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Operation: Stuttgart
Date: 5th May 1942 (Tuesday)
Unit: No. 149 Squadron
Type: Stirling I
Serial: N6124
Code: OJ-R
Location: Agnicourt-et-Séchelles North east of Laon, Northern France
Pilot: P/O Arnold Foster Cheetham 103550 RAFVR Age 27. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Basil Ernest Smith 569626 RAF Age 21. Killed
Obs: F/O. Kenneth William Byron Moodie J/1211 RCAF Age 26. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick Bertram Pomeroy 1152526 RAFVR Age ? Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Victor Carriline 630417 RAF Age 26. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Francis Derek Jago 742695 RAFVR Age 27. Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Arthur Shaw 968972 RAFVR Age ? Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Lakenheath for an operation on Stuttgart. The aircraft crashed at 04:00hrs at Agnicourt, north east of Laon. (Please note: these details are correct as some sources state Agincourt and others Aguilcourt.)
All the crew were killed and bodies taken to Laon St Just Cemetery for burial which does suggest that the Luftwaffe recovered the bodies as Laon at the time was a German night fighter base.
N6124 was part of a 121 aircraft raid and was shot down over Laon by Lt. Gustav Knoch, from 7./NJG4, a former Zerstőrer pilot with one victory to his credit. The Stirling did exchange fire and is understood to have also shot down Gustav Knoch who also perished during this exchange of fire.
Ann Mole pictured left visiting the graves - Ann is the niece of Basil Ernest Smith. With many thanks to David Mole for supplying these pictures and details of the loss.
Burial details:
P/O Arnold Foster Cheetham. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Grave 14. Son of Eugene Wilberforce and Amy Agnes of Bridlington, Yorkshire, England. Grave inscription reads: "In Everlasting Memory Of A Beloved Son And Brother. Rest In Peace".
Sgt. Basil Ernest Smith. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Collective Grave 16-20. Son of Ernest James and Sarah of Haverthwaite, Lancashire, England. Grave inscription reads: "Let Light Perpetual Shine On Them".
F/O. Kenneth William Byron Moodie. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Grave 16-20. Son of James Francis Melville and Lucy Catherine of 238 Scarboro Avenue, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Grave inscription reads: "Greater Love Hath No Man".
Sgt. Frederick Bertram Pomeroy. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Collective Grave 16-20. Son of Frederick W. and Patricia of Hove, Sussex, England
Fl/Sgt. Victor Carriline. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Collective Grave 16-20. Son of Arthur William and Agnes of Newcastle-on-Tyne and husband of Norah Evelyn of Sandyford, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
Fl/Sgt. Francis Derek Jago. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Collective Grave 16-20. Son of Sidney Herbert and M.M of Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, England. Grave inscription reads: "Though Absent From Sight, Ever In Our Thoughts".
Fl/Sgt. James Arthur Shaw. Laon Communal Cemetery (St Just). Collective Grave 16-20. Next of kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?
KTY - 19.12.2017 Page updated
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