Operation: Villeneuve-St Georges, France

Date: 4th/5th July 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 35 (Madras Presidency) Sqn, PFF 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: ND731

Code: TL:A

Base: RAF Graveley, Cambridgeshire

Location: Between Saint-Hilarion (Yvelines) and Émancé in France

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. George Frank Lambert DFC 63419 RAF Age 24. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: WO. Robert James Goode DFM 574067 RAFVR Age 22. PoW * (2)

Nav: Fg Off. Frank Salt 153291 RAFVR Age 27. Id No: 78345 **, PoW No: 8064 *** (3)

Bomb Aimer: Flt Lt. David Roteley Hall 84714 RAFVR Age 24. PoW No: 6946 ** (4)

2nd Bomb Aimer: Fg Off. Patrick Moorhead 152653 RAFVR Age 20. Evader (5)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Lt. Frank Desmond Round DFM 522524 Age 26. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Lt. John Grant Cooke 46790 RAF Age 26. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Fg Off. Francis Emanuel O'Connell 432451 RAAF Age 22. KiA

* Stalag Luft 7 Bankau nr. Kreuzburg O.S." (O.S. standing for Oberschlesien, Upper Silesia). Today called Bąków nr. Kluczbork (Poland).

** Buchenwald concentration camp established on Ettersberg hill near Weimer, Germany in July 1937.

*** Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland.

Above: Fg Off. Francis Emanuel O'Connell from his Service record.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 4th July 1944 35 (Madras Presidency) Sqn detailed 14 aircraft to join a force of 282 aircraft on attacks on the marshalling yards at Orléans and Villeneuve-St Georges. The 14 aircraft comprised a Master Bomber, Deputy Master Bomber, 10 Illuminators and 2 Backer-up aircraft.

The bombing was reported to be accurate but 13 Lancasters were lost from Villeneuve-St Georges raid. Two Lancasters from the squadron failed to return:

ND731, the 1st Backer-up, was claimed by Uffz. Heinrich Schulz, his 1st Abschuss, from 6./NJG2 over Mantes-Ramboullet at 2.500 m at 01:32 hrs. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten).

Fw. Heinrich Schulz was killed on the 17th August 1944 when he was shot down near Coulommiers during a transit flight. ND731 was his only Abschuss.

Lancaster III ND731 crashed between Saint-Hilarion (Yvelines) and Émancé in France at 01:33 hrs.

The second aircraft was Lancaster III ND846 TL:J, the 2nd Backer-up, which was hit by Flak at 8,000 ft within seconds of releasing its Target Indictors (TIs). The Lancaster exploded throwing clear the only survivor before crashing near Villecresnes, some 8 km (5 mls) ESE of the target area, at 01:45 hrs. (7 KiA, 1 PoW).

(1) On a mission on the 10th April 1943 with 35 (Madras Presidency) Sqn aboard Halifax II DT806 TL:Z Flt Lt. George Frank Lambert was an evader.

(2) WO. Goode DFM was captured near Rambouillet, some 8 km (5 mls) NE of the crash site, on the 5th July and was transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel for the statutory interrogation before being transferred to Stalag Luft 7, Bankau arriving there on the 28th July 1944.

On the 19th January 1945, 1,500 prisoners marched out of the camp in the bitter cold. They crossed a bridge over the river Oder on the 21st January, reached Goldberg on 5th February, and were loaded onto a train.

On the 8th February they reached Stalag 3A located about 52 km (32 mls) south of Berlin near Luckenwalde, which already held 20,000 prisoners, consisting mainly of soldiers from Britain, Canada, the US and Russia.

In early 1945, some 1,000 PoWs from the Stalag 8C and Stalag Luft 3 were brought to Stalag 3A, and also POWs from the Stalag 21C in Wolsztyn. In February 1945 prisoners from Stalag 3B Furstenberg were evacuated to Stalag 3A, adding to the already overcrowded and unhygienic conditions.

On the 22nd April 1945 as the Russians approached the camp the guards fled leaving the prisoners to be liberated by the Red Army. Stalag 3A was turned over to the Americans on the 6th May at which time the Senior American Officers (SAO) took over the running of the camp until all the PoWs were evacuated. WO. Goode DFM was interviewed on the 24th May 1945.

The DFM had been awarded to Sgt. Goode whilst with 76 Sqn. London Gazette on the 20th April 1943.

