Operation: Ranger, France

Date: 14th February 1944 (Monday)

Unit No: 174 Squadron (motto: 'Attack'), 121 Airfield/Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon IB

Serial: MM962

Code: XP:?

Base: RAF Westhampnett, Sussex

Location: Percy, France

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. William Winder McConnell DFC & Bar, 81643 RAFVR Age 27. PoW No: 3533 *

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

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 10th January 1941 whilst with 249 squadron flying Hurricane I P3579 he was jumped by an Me109 over the channel and received a bullet wound in the left leg. He managed to turn towards the English coast and baled out near Dover, being picked up by an ASR launch. His Hurricane, P3579, went head-on into the white cliffs.

On the 28th March 1942, joining then the newly-reformed 174 Squadron at Manston as a Flight Commander.

Taking off at 14:00 hrs with eight others led by Wg Cdr. Charles Green on a long range sweep over France.

Group Captain Charles Green DSO DFC died aged 88. He was born in Southern Rhodesia and enlisted as a Pilot in 1938 being posted in November 1940 to 500 squadron Coastal Command at Detling flying Ansons. In early 1941 he was posted to 235 squadron Coastal Command flying Blenheims from Bircham Newton on shipping strikes then posted to 266 (Rhodesia) squadron Kings Cliffe flying Spitfires on sweeps over France. Appointed as CO of the squadron it moved to Duxford in early 1942 with Typhoons where Hugh 'Cocky' Dundas familiarised Green and his crews on this new fighter.

Above: Group Captain Charles Green DSO DFC

In 1943 he became Chief Flying Instructor of 59 Operational Training Unit at Milfield and in January 1944 became Wg Cdr (Flying) of 121 Wing (174 squadron,175 squadron and 245 Squadron) and later 124 Wing (181 squadron, 182 squadron and 247 squadron. Green had always said that the rocket firing capability of the Typhoon was always superior to that of the Hurricane and in August 1944 his squadron caused mayhem with German Panzer Divisions in the Falaise pocket. On Boxing Day 1944 he was forced to bale out and became a POW in Stalag Luft 1 but by early May had returned to the UK.

After farming in Rhodesia he spent some time selling tobacco to Countries in the Far East and eventually retired to Durban in South Africa.

After dropping his auxiliary tanks, there was a fuel leak from the main tanks. Sqn Ldr. McConnell managed to reach the coast but realising he could not get far, he force-landed the Typhoon 3 miles NW of Percy. Captured by the Germans, he was imprisoned in Stalag Luft Sagan.

Sqn Ldr. McConnell was released on the 9th May 1945 and returned to England. As a means of returning to flying, he applied for an instructors course and was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Yatesbury in Wiltshire on 10th October 1945.

He had second thoughts and was released from the RAF on 17th December 1945 as a Sqn Ldr.

On the 1st October 1946 he joined Aer Lingus as a pilot. He served with them for 30 years and did a further year with Zambian Airlines before retiring in 1977.

Above 174 Squadron, RAF Lydd August 1943:

Top Row: Henry Shaw Brown, Fg Off. Frank Edward Wheeler, Fg Off. Basil Francis Proddow, Flt Sgt. Ronald Venning Smith, Flt Sgt. Ernest George Boucher 1332744, Fg Off. John Frederick Cobbett, Fg Off. George Ian Mallet 119337, WO. William Donald Burton R103267 RCAF. Fg Off. Harry Victor Markby, Fg Off. Eric Little, WO. Rowley Boyer, WO. Kenneth Osborne Mitchell, Fg Off. William Donald Craig Montgomry DFC J25972 RCAF, Flt Lt. Stanford Ward Minall J15361 RCAF, Sqn Ldr. McConnell, Flt Lt. Frederick Andros Grantham, Fg Off. Allan R. Black, Flt Lt. Bridges, Plt Off. C.D. O'Callaghan MiD RCAF, Plt Off. Vatcher, Fg Off. Thomas RCAF, Fg Off. Allan R. Black, WO. Wetere.

