Operation: Ecques, Coubronne, Pas-de-Calais, France

Date: 23rd/24th June 1944 (Friday/Saturday)

Unit No: 156 Squadron, 8 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Lancaster III

Serial: JB230

Code: GT:S

Base: RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire

Location: Zuytpeene, Nord France

Pilot: Plt Off. Denis Langford DFC. 171907 RAFVR Age 21. MiA

Flt Eng: Flt Lt. Robert Edward Manvell DFC, DFM. 51737 RAF Age 24. KiA (1)

Nav: WO1. Henry William Davy DFC. R107107 RCAF Age 22. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. John Eric Price 1339561 RAFVR Age 23. PoW No: 279 * (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Fred Urch 1382396 RAFVR Age 28. KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp) Flt Sgt. Edward Bonsor Riley 1815835 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Flt Sgt. George Arthur Wilby 1590994 RAFVR Age? KiA

* Stalag Luft 7, Bankau nr. Kreuzburg, Oberschlesien, Upper Silesia.

Relatives of the pilot contacted us in April 2016 and would very much like to make contact with relatives of Flt Sgt. John E. Price - please contact us in the first instance.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from RAF Upwood at 23:54hrs on a bombing raid of the V1 site in the village of Ecques, Coubronne, France. Nothing was heard from this aircraft after take-off.

In total 412 aircraft took part in this operation to attack 4 flying bomb sites. 226 Lancasters, 164 Halifaxes, 22 Mosquitoes of Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. All sites were hit, but with a loss of 5 Lancasters

V1 ramp at Coubronne Reconstruction of a V1 ramp and detailed description of a flying bomb, France

JB230 was claimed by Ofw. Herbert Altner, his 13th Abschuss, from 8./NJG5, SE of Calais at 2,500m at 01:11hrs. Also claimed by Flak of 1./gem Flak Abt 651 (o) (“Lancaster Zuytpeene 00:26). Flak claim marked VNE by OKL and probably rejected. Victory for Ofw Altner was confirmed on 18th October 1944.(Nachtjagd Combat Archive (12 May 1944 - 23 July 1944) Part 3 - Theo Boiten)

(1) While serving with 97 Sqn Sgt. Manvell was awarded the DFM. (London Gazette 14th May 1943). Acting Flt Lt. Manvell was awarded the DFC while serving with 156 Sqn. (London Gazette 6th June 1944).

Above: Flt Lt. Manvell outside of Buckingham Palace prior to be awarded the DFC (Courtesy of Robert Maughan)

(2) Flt Sgt. Price was the only one of the crew that successfully baled out. He evaded for capture for two (2) days but was captured near St. Omer on the 24th June 1944

He was appointed to a commission and promoted to 177570 Plt Off. effective 13th June 1944 (London Gazette 21st July 1944).

After the statutory transfer to and interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag Luft 7, Bankau arriving there on the 10th 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 Oderon the 21st January, reached Goldberg on 5th February, and were loaded onto a train.vvOn the 8th February they reached Stalag 3A, located about 52 km (32 mls) south of Berlinnear Luckenwalde, which already held 20,000 prisoners, consisting mainly of soldiers from Britain, Canada, the US and Russia.

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. Plt Off. Price was interviewed on the 7th May 1945.

John Eric Price was born on the 4th August 1920 in Butleigh, Somerset. He was a farmer prior to enlisting in the RAFVR on the 31st July 1941. John passed away on the 14th May 2006 in Exeter, Devon, England.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Denis Langford DFC. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 211. Born in the 1st Qtr of 1923 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Son of Albert Charles and Daisy Rhoda (née Gisborne) Langford of Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

His DFC was awarded posthumously. (London Gazette 25th January 1946).

Denis is remembered on the War Memorial plaque in the old Northern Grammar School, Portsmouth, now Mayfield School.

Above: Memorial plaque in Mayfield School, Portsmouth

Zuytpeene Churchyard 2nd and 3rd rows

Flt Lt. Robert Edward Manvell DFC, DFM. Zuytpeene Churchyard, Nord, France. Row C. Grave 1. Grave Inscription: “HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. OUR GREATEST TREASURE IS OUR MEMORY OF HIM”. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1920 in Bromley, Greater London. Son of Albert Edward and Alice Elizabeth (née Bellamy) Manvell of New Eltham, London, England.

WO1. Henry William Davy DFC. Zuytpeene Churchyard, Nord, France. Row C. Grave 4. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”. Born on the 23rd October 1921 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Son of Henry William and Louise Agnes (née Vickers) Davy of Bend, Oregon, USA.

WO1. Davy was awarded the DFC while serving with 156 Sqn. (London Gazette 30th June 1944).

Davy Lake in Canada was named after WO1. Henry William Davy DFC.

Flt Sgt. Fred Urch. Zuytpeene Churchyard, Nord, France. Row D. Grave 1. Grave Inscription: “THY DEED IS DONE”.Born on the 25th July 1915 in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, Wales. Son of William James and Mary Anne (née Davies) Urch of Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Flt Sgt. Edward Bonsor Riley. Zuytpeene Churchyard, Nord, France. Row C. Grave 2. Grave Inscription: “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”. Born in 1924 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Son of Edward Herbert and Elizabeth Riley of Humberstone, Leicester, England.

Flt Sgt. George Arthur Wilby. Zuytpeene Churchyard, Nord, France. Row C. Grave 3. (Note: Although not confirmed the following biographical information is believed to relate to George Arthur Wilby). Born in the 1st Qtr of 1923 in Hemsworth, Yorkshire West Riding. Son of George Joseph and Muriel (née Sellers) Wilby. Husband to Marguerite Milburn (née Greaves) Wilby of Thorne, Yorkshire West Riding, England

Researched by Kate Tame of Aircrew Remembered and for all the relatives of the crew. Acknowledgements: With special thanks to Bill Barry of the Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial and Laurent Bailleul, Pierre Ben Somme Aviation 39-45. Thanks to John Jones for the German fighter claim (Oct 2021). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2021). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered. Thanks to Robert Maughan for the photograph and information for Flt Lt. Manvell (Mar 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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