Robert James Goode was born on the 24th February 1922 in Coventry, West Midlands. He was a scholar prior to enlisting in the RAF on the 28th August 1938. He passed away in the 3rd Qtr of 2001 in South Cheshire, Cheshire, England.

(3) The MI9 statement describing how Fg Off. Salt initially evaded capture is not currently available. However, what is known about his evasion through France is that he and Flt Sgt. Eric J. Davis were hidden by the Wyatt family in Boncourt.

Above. The house belonging to the Wyatt family in Boncourt. (Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial)

Flt Sgt. Eric James Davis 1491273 RAFVR was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner from Lancaster III ND966 shot down on the night of the 7th/8th July 1944

They were anxious to get to the Allied lines and when they were joined by Flt Sgt. Perry the three decided to leave and attempt to find the Allied lines.

Above: An informal group portrait of members of the French Underground and three Allied airmen after celebrations for Bastille Day the previous day on the 15th July 1944. (Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial).

Left to right, back row: unidentified, Flt Sgt. Eric Davis, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified; Middle row: Noel Wyatt, Fg Off. Frank Salt, Giselle Wyatt, Flt Sgt. Perry; Front row: Mrs Wyatt, unidentified.

Flt Sgt. Raymond Walter Perry 415738 RAAF who was the Bomb Aimer from 466 Squadron RAAF, Halifax III LV943 shot down on the night of the 6th/7th May 1944.

On the 24th July they started off walking south, intending to be handed on to further members of the organisation, but some dislocation followed and they remained hidden for 8 days in an unused house. Then the Maquis arrived and wanted the house so they moved to the next village and on 2nd August were taken by car to Paris.

On the 7th August a car came to pick them up and take them to an aerodrome but instead they were taken to Gestapo HQ in Paris.

He was then transferred to Fresnes prison which was located to the south of Paris and was where French political prisoners were held and ordinarily Allied airmen, after questioning, were moved to a PoW Camp. In the summer of 1944, with the Allies having liberated Paris and closing in, the Gestapo guards started reducing the prison population by execution, and then relocating surviving prisoners to various concentration camps east of France. On the 15th August 1944 he was amongst 169 Allied PoWs and hundreds of French men and women who were packed into a freight train and transported to Buchenwald concentration camp on a journey lasting five days. Buchenwald was located 8 km (5 mls) north of Weimar, in the German province of Thüringen. It was established and administered by the Schutzstaffel (SS).

Fg Off. Joel Mathews ‘Tex’ Stevenson C27788 RCAF, the pilot of 419 (Moose) Squadron, RCAF Lancaster X KB727 VR:H escaped from the train and successfully evaded.

Sqn Ldr. Lamason and Fg Off. Chapman succeeded in getting all but two of the Allied PoWs transferred to Stalag Luft 3. Two airmen, 1st Lt. Levitt Clinton Beck Jr. O-736945, US AAF and Fg Off. Philip Derek Hemmens, 152583, RAFVR died in the sick barrack.

Recognition:

For decades the International Red Cross (IRC) had stated that there were no military personnel in Buchenwald despite the overwhelming documentary and anecdotal evidence. It was not until 1988 that the IRC eventually confirmed the airmen were illegally held at Buchenwald.

The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian governments also consistently denied that any of their service personnel were ever held in concentration camps and refused to investigate the claims made by a 'mere’ handful of men.

Reparations were made to the British airmen who had been illegally held at Buchenwald in 1965. Eventually in 1988 the Australian, New Zealand and it is believed the Canadian governments acknowledged that their airmen had been illegally held in concentration camps.

American airmen were among those receiving compensation and the US Air force have acknowledged the Buchenwald airmen with an exhibit at the Air Force Museum, albeit the airmen are shown in uniform rather than in civilian attire. Furthermore, there is no mention of decades-long denial of their experiences by other branches of the government.

Fg Off. Frank Salt was transferred to the east compound of Stalag Luft 3 over the period 15th to 20th October 1944.

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. The PoW’s were informed of the evacuation, which was on foot, at about 22:00 hrs the same night and were given 30 mins to pack and prepare everything for the March. The weather conditions were very difficult, with freezing temperatures, and it was snowing accompanied by strong winds. There was 15 cm (6 in) of snow and 2000 PoWs were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main groups.

