Operation: Ground attack

Date: 3rd August 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 65 Squadron 83 Group (motto: Vi et armis - 'By force and arms')

Type: Mustang IIIB

Serial: FB208

Code: YT:?

Base: B12 Ellon, France

Location: River Seine, Oissel, Rouen, France

Pilot: Fg Off. Corran Perry Ashworth 413367 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from the advanced landing ground at 10:34 hrs with 11 others.

Dived on barges just south of Rouen from 8000 ft. As he was pulling out at 4000 ft. his Mustang was hit by the 88mm flak on the barges, blew up and crashed into the river. His body was not knowingly recovered.

The exact cause is not known, but some very accurate enemy anti-aircraft fire was experienced at the time and it is probable that one of his bombs was hit by flak.

Burial details:

Fg Off. Corran Perry Ashworth. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 262. Born September 25th, 1921 at Eketahuna, New Zealand. Son of Arthur John and Edna M. Ashworth (née Harrison) of Alexandra, Otag.

He was a clerk prior to service with a postal department. 808 flying hours logged with over 130 operational sorties. Served previously with 253, 14 an 32 Squadrons. Credited with 2 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 shared with 1 other damaged.

Vincent Ashworth, the younger brother of Corren, posted on the "Back to Normandy" site that in June 2006 that a memorial stone to his brother was unveiled on the banks of the river Seine opposite to the place where his remains are believed to lie in the river. The ceremony was attended by a large crowd including the New Zealand Ambassador to France, a representative of the German Government, the French armed services, the RAF, the RNZAF and other local celebrities. The beautiful memorial to my brother was made possible by the work of an amateur military historian, M. Fabrice D'Hollande of Oisell. While researching the fate of other allied pilots in Normandy, quiet by accident he discovered a local Gendarmerie report describing the shooting down of Corran's Mustang. I later wrote a book about my brother entitled "For Our Tomorrow He Gave His Today"

"For Our Tomorrow He Gave His Today" by Vincent Ashworth and Fabrice Dhollande, published in 2009.

Additionally a dedication by Vincent Ashworth to his brother can be read here.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand. Updated by Aircrew Remembered (Jul 2021). Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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