Operation: Ferry Flight

Date: 02nd February 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 174 Squadron (motto: 'Attack') 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: JP658

Code: XP-?

Base: RAF Westhampnett, Sussex

Location: East of Brighton

Pilot: P/O. Joseph Rene Roland Boyer J/18960 RCAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Previously:

First: On Thursday, 12th February 1942 at 17 Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Watton, Norfolk. (a satellite airfield of RAF Bodney). He stated: I took off with P/. Edgard William Fidgerald Wall in Miles Master DK867 to receive dual instruction. When approaching to land the fifth time, I was in control of the aircraft and preparing to make a glide approach. As I flattened out, I saw another aircraft between the engine and the starboard wing. As I was about to apply the throttle, P/O. Wall took over the controls.

We struck the other aircraft, our starboard wing hitting the canopy of the other. We shot upwards and came down on the nose and starboard wing. I immediately looked round and saw P/O. Wall leaning forward in an unconscious state. I was not aware of being hurt myself until I saw the blood on my jacket.’
The other aircraft also a Master with two crew, Sgt. H. Mayoh, Sgt. Geoffrey Stanton Lloyd (1) in DK868 were both uninjured.

Second: On Thursday 30th July 1942 174 squadron took part in a 'Ramrod' operation (short range bomber attacks to destroy ground) to St. Omer. 7 aircraft took off at 11:30 hrs. A terrible day for the Allied Fighter Command losing 23 aircraft with 3 of these from 174 squadron;

Sgt Ellis Ronald Charman (2) Aus/400859 RAAF flying Hurricane BP768 engaged by Fw190's from JG26. With his engine on firehe was forced to bale out over Audruicq and taken PoW.
Sgt William Young Dennison R/82271 RCAF flying Hurricane Ike BE684. Forced landing with hi Hurricane tipping up on its nose west of St. Omer. PoW No 25129 Stalag 344 Lamsdorf. Pilot was from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sgt. Joseph Rene Roland Boyer R/79196 RCAF flying Hurricane IIe BE552. Ditched in the English Cannel but managed to climb into his dingy and rescued by Air Sea Rescue but not until 15:30 hrs on the following day.

Final Flight: On Wednesday 02nd February 1944 killed whilst still with 174 squadron. A Court of Inquiry repotted that; 'he had 120 hours on the Typhoon. Visibility was 300 yards, cloud 10/10, 300 feet, W.V 10-15 mph, west to l. west. Very misty. F/O. Joseph Rene Roland Boyer reported: 'P/O Boyer and I took off from Eastchurch shortly after 14:00 hrs. to ferry two aircraft to Westhampnett, with myself flying No. 2. We agreed to R.T. silence and to turn back should weather appear too bad.

After flying approximately 15 minutes or more, we encountered fog and cloud down to deck level and I lost P/O. Boyer. I turned back and landed at Eastchurch. Route forecast was obtained at 11:00 hrs. weather reported to be clearing. At time of turning back, I was at 300 feet indicated. Flying Control at Eastchurch gave permission to take off. At time of turning back, about 14:40 hrs., visibility was 200 yards, cloud base 200 feet. I missed a hill by a few feet and decided to turn back.'

Conclusions: The aircraft had struck the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees near the top of the hill, slope about 30 degrees, approximately 500 feet above sea level, with considerable force. Pieces of the machine were scattered 150 yards and the aircraft had burnt out. Fl/Lt. J. Stopworth noted: 'From the position of the flaps, and selector lever, it did not appear that a force landing had been anticipated, and an examination of the wreckage gave no indication of a shortage of fuel or failure of either airframe or engine in the air. 'It was decided that the cause of the accident was due to adverse weather conditions. No negligence whatsoever was attributed to the pilot. It was recommended that pilots flying this type of aircraft should obtain more experience of cloud flying under favourable conditions.’

Click here for Investigation report on JP658.

