Operation: Rail yards at Le Bobigny
Date: 18/19th April 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)
Unit: No. 427 Squadron (motto: Ferte manus certas, -. 'Strike with a sure hand'). 6 Group
Type: Halifax III
Serial: LV789
Code: ZL-U
Base: RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire
Location: Noisy-le-Sec, France
Pilot: W/O 2. Clifford Harvey Coathup R/141414 RCAF Age 21. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Gerald Joseph Patterson 630907 RAFVR Age 22. Killed
Nav: F/O. Frederick Henry Mills J/20969 RCAF Age 30. Killed
Air/Bmr: W/O 2. Francis Basil Dennis R/163694 RCAF Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Francis Joseph Edwards 1316995 RAFVR Age 23. Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. Edward William Eppler J/90181 RCAF Age 21. Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. John Arthur Whittaker J/88716 RCAF Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
811 Lancasters and Halifaxes, plus 36 Mosquitoes, obliterated four railway yards at Rouen, Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec, and Tergnier, for the loss of just 11 of their number. Two aircraft of the French raids returned with fighter damage and four with Flak scars. LV789 took off at 20:50 hrs, one of fifteen aircraft detailed from the squadron to bomb the marshalling yards.
Over the targets of Noisy-le-Sec, and Le Bobigny Flak of gem. Flak Abt. 344 claimed four Halifaxes of 427, 432 and 433 Squadrons destroyed in quick succession, three crashing at Noisy (at 23:47, 00:01 and 00:04 hrs), and one at Bobigny (at 23:45 hrs).
Two of the squadron aircraft collided over the target area due to the congestion. Halifax III LV987 ZL-K flown by W/O. David F. Foster R/136520 RCAF sufferend a bent prop and port outer engine out - Halifax III LN985 ZL-D Flown by Sgt. Wilbert John Ellwood R/155071 RCAF suffered about 6 feet of starboard wing cut off. Both crews completed the operation and both the pilots skilfully managed to return to base at around 02:45 hrs. with no injuries to both crew.
Described as a successful raid with much damage being inflicted to the engine sheds and workshops. Delayed action bombs continued to explode for a week after the attack, hampering efforts to clear the site. 750 houses were destroyed, 464 people killed and 370 injured.
Note: On the 18th April the Allies dropped more than 4,000 tons of bombs over Germany, the highest single-day total of the war up to this time.
Burial details:
W/O 2. Clifford Harvey Coathup. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 15. Joint grave 5. Born on the 17th May 1922 in Watrous, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The son of Harvey Charles Coathup (died 17th August 1985, age 88) and Eva Pearl (née Mosher - died 16th January 1965, age 65) of Kirkfield, York, Ontario, Canada. His brother, W/O. 1 George Richard Coathup also killed in service. 16th June 1944, age 23. Epitaph: 'He Died The Helpless To Defend A Faithful Airman's Noble End'.
Sgt. Gerald Joseph Patterson. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 16. Collective grave 1-4. Son of Thomas Patterson and of Catherine Mary Patterson (née Woods), of Bootle, Lancashire, England.
F/O. Frederick Henry Mills. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 8. Gave 2. Born on the 06th April 1914 in Blackburn, England. Worked as a tool clerk for Boeing Aircraft in Vancouver, Canada. Enlisted on the 16th September 1941. Son of Frederick William Mills and Emma Wilson both deceased next of kin listed as friend Hamish Campbell MacNeill (died 1981, age 73) and Stella Eleanor MacNeill) of 4 SFTS Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Apartment 22, 1180 Drummond Street, Montreal - Peachland, British Columbia, Canada.
W/O. 2 Francis Basil 'Frank' Dennis. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 15. Gave 4. Born on the 12th March 1924 in Moose Jaw. Son of John Basil (died 17th February 1978, age 84) and Myrtle Helen Dennis (née Irvin - died 16th February 1989, age 88), of 1191 First Avenue, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Epitaph: 'Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord; And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him'.
Sgt. Francis Joseph Edwards. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 7. Gave 13. Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Edwards, of Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales. Epitaph: 'In Sacred Memory Of A Son Of Wales 'Mewn Angof Ni Chaiff Fod' Llwyfle. Aberystwyth'.
P/O. Edward William Eppler. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 15. Gave 6. Born on the 12th January 1923 in Gretna, Manitoba, Canada. Worked as a fitter for Canada Car and Foundry in Fort William 1941-1942. Enlisted on the 19th September 1942. Son of Jacob Eppler (formerly an Austrian - died 1959, age 87) and Margaret Eppler (née Popp - formerly an Austrian - died 1945, age 54) of Gretna, Manitoba, Canada.
P/O. John Arthur Whittaker. Clichy New Communal Cemetery. Plot 16. Row 15. Joint grave 5. Born on the 20th June 1924 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Educated at Patterson Collegiate Institute. Enlisted on the 15th October 1942. A clerk for Scarge and Company Limited in Windsor. Son of Harold Arthur Whittaker (died 09th September 1960, age 65) and Pauline Josephine Whittaker (née Ouellette - died 15th July 1944, age 50) of 495 Bruce Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'Gladly He Lived Nobly He Died'.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives. Air-27-1845-7/8, Government of Canada Archives, Paradie Archive, International Bomber Command Centre IBCC. Theo Boiten 'Nachjagd Combat Archives 1944 Part 2'.
KTY 28-02-2023
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