After a 55 km (34 mls) march, the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 26 km (16 mls) to Spremberg where they were housed in empty garages, storerooms and in military barracks. There they were provided with warm soup and bread.

During next days, PoWs were divided up according to Compounds, and they were led to railway sidings and loaded into tightly packed carriages. Fg Off. Frank Salt was amongst the PoWs that were sent to Stalag 3A, Luckenwalde arriving there in early February.

On the 22nd April 1945 as the Russians approached the camp the guards fled leaving the prisoners to be liberated by the Red Army. Stalag 3A was turned over to the Americans on the 6th May at which time the Senior American Officers (SAO) took over the running of the camp until all the PoWs were evacuated.

Frank Salt was born on the 16th March 1917 in Bedfordshire. He passed away in the 2nd Qtr of 1999 in Yorkshire.

(4) Flt Lt. Hall evaded until the 12th July 1944 and was captured 16 km (10 mls) south of Caen. After the statutory visit to Dulag Luft, Oberursel before being transferred in August 1944 to Stalag Luft 3 (Belaria), Sagan-Silesia.

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. The PoW’s were informed of the evacuation, which was on foot, at about 22:00 hrs the same night and were given 30 mins to pack and prepare everything for the March. The weather conditions were very difficult, with freezing temperatures, and it was snowing accompanied by strong winds. There was 15 cm (6 in) of snow and 2000 PoWs were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main groups.

After a 55 km (34 mls) march, the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 26 km (16 mls) to Spremberg where they were housed in empty garages, storerooms and in military barracks. There they were provided with warm soup and bread.

During next days, PoWs were divided up according to Compounds, and they were led to railway sidings and loaded into tightly packed carriages. Flt Lt. Hall was amongst the PoWs that were sent to Stalag 3A, Luckenwalde arriving there in early February.

On the 22nd April 1945 as the Russians approached the camp the guards fled leaving the prisoners to be liberated by the Red Army. Stalag 3A was turned over to the Americans on the 6th May at which time the Senior American Officers (SAO) took over the running of the camp until all the PoWs were evacuated.

David Roteley Hall was born on the 23rd May 1920. He was a Town Planner and Surveyor in London prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 28th August 1939. He passed away on the 26th October 1977 in Portugal.

(5) The Escape and Evasion report for Fg Off. Moorhead is not currently available. It appears that he remained hidden in France until liberated by Allied forces. He was interviewed on the 1st September 1944.

Patrick Moorhead was born on the 28th May 1914 in Chiswick, Middlesex. He passed away in the 3rd Qtr of 1994 in the New Forest, Hampshire, England.

Burial details:

Above: The only 4 Commonwealth graves in the Emance Communal Cemetery. Left to right: Fg Off. Francis E. O’Connell, Flt Lt. John G. Cooke, Flt Lt. Frank D. Round DFM, Sqn Ldr. George G. Lambert DFC (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC))

Sqn Ldr. George Frank Lambert DFC. Emance Communal Cemetery Grave 4. Grave inscription: ‘PROUDLY REMEMBERED BY HIS LOVING FATHER, WIFE AND TWO SONS. "IN GOD'S CARE"’. Son of George William and Florence (née Pilgrim) Lambert. Husband of Sarah Jane (née Bingham) Lambert of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Flt Lt. Frank Desmond Round DFM. Emance Communal Cemetery Grave 3. Grave inscription: ‘SON OF F. AND C. ROUND, HUSBAND OF FRANCES. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"’. Son of Frank Joseph and Caroline Ann (née Cooper) Round. Husband of Frances Ellen Round of Highworth, Wiltshire, England.

The DFM was awarded to 522525 Sgt. Round whilst with 84 Sqn. London Gazette 22nd August 1941.

Flt Lt. John Grant Cooke. Emance Communal Cemetery Grave 2. Grave inscription: ‘THE GREATEST POSSESSION, KINDNESS, WAS YOURS. MY HEART IS BURIED WITH YOU’. Son of Walter and Rose Grant Cooke. Husband of Marie Adelaide Cooke of Oxford, England.

Fg Off. Francis Emanuel O'Connell. Emance Communal Cemetery Grave 1. Grave inscription: ‘REQUIESCANT IN PACE. AMEN. EVER REMEMBERED’. Born on the 6th March 1922 in West Maitland, New South Wales. Son of Francis Vincent and Vida Margaret O'Connell of Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Jun 2024).

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