The following was recorded by Fg Off. Proddow, who was on the same operation;

Immediately after breakfast on 14th February we had received orders to report to the briefing room, where the Rhodesian Wing-Commander who was to lead the operation, carefully gave us our instructions. We were to be fighters on this trip, temporarily forsaking our more usual role of fighter-bomber. The operation was to consist of a long-range sweep into the heart of German ­occupied France

We dashed out to our powerful, Sabre-engined Typhoons and climbed in, fixing the parachute harness and the cockpit straps, plugging in the radio and connecting the rubber tubing of the oxygen mask. Under each wing, in place of the bombs which we usually carried against Hitler's advanced aerodromes and V-bomb sites, a sausage-shaped auxiliary fuel-tank hung.

The Wing-Commander's engine coughed into life. This was the signal for the rest of us to "press tits" and fifteen engines started almost simultaneously. But as we taxied out for the take-off a Flight-Sergeant appeared from the dispersal hut waving his arms. The take-off had been postponed. The weather had clamped down.

Above 174 Squadron, RAF Gravesend June 1943:

WO. Wetere, Fg Off. Thomas, Sgt. Mitchell, Sgt. Boucher, WO. Vatcher, Flt Sgt. O’Calaghan, Flt Lt. Sterne DFC, Wg Cdr Wilkinson DSO, DFM and Bar, Fg Off. Black, Flt Lt. Minall, Fg Off. Bridges, Sgt. Burton, Fg Off. Montgomery.

WO. James Himiona Wetere 404975 RNZAF

Fg Off. George Alfred Murray Thomas RCAF

Posted overseas.
Notified in the 174 Sqn ORB 7th July 1943.Survived the war

Sgt. Thomas ‘Tommy’ Mitchell RCAF

Promoted to WO2. 174 Sqn ORB with effect 27th February 1943.
No further information found

Sgt. Ernest George Boucher 1332744 RAF

Crashed on take-off on the 8th March 1942 in Hurricane XP:Y - Unhurt.
Flt Sgt. Ernest George Boucher 1332744 RAF. 5th October 1943, Typhoon JP547 XP:?, Glycol leak due to Flak, force landed near Montreuil – Evader.
WO. Boucher was appointed to a commission and promoted to 174408 Plt Off. with effect 5th March 1944 (London Gazette 16th May 1944).
Plt Off. Ernest George Boucher 174408 RAF. 5th August 1944,Typhoon JP500, XP:V. Hit by Flak and baled out NE of Conden – Died of his injuries

WO. Walter Cyril Vatcher MiD, 798550 RAFVR.

Flt Sgt. C.D. O’Callaghan MiD RCAF

Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) notified in ORB on the 6th February 1943.
Appointed to a commission notified in the ORB 13th March1943.
On a Ramrod in the AM of the 19th August 1943 the engine of his Typhoon IB JP550 cut. Baled out 8 mls off Le Touquet and was in his dinghy or 6½ hrs before being picked up by a Walrus of Air Sea Rescue.
No further information found

Flt Lt. John ‘Johnnie’ Rutherford Sterne DFC, J5831 RCAF.

Wg Cdr. Royce Clifford Wilkinson OBE(M), DFM and Bar, RAF.

As a Sgt. with 3 Sqn he awarded the DFM. Citation reads: "564450 Sergeant Royce Clifford WILKINSON. This airman pilot has shot down five enemy aircraft and has displayed a very fine offensive spirit, coupled with a sense of resolute leadership". (London Gazette 31st May 1940).
Awarded the Bar to his DFM whilst with 3 Sqn. Citation reads: "564450 Sergeant Royce Clifford WILKINSON, D.F.M. This airman pilot has led his flight on several occasions and once led the whole squadron on an offensive patrol, during which they not only brought down a number of enemy aircraft but returned without loss. He also led an attack on an enemy motor transport column, blowing up an ammunition lorry and setting two petrol tankers on fire, in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. He has recently shot down four enemy aircraft bringing his total to nine, and has at all times displayed courage and good leadership". (London Gazette 31st May 1940).
Appointed to a commission and promoted to 44125 Plt Off. (London Gazette 30th July 1940).
Appointment to the OBE(M) (London Gazette 6th October 1942).On the 6th January 1959 he relinquished his commission and retained the rank of Wg Cdr.

