Operation: Ranger Patrol, France

Date: 4th August 1944 (Friday)

Unit No: 151 (F) Squadron, Fighter Command

Type: Mosquito FB.VI

Serial: PZ186

Code: DZ:?

Base: RAF Predannack, Cornwall

Location: Near Feugarolles, France

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. Richard Neil Chudleigh DFC 39712 RAFO Age 25. Evader

Navigator: Fg Off. Harold Devening 'Jack’ Ayliffe DFM 145489 RAFVR Age 24. KiA

Above Fg Off. Harold D. Ayliffe DFM (June 1944) - Medal ribbons L to R, DFM, The Africa Star. (Courtesy of Gillian Xenia Ayliffe)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 4th August 1944 two Mosquitoes took off from RAF Predannack at 10:00 hrs and two at 10:45 hrs on a Ranger patrol over France.

The squadron Operational Record Book (ORB) describes that the four Mosquitoes attacked several goods trains and locomotives, but during an attack on an ammunition truck it exploded damaging Sqn Ldr. Chudleigh’s Mosquito and he was forced to crash land the aircraft. The exact location of the crash site is not known but it was near Feugarolles in France.

The escape and evasion report for Sqn Ldr. Chudleigh describes the circumstances of the loss of the aircraft, his subsequent return to England and the death of his navigator Fg Off. Ayliffe.

“I was pilot of a Mosquito aircraft which left Predannack on 4 Aug 44 to strafe railway lines South of Bordeaux. We were shot down and the aircraft caught fire. My navigator (Fg Off. Ayliffe) was killed in the crash. My parachute, harness and mae west were burnt in the aircraft.

I was immediately helped by members of the Maquis and taken to Auch. I stayed here until able to walk and was then taken to Argen on 20 Aug. Here I met a British Intelligence Captain who took me to St. Cere, and I was passed on by him to Brive. Here I was told that an aircraft was coming to the area soon which would take me off, but after waiting a week I got impatient and left on the 29 Aug for Limoges. At Limoges I met an American (Captain Fraser) who passed me on by Dakota to England on the night of the 2 Sept.”

Sqn Ldr. Chudleigh was awarded the DFC whilst with 96 Sqn. London Gazette 3rd October 1944.

Citation: "This officer has displayed a high standard of courage and devotion to duty. He is a resolute and skilful fighter and has destroyed two enemy aircraft at night; he has also destroyed many flying bombs, six of them in one night".

The 96 Squadron Diver combat reports that are available detail that Sqn Ldr. Chudleigh and Fg Off. Ayliffe destroyed one Diver off Dungeness, on the 18th/19th June 1944 which blew up on the sea after being attacked from 700 ft. On the 3rd/4th July 1944 they destroyed three Divers. Two were attacked by positioning their aircraft ahead and above and allowing them to overtake. The third was attacked by cutting off vector using a quarter attack which exploded in the air at 500-600 ft range and damaging their aircraft. The first two exploded in the sea.

Burial details:

Above grave marker for Fg Off. Harold Devening 'Jack’ Ayliffe DFM taken on the 4th August 2014 by Gillian Xenia Ayliffe.

Fg Off. Ayliffe was Initially buried as a local 'old villager' in the cemetery at Feugarolles by the villagers. Post-war the grave was officially recognised as a War Grave.

Fg Off. Harold Devening 'Jack’ Ayliffe DFM. Feugarolles (Limon) Communal Cemetery. Grave inscription: 'BURIED AT FEUGAROLLES'. Born on the 24th July 1920 in Wycombe, Oxfordshire. Son of Harold Bond and Mavis Doreen (née Newson) Ayliffe of Gravesend, Kent, England.

The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was awarded to 1289553 Sgt. Ayliffe whilst with 153 Sqn in North Africa and the Middle East. London Gazette 20th August 1943.

Citation: “The DFM is awarded to Sgt. Ayliffe for completing many night operational sorties and outstanding work as a navigator, and for displaying great courage and determination”.

Harold Devening 'Jack’ Ayliffe was a pupil at the Gravesend Grammar School which has posted a Commemorative Archive to him.

A ceremony to commemorate the sacrifice of Fg Off. Ayliffe is held annually on the 4th August.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Jan 2024). Thanks to Gillian Xenia Ayliffe, the niece of Harold Devening 'Jack’ Ayliffe, for his photograph and that of his grave (Jan 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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