755503 RAFVR Age 33. Int/Evd (4)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Ronald Vivian DFM, 905339 RAFVR Age 26. Int/Rep (5)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Reginald William Blaydon DFM, 755395 RAFVR Age 26. Int/Rep (6)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the night of the 11th/12th January 1941 the Sqn detailed eleven (11) aircraft on an operation to bomb the Royal Arsenal in Turin, Italy. Ten (10) aircraft returned at the expected times. A message was received from R1244 at No 3 Group HQ which stated “Crash landed, all safe, carrying out usual procedure, Cheerio”.

Sgt. Goldingay later reported that owing to engine trouble the aircraft had made a wheels-up landing near Miserieux in Vichy France. The pilot and crew succeeded in burning all secret documents and the aircraft itself.

The crew then made their way to a large French aerodrome at Emberieux where they were well treated by the Commanding Officer. He took them in the aerodrome bus to Aix-en-Provence. Although all the French people seemed friendly, someone informed the police and they were arrested and sent to Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort.

Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort is a small town in the Gard, about 50 km west of Nimes. It was the site of the French internment camp, a converted barracks, that was used to house Allied internees.

They managed to walk out of the camp but were recaptured. A second attempt to walk out was successful but all but Sgt. Parkes and Sgt. Goldingay were recaptured in Marseilles.

Sgt. Parkes and Sgt. Goldingay in collaboration with gangsters and smugglers succeeded in reaching Barcelona where they remained for six (6) weeks in various Spanish civilian prisons before being repatriated. They never fell into German custody and were never in occupied France.

After being recaptured at Marseilles Sgt. Bratley successfully walked out by himself and made his way to Barcelona from where he was repatriated.

Flt Sgt. Willis made his way to Spain where he was captured and languished in a Barcelona prison for twelve days (12) from the 10th to 22nd March. He was then held in several other prisons before eventually leaving Gibraltar aboard HMS Argus on the 5th June 1941 and arriving in Greenock on the 14th June 1941.

(1) Sgt. Parkes was appointed to a commission and promoted to 114010 Plt Off. on the 15th November 1941. (London Gazette 20th January 1942). Promoted to Fg Off. on the 1st October 1942 (London Gazette 20th November 1942). Promoted to Flt Lt. on the 30th July 1943 (London Gazette 24th September 1943).

Acting Sqn Ldr. Parkes was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) whilst flying with 97(Straits Settlements) Sqn. (London Gazette 13th October 1944)

Citation: “One night in August 1944, Squadron Leader Parkes was detailed to lay mines in enemy waters. In the face of powerful defences and being illuminated by searchlights, this officer flew his aircraft accurately down the length of the channel and placed his mines in the correct position. During the run his aircraft was hit and severely damaged by fire from the ground defences. Despite this Squadron Leader Parkes remained in the vicinity of the target area for some twenty minutes and then flew his damaged aircraft safely home. His unswerving determination, courage and skill in the face of powerful defences, largely contributed to the success of the operation. Squadron Leader Parkes has completed many operations and his devotion to duty has been unfailing”.

The operation for which Sqn Ldr. Parkes was awarded the DSO was on the night of the 16th/17th August 1944 whist flying Lancaster III ND740 OF:F on an operation to drop mines in Stettin Bay, Germany.

Sqn Ldr. Parkes was KiA on the night of the 25th/26th August 1944 when his 97 (Straits Settlements) Sqn Lancaster III PB398 OF:N was shot down by a German night-fighter on an operation to Darmstadt (6 KiA, 1 PoW).

(2) Flt Sgt. Willis eventually made his way to freedom and was awarded the Military Medal (MM) which was Promulgated in the London Gazette on the 18th August 1942.

Above: Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate and photograph for Lionel Richard Willis

Lionel Richard Willis was born on the 7th March 1916 in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire. He passed away on the 2nd February 2004 in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

(3) Sgt. Goldingay was appointed to a commission and promoted to 130244 Plt Off. (London Gazette 9th October 1942). Promoted to Fg Off. on the 1st November 1942 (London Gazette 12th January 1942).

Acting Flt Lt. Goldingay was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 7 Sqn. (London Gazette 21st April 1944).

Flt Lt. Goldingay DFC was KiA on the 28th April 1944. He was the Bomb Aimer aboard 7 Sqn Lancaster III JB676 which was shot down by a German night-fighter on an operation to Friedrichshafen (7 KiA).

(4) Flt Sgt. Bratley was appointed to a commission and promoted to 145716 Plt Off. on the 7th April 1943 (London Gazette 29th June 1943). Promoted to Fg Off. on the 7th October 1943. (London Gazette 8th October 1943).

Acting Flt Lt. Bratley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 7 Sqn (London Gazette 13th April 1945).

He relinquished his commission on the 10th February 1954, retaining his rank of Flt. Lt. (London Gazette 25th May 1954.)

(5) Sgt. Vivian was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 9 Sqn, (London Gazette 26th May 1942).

Warrant Officer (WO) Vivian was appointed to a commission and promoted to 161475 Plt Off on the 14th October 1943 (London Gazette 21st December 1943). He was promoted to Fg Off. on the 14th April 1944 (London Gazette 5th May 1944). He was promoted to Flt Lt. on the 14th October 1945 (London Gazette 16th November 1945).

On the 19th December 1945 he was transferred as a Flt Lt. to the Admin and Spec Duties Branch (London Gazette 8th January 1946). He was promoted to Sqn Ldr. on the 14th October 1944 (London Gazette 3rd December 1946).

(6) Sgt. Blaydon was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 9 Sqn, (London Gazette 11th August 1942).

Sgt. Blaydon was appoint to a commission and promoted to 169133 Plt Off. on the 15th August 1943. (London Gazette 21st January 1944). He was promoted to Fg Off. on the 29th February 1944. (London Gazette 16th May 1944).

Fg Off. Blaydon was KiA on the 8th August 1944. He was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner aboard 582 Sqn, Lancaster III ND817 which was shot down by a German night-fighter on an operation to Mare de Magne. (4 KiA, 2 PoW, 2 Evd).

Burial details:

None – crew survived

Researched by Kate Tame for Aircrew Remembered and for all relatives and friends of the crew. .Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (May 2025).

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