Operation: Ferry Flight
Date: 19th May 1940 ()Sunday)
Unit: No. 16 Squadron (motto: Operta aperta - 'Hidden things are revealed')
Type: Westland Lysander II
Serial: Not known
Code: KJ-?
Base: Bertangles (France)
Location: Glisy, France
Pilot: P/O. Ian Dromgoole 42461 RAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed
Pilot 2: F/O. Andrew Patrick Read 25132 RAF Age 27. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
France is falling, the Squadron were moving to Abbeville as German forces were surrounding the airfield, 8 aircraft managed to take off.
Whilst at 1500 ft over Glisy they were shot down by Hptm. Schellmann of Stab II./JG2.
Although it is known that the two crew members were recovered and buried no trace of them could be found after the war.
Obstlt. Schellmann (shown right) an ace with 14 claims to his name was listed as missing in action on the 22nd June 1941. Further details can be found on our Kracker Luftwaffe Archive.
Burial details:
P/O. Ian Dromgoole. Runnymede Memorial Panel 8. Born on the 05th October 1915 at Lyttelton, the son of Victor Peter and Susan Sommerville Dromgoole (née Houston), of Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand. A clerk forth Public Trust Office at Christchurch prior to being selected for a short service commission on the 24th April 1939. A total of
200 flying hours logged. The family also lost his brother. 28 year old, Fl/Sgt. Sydney Houston Dromgoole NZ/402171 RNZAF (shown left) whilst with 75 Squadron. Killed on an operation to Le Havre, flying as observer on Wellington III X3667 when they were shot down in the English Channel off the target area. A further brother is also known to have lost his life, 28 year old, John Dromgoole serving with the Merchant Navy when he was lost on the 13th September 1943. (also known to the police as Johnny Green or John Green or John Breen) No further details.
F/O. Andrew Patrick Read. Runnymede Memorial Panel 6. Son of Major-General Hamilton Lyster Reed, VC., CB. CMG., RA. (23rd May 1869 – 7th March 1931 shown right), and of Marjorie Eleanor Reed, of Westminster, London. Formerly The Royal Ulster Rifles. His father won the VC during the Boer War. He was 30 years old, and a captain in 7th Battery, Royal Field Artillery during the battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899. The detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been either killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by Infantry fire at close range, and the guns were deserted. His citation mentions the following deed, for which he was awarded the VC:
'Captain Reed, who had heard of the difficulty, shortly afterwards brought down three teams from his battery to see if he could be of any use. He was wounded, as were five of the thirteen men who rode with him, one was killed and thirteen out of twenty-one horses were killed before he got half-way to the guns, and he was obliged to retire'.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