Above 174 Squadron Lydd August 1943: Top Row: Fl/Sgt. Henry Shaw Brown, F/O. Frank Edward Wheeler, Fl/Sgt. Ronald Venning Smith, Fl/Sgt. Ernes George Boucher, F/O. John Frederick Cobbett, F/O. Ian Mallet, W/O. William Donald Burton.
F/O Harry Victor Markby, F/O. Eric Little, W/O. Rowley Boyer, W/O. Kenneth Osborne Mitchell, F/O. William Donald Craig Montgomery, Fl/Lt.Stan Minall, Sq/Ldr. William Winder McConnell, Fl/Lt. Frederick Andros Grantham, F/O. Allan R. Black, Fl/Lt. Bridges, P/O.Claude Desmond O'Callagham, P/O. Walter Cyril Vatcher, W/O. James Himiona Wetere.

Burial and further details:

P/O. Joseph Rene Roland Boyer. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 44.D 3. Born on the 30th January 1917 in Montreal, Canada. Enlisted on the 26th February 1941 and posted to BCATP (see note) in Quebec on the 5th March 1941. Posted in January 1942 to the United Kingdom where he joined 56 Operational Training Unit. Joined 174 squadron in May 1942. Son of Eusebe Euze (died 1962, age 67) and Evangeline Boyer (née Cormier-dued 1958, age 69), of Ile Perrot, brother of Jean Louis and Marie Rollande Vaudreuil Co., Province of Quebec, Canada. Husband of Mary Lende Patricia Boyer (married on the 29th November 1941), of Ile Perrot, Quebec, Canada.

Epitaph: 'Je Suis Fiere De Toi Et Dans Mon Coeur Tu Vis Toujours. Ta Femme Qui T'aime. Pat' (Rough translation; I am proud of you and in my heart you still live. Your wife who loves you. Pat

(1) Sgt. Geoffrey Stanton Lloyd NZ/411972 RNZAF - Born on the 08th March 1919 in Liverpool, England. Moved with his parents to New Zealand as a young boy. Enlisted on the 23rd March 1942. Wings awarded on the 06th September 1941 and promoted to sergeant. on the 08th October 1941. Embarked for United Kingdom on the 17th November. Posted to 17 Advanced Flying Unit early February 1942. Following that course he joined 55 Operational Training Unit on the 28th April . After serving briefly with 3 squadron he was posted to 32 squadron and proceeded overseas end of April, 1942,

23 year old, Fl/Sgt Llloyg was flying in Hurricane Ic HW486 When on the 26th December 1943 at Maison Blanche, Algiers, when a collision occurred with a Dakota at 11:45 hrs when the Dakota was coming into land. He was buried in the El Calia Cemetery, Maison Carree, Algiers, afterwards being re-interred in the British Cemetery, Dely, Ibraham, Algiers. Grave 3.C.11. Son of Victor Stanton and Elsie Maud Lloyd (née Molroy), Of 5A Grass Street, Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, Wellington, New Zealand.

(2) Sgt Ellis Ronald Charman on Friday 27th April 1942, survived with slight injuries after a crash landing in Hurricane IIb BE549 after 'Circus 142' operation but his aircraft suffered Cat B damage and was taken off charge. Born on the 28th July 1918 in 23 Mont View, Malvern, Victoria, Australia. Passed away on the 01st March 1969, age just 51, remembered at the Victorian Garden of Remembrance, Springvale, City, Victoria, Australia

Note: BCATP - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, commonly abbreviated to 'The Plan'. A large-scale multinational military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the Second World War. The BCATP remains one of the single largest aviation training programs in history and was responsible for training nearly half the pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, air gunners, wireless operators and flight engineers who served with the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm , Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force during the war (courtesy Wikipedia)

National Archives Kew, AI-27-1109-3/4, AIR-27-1108-9/10. RAF Command Forum, Paradie RCAF Archives. Typhoon Project. Bomber Command Canada. Julian Proddow. New Zealand Cenotaph, Errol Martyn and his publications: 'For Your Tomorrow'.

Other sources as quoted below:

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