Operation: Mailly-le-Camp

Date: 3rd/4th May 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit No: 9 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: LL787

Code: WS:Y

Base: RAF Bardney, Lincolnshire

Location: Normee

Pilot: Fg Off. James Frank Ineson 144953 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Flt Eng: Plt Off. Leonard Charles Margetts 188929 RAFVR Age 29. KiA

Nav: Plt Off. Hugh Fraser Mackenzie J85814 RCAF Age 21. KiA

Bom Aimer: Fg Off. Thomas L.M. Porteous 427229 RNZAF Age? PoW, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan & Belaria

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Henry Robert Warren 1391942 RAFVR Age? KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Henry S. Chappell 1819696 RAFVR Age? Evaded (1)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. James Wilkinson 2209695 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Sadly, Jennifer Graham advised us that Henry Chappell of Retford, Nottinghamshire, passed away on Friday 2nd February 2018 - we all send our condolences to his family.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 21:52 hrs from RAF Bardney, Lincolnshire to support the troops on the invasion of Europe. The target for the 346 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitoes was the German military camp close to the French village of Mailly.

The operation was a success as far as the bombing was concerned with 114 barrack buildings destroyed, 47 transport sheds and some ammunition buildings in the camp destroyed, 192 vehicles, 37 tanks were also hit. 218 German soldiers were killed and a further 156 injured. 1,500 tons of bombs were dropped. But, due to the delays in signalling the main force to come in and bomb the Luftwaffe night fighters were waiting for them. 43 were lost this night - 177 aircrew killed, 18 being taken PoW and 31 evading capture.

LL787 was claimed by Wilhelm Breimer 9/NJG4 - Normee: 3,000m at 00:44. (Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1944 Part 2 - Theo Boiten). The aircraft crashed at Normee, 8 km North East of Fere-Champenoise.

Fg.Off. James Frank Ineson during training (courtesy Jennifer Graham)

(1) Sgt Chappell escaped with the assistance of the local Maquis. Henry Chappell was the son of Mr. T. Chappell, from South Leverton, Retford, Nottinghamshire, England.

Local Marquis with Henry 1944 (courtesy Jennifer Graham)

Above left: Henry Chappell with Marquis and right: taken in 1994 Henry with Rene (courtesy Jennifer Graham)

Burial details:

Fg Off. James Frank Ineson. Normee Churchyard. Grave 2. Son of William and Sarah Jeanetta Ineson, of 77 Brookroyd Lane, Batley, husband of Monica W. Ineson, of Woodbine Cottage, Moortop, New Farnley, Leeds Yorkshire, England.

Plt Off. Leonard Charles Margetts. Normee Churchyard. Collective Grave 1. Son of William Luke and Lucy Margetts; husband of Frances Christine Margetts, of 17 Melville Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Plt Off.Margetts was a former pupil of Moseley Grammar school (Now secondary/grammar school). We have worked very closely with the school's historians to remember all the ex pupils who died whilst serving with the RAF and recorded on the school memorial.

Plt Off. Hugh Fraser Mackenzie. Normee Churchyard. Collective Grave 1. Born on the 19th June 1922 at Spirit River, Alberta. Son of George Fraser and Cecile Lois (née McKibbon) MacKenzie, of Spirit River, Alberta. Canada.

His Father also served, (R105811) RCAF Clinton, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Henry Robert Warren. Normee Churchyard. Collective Grave 1. Son of Mr F.J. Warren, 74 Warwickshire Street, Deptford, London SE8, England.

Sgt. James Wilkinson. Normee Churchyard. Collective Grave 1. Son of Mr G. Wilkinson, 23 Cavendish Road, Urmston, Manchester, England.

If any relatives would like to be in contact with Jennifer or others, please contact us and your message will be forwarded. With thanks to the following: Jennifer Graham - who has a huge amount of information on this operation - indeed the crew details, Keith Townsend historian of Moseley Secondary/Grammar school memorial records. Thanks to John Jones for the German Fighter claim details and other information (Aug 2020). Thanks to Clive Porteous, the son of Fg Off. Thomas L.M. Porteous for the correction to his given name (May 2023).

Gordon Thorburn has written a superb book on 9 Squadron during WW2 - Order it direct from him, but please mention us.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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