Operation: Night intruder mission

Date: 31st December 1944 (Sunday)

Unit No: 415th Night Fighter Squadron, 64th Fighter Wing, 12th Air Support Command, 12th Air Force

Type: Beaufighter NF.VIF

Serial: Unknown

Code: Unknown

Location: Between Noroy-le-Bourg and Liévans, France

Base: ALG A-96, Ochey, France

Pilot: Capt. Varillus Owen Jones O-793117 AAF Age 25. KiA

Radar Observer: 2nd Lt. Mervin H. Sussman O-1692661 AAF Age 22. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Above: Beaufighter ‘Fluff’, KV912 of the 416th Squadron (Credit: United States Army Air Forces via Public Domain)

After the Allied ground forces established beachheads, the squadron moved into Southern France, where it supported the US 7th Army and the French 1st Army with night interception and anti-night-intruder sorties. The pilots also patrolled the lines at St. Die, and it dropped flares to light up targets for the artillery. Through April 1945, the squadron flew patrols and intruder missions, concentrating its attacks on enemy installations, supplies, communications, and troops.

The aircraft took off from the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-96, Ochey in France on a night intruder mission. They were vectored onto an unidentified aircraft at approximately 19:06 hrs. At 19:24 hrs Capt. Jones reported that the aircraft as friendly but that his aircraft had been fired upon.

It was claimed that the friendly aircraft that fired upon the Beaufighter was a B-17. The Beaufighter had one engine shot out, a damaged tail and 2nd Lt. Sussman was wounded unable to bail out.

Note: On the night of the 31st December 1944. The 8th Air Force despatched 8 B-24s and 2 B-17s on a Night Leaflet Operation over France, Germany and Belgium.

The radio log showed that the aircraft crashed shortly after this call some 48 km south of Luxeul-les-Bains, France.

A search party was sent out from the 67th Military Police Station at Vesoul, France. They located the crash site between Noroy-le-Bourg and Liévans. The aircraft had exploded and was burning.

Burial Details:

Above: Capt. Varillus Owen Jones and his grave marker (Credit: Dwight Anderson - FindAGrave)

Capt. Varillus Owen Jones. Air Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart. Epinal American Cemetery Plot A, Row 14, Grave 2. Born on the 7th April 1919 in Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont. Son of Glenham and Ruth Mildred (née Carter) Jones of Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, USA.

Above memorial service for Capt. Jones (Credit: The Brattleboro Reformer, dated Tuesday, January 23rd, 1945)

The following is an extract from the The Brattleboro Reformer, dated Friday, January 19th,1945.

Capt. Jones had a distinguished record in nearly two years of service in the European and Mediterranean arenas. Member of the third class of night fighter pilots to graduate in the United States, he first went to England in March 1943, later serving in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Corsica, and then to France at the time of the Normandy invasion.

His parents had a personal interview with Capt. Norman Brylle, adjutant of Capt. Jones’ squadron upon the former’s return to his home in Hartford, Connecticut. Capt. Brylle spoke highly of Capt. Jones’ ability and record. Entitled to leave after completing two tours of duty, Capt. Jones remained on duty awaiting promotion to Major, for which he was slated. (The reason for him being at the 12th Air Support Command).

Varillus Owen Jones was born in Brattleboro on the 7th April 1919, one of three sons of Glenham and Ruth (née Carter) Jones. He graduated from Brattleboro high school in 1938. Vitally was interested in flying and he studied aviation in Springfield, Vermont, and later entered Manter Hall School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a refresher course preparatory to enlisting in the Air Corps on the 19th January 1942. He graduated as a night fighter pilot with the commission of 2nd Lieutenant at Columbus, Mississippi, on 9th October of that year and was posted overseas the following March.

Capt. Jones had had accumulated twice as much flying time as any man in his squadron. He served as operations officer, second in command of his squadron and for a several months, while in Italy, was acting commanding officer.

Besides his parents he leaves two brothers, Carter Jones of Pittsburgh and Glenham Jones, Jr., attending Navy quartermasters’ school at Bainbridge, Maryland.

Above: Grave marker for 2nd Lt. Mervin H. Sussman (Credit: Dwight Anderson - FindAGrave)

2nd Lt. Mervin H. Sussman. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart. Epinal American Cemetery Plot B, Row 2, Grave 58. Born on the 9th September 1922. Son of Abram J. Sussman of Glastonbury, Connecticut. Husband to Irene A (née Richman) Sussman of Brooklyn, New York, USA.

2nd Lt. Sussman was buried by the Jewish Chaplin Capt. Harold I. Saperstein.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Feb 2022).

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Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt