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Operation: Trossy
Date: 4th August 1944 (Friday)
Unit: No 635 Squadron
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: PA983
Code: F2-A
Base: RAF Downham Market, Norfolk
Location: Trossy St. Maximin, France
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Robert Walter Beveridge DFC 170892 RAF Age 24. Killed
Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. Frank Cyril Victor Tuck 916863 RAFVR Age 30. Killed
Nav: Fl/Lt. Michael Ingoldsby Massy 141336 RAFVR Age 24. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Francis George Chaplin Brown 1561578 RAFVR Age 21. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Lt. John Gordon Irwin DFC 131135 RAFVR Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James John Mather 1042788 RAFVR Age? Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. John David Smith 1813739 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Gnr: F/O. John Allinson DFM 51349 RAFVR Age ? Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 11.07 hrs from Downham Market to attack the V1 missile sites North of Paris. An eyewitness reported that the aircraft had been hit by flak in the tail of the aircraft and on opening the bomb doors the tail flew off causing the aircraft to turn on its back. The aircraft crashed near the village of Trossy St. Maximin.
Target area at Trossey, taken during the night of the operation
Two aircraft were lost from 635 Squadron.
The other, Lancaster III ND811 F2-T, flown by Sq/Ld. Ian W. Bazalgette VC DFC (left) bombed the target after being hit by flak, losing both starboard engines. He gave the order for the crew to bale out. Having two wounded crew members on board, he made the decision to try and crash land the aircraft, which he did successfully.
Tragically the aircraft exploded after landing, killing the crew on board. He was awarded the VC posthumously for his actions. One of his crew members who survived, Fl/Sgt. Cameron DFM also survived an earlier crash whilst serving with 149 Squadron in November 1942, his pilot was also awarded a posthumous VC.
Burial details:
The aircrew were initially buried at the site of the crash and later reinterred in Marissel French National Cemetery shown left with insert Fl/Lt. Michael Ingoldsby Massy
Fl/Lt. Robert Walter Beveridge DFC Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 359. Son of Robert F. Beveridge and Elizabeth Ann Beveridge of Battersea, London, England.
Fl/Sgt. Frank Cyril Victor Tuck. Marissel French National Cemetery, Joint Grave 356-357. Son of Jane Tuck of Croydon, Surrey England.
Fl/Lt. Michael Ingoldsby Massy. Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 362. Also remembered at St. Mary's Cathedral (Church of Ireland) Bridge Street, Limerick City. Son of William Ingoldsby Justice Massy and Ada Mary Frances Massy of Stoneville, Co. Limerick, Irish Republic. Husband of Penelope Louise Massy. B.A. (Oxon)
Fl/Sgt. Francis George Chaplin Brown. Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 363. Son of George and Edith Chaplin Brown of Leslie, Fife, Scotland.
Fl/Lt. John Gordon Irwin. DFC Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 361. Son of Arnold and Elsie Maude Irwin of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
Fl/Sgt. James John Mather. Marissel French National Cemetery, Joint Grave 356-357. No further information as yet
Sgt. John David Smith. Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 360. Son of James Benjamin and Jane Elizabeth Smith of Downham, Bromley, Kent, England.
F/O. John Allinson. DFM. Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 358. No further information as yet
Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Kate Tame for relatives of this crew. With thanks to the Irish Memorial Project for use of the memorial plaque also to the Commonwealth Graves Commission.
The Memorial reads:
Right: Memorial to St. Mary's Cathedral (Church of Ireland) Limerick (See credits)
To The Glory of God. And in memory of the men of the united dioceses fallen in the war 1939 – 1945 specially of those whose names are cut on this monument
A.G. Bevan A.B.R.N. H.M.S. Daring
J.D. Bishop F/O. R.A.F.
W.J.P. Goodbody Cpt CT. ION. Yeo.
A.W. Grenfell lieut. 10th K.R.R.C.
G.B. Grenfell F/O. R.A.F.
C.R.C.Herbert P/O. R.A.F.
C.B.V. Holden capt. 9th J.A.T.S.
W.J.W. Kingston Fl/Lt B.C. R.A.F.
B.D.J. Macgillicuddy M.C. M.M. Cpt. 47th D. Guards
M.I. Massy Fl/Lt. RA.F.V.R.
D.W.T. Maxwell Lt. Seaforths
J. Modler Cpl. Irish Guards
R.G. Preston Gunner 15th Coast Rgt. R.A.
A. Ruttle Pte. Manchester Rgt.
J.H. Ryan Trooper N.I.H.
C.R.P. Sweeny M.C. Mjr. R. Ulster Rifles
R. Thompson Sgt. Navigator B.C. R.A.F.
H.F. Turpin Lt. R.T.R. 6th Airborne
J. Welply Lt. 6th Airborne
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 27 March 2021, 12:54