Fg Off. Allan R. Black (Malaya)

Fg Off. A.R. Black: injured; Hurricane IIB BE693, 174 Squadron;
Lt. J.P. Goodson (USAAF): uninjured; Thunderbolt P-47C #41-6188, 8th American Fighter Command, collision on runway, RAF Odiham, Hampshire, 30th December 1942.
No further information found

Flt Lt. Stanford ‘Stan’ Ward Minall J15361 RCAF.

Survived the war

Fg Off. George Moncrieff Bridges 66494 RAFVR (British Guiana).

Pranged his Typhoon – Collapsed undercarriage 25th April 1943 – Uninjured.
Survived the war

Sgt. William Donald Burton R103267 RCAF.

Appointed to a commission and promoted to J18959 Plt Off.
Awarded the DFC whilst with 439 Sqn, RCAF (London Gazette 29th December 1944).
Retired from the RCAF on the 13th September 1945.

Fg Off. William Donald Craig Montgomery DFC, J25972 RCAF.

Awarded the DFC whilst with 174 Sqn. Citation reads: "This officer has led his flight with great skill and resolution in many attacks on a variety of targets, including airfields, construction works and gun positions. He has displayed the greatest determination in pressing home his attacks and his gallant example has been most inspiring". (London Gazette 7th November 1944).
No further information found

Above Plt Off. Basil Francis Ploddow

We had been airborne about an hour, and so far there appeared to be no enemy reaction. We swung on to a new course, hoping to surprise some unsuspecting German aircraft in the vicinity of Tours. Meanwhile, we had to jettison our fuel-tanks, which were nearly empty. I switched over to 'Main Tanks,' then pulled the lever marked 'Jettison' and my tanks were released. I knew they had dropped as I could no longer see the markers behind the trailing edge of the wings. As I did so, I noticed that one of the aircraft ahead of me was having trouble with its starboard tank, but it came away suddenly and fell spinning downward.

An instant later my engine spluttered and stopped - I knew what that must mean, an airlock in the petrol system. I pushed frantically on the petrol booster-pump, but there was no pressure.

Nothing else for it but to look for a field - that big green field to starboard - not much height to manoeuvre, but just enough to make a turn without losing too much airspeed; then down, under­carriage still retracted, towards that welcome patch of green. The end of the field seemed to rush up towards me - this was it - I pulled back on the stick - then I felt the belly of the aircraft touch the ground, tearing its way to a standstill in a cloud of dust.

(See here for what happened to Fg Off. Proddow)

Other details:

Above: Sqn Ldr. William Winder McConnell

DFC Citation awarded on the 30th June 1942:

'Flight Lieutenant McConnell has completed a large number of operational sorties both by day and night and has shared in the destruction of two enemy bombers. He was appointed flight commander in March, 1942, and has since led his flight and on occasions the squadron, in many successful bombing operations. These have included both high and low level attacks against aerodromes and factories and against enemy shipping at night. Despite intense opposition, Flight Lieutenant McConnell has displayed fine leadership and determination which have contributed largely to the successes achieved by his squadron. He has proved himself an excellent flight commander and has set a fine example'.

Bar to DFC awarded on the 22nd September 1942:

'Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Squadron Leader McConnell has led his squadron in a number of successful offensive operations which have included attacks against enemy shipping, docks and aerodromes. He also participated with distinction in the combined operations at Dieppe on eight August, 1942. Squadron Leader McConnell has consistently displayed gallantry and devotion to duty of a high order, whilst his leadership has been an example to others'.

Researched with the assistance of Julian Proddow, son of Fg Off. Proddow, and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, also to the National Archives Kew AIR- 27-1109-3/4 (Aug 2025). Updated photograph identifications and organisation (Jun 2026)

Other sources listed below:

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