Operation: Seine pontoon bridges at Le Manoir

Date: 11th June 1940 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 142 Squadron (motto: 'Determination') (1)

Type: Fairy Battle I (2)

Serial: L5200

Code: WT-?

Base: Villiersfaux, France

Location: Bouafles, France

Pilot: Sgt. Basil William Peryman 36205 RAF Age 20. PoW No: 413 Camp Stalag Luft Sagan *

Os: Sgt. Jack Nairn Fraser 581049 RAF Age 19. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Henshall Ledson 615842 RAF Age 21. Killed

* Initially 9A/H - Spangenburg bei Kassel

REASON FOR LOSS:

The aircraft departed from Villiersfaux on an operational mission. During an engagement involving the pontoon bridges over the Seine at Le Manoir, the aircraft was intercepted and shot down by anti-aircraft fire (Flak) at Bouafles, near Les Andelys (Eure), south of Rouen.

Of the three crew members on board, two were killed in action. The third crew membemr, the pilot was blown out of the cockpit and successfully bailed out but descended into enemy-held territory, where he was subsequently captured and detained as a Prisoner of War.

Burial and other details:

Sgt. Basil William Peryman. (shown left and in PoW image below) Born on 13th December 1920 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His Short-service Commission in the Royal Air Force expire'd on 16th August, 1944, granted a temporary commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant, with seniority as from 3rd September, 1941. Dated 17th August,1944. (NZ/2462) Son of Henry William Peryman (died 1973, age 89) and Sarah Frances Peryman (née Chamberlain, married in 1911 - died 1957, age 68). Husband of Barbara Helen Peryman (née Gudgeon, married 1947 - died 2014, age 93)

Sgt. Jack Nairn Fraser. St. Sever Cemetery Extension. Block 'S' Plot 4. Row T. Joint grave 9. Son of Nairn and Mabel Annie Fraser, of Hempnall, Norfolk, England. Epitaph: Never Absent, Ever Near. "One Of The Few"

Sgt. James Henshall Ledson. St. Sever Cemetery Extension. Block 'S' Plot 4. Row T. Joint grave 9. Son of James Henshall Ledson and Elizabeth Ledson of Huyton, Lancashire, England. Epitaph: 'Beloved Only Son Of James Henshall And Elizabeth Ledson, Huyton, Lanc, England'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to National Archives Kew, New Zealand Cenotaph, New Zealand Aviation

Above Stalag Luft Sagan with the then P/O. Perryman as 2 - others as described below.

1

P/O. (Fl/Lt) Retired as Fl/Lt George Maurice Baird 42094 RAF Pow No: 61 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 248 Squadron (Coastal Command) flying Blenheim IV P6952 WR-X out of RAF Sumburgh, Shetland Islands. Sunday 20 October 1940 at 07:25 hrs for a reconnaissance off the south-west coast of Norway. After engaging and damaging a Dornier Do18 of 1./KuFlGr.406 the Blenheim was attacked by Bf109's of JG77. His observer 20 year old, Sgt Richard Copcutt 581146 RAF from Whetstone, Middlesex was listed as missing believed killed. The two wireless operators / air gunners, 23 year old Sgt. Douglas Lawrence Burton NZ40187 RNZAF from Opunake, New Zealand (PoW No: 55544) and 20 y3qr old, Sgt Stanley Victor Wood f 649800 RAF rom Bury, Lancashire (PoW No: 69103) survived with the pilot survived after climbing into their rescue dingy. They were later picked up by He59 BV+HH of Seenotflugkdo.5 and landed at Stavanger. They spent the rest of the war as prisoners. ( Fl/Lt George Baird passed away on the 01st May 2008, age 94)
(Further details available)

2

P/O.(Fl/Lt.) Basil William Peryman 36205 PoW No: 413 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 142 Squadron (Bomber Command) Fairet Battle I L5200 out of Villiersfaux, France Tuesday 11th June 1940. On an operation to attack pontoon bridges over the Seine at Le Manoir. six aircraft from 142 squadron the aircraft was hit by 20mm AA fire from 2./Flakabteilung 37, The pilot was thrown out by the blast at 1000 ft and although injured with burns landed safely by parachute and was captured. The other two crew were killed after the aircraft crashed in flames in woodland. They were 21 year old, Sgt. James Henshall Ledson 615842 RAF from James Henshall Ledson and 19 year old Sgt.
(Further details available)

3

Fl/Lt. Robert Garth Stark NZ40631 PoW No: 414. Stalag Luft Sagan Whilst flying with 75 Squadron (Bomber Command) Wellington ICR3211 AA-J out of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.Sunday/Monday 29/30th December 1940 . Aircraft ran out of fuel due to strong head headwind and made a forced landing at 02:25 hrs. Pilot's, Fl/Lt Henry Daniel Newman RAF 37584 Pow No. 4509 and P/O. Sgt. Jack Middleton Garrett NZ/40631 RNZAF PoW No. 414, Welles operator / air gunner Sgt. Sidney Laurence Spittle 968421 RAF PoW No. 447, air gunner's Sgt. Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF Pow No. 447 and Sgt. David Garrick Branscombe Protheroe NZ//401231 RNZAF PoW No. 446 all survived the war. (Fl/Lt. Robert Stark passed away on the 08th October 1999, age 83 MBE. Bronze Star-USA)
(Further details available)

4

Fl/Lt. Arthur Vicary Hunter NZ/40723 RNZAF PoW No: 467. Stalag Luft Sagan. 217 Squadron (Coastal Command) Beaufort I N1173 MW-E out of St. Eval, Cornwall on a Reconnaissance patrol. S12th February 1941 at 11L:15hrs . Sot down by enemy flak near the German-occupied naval base at Brest. One of the pilots. F/O. John Hexley Wybrants 79689 RAF was killed, the remaining four were picked up by the Germans and made PoW. Two wireless operator air gunners P/O Louis Brull Barry, 78668 RAF PoW No. 407 and Sgt Geoffrey Dean Holiday. 627394 RAF POW Number 432 and the observer Sgt Peter Henry Clarke, 745759 RAFPOW No. 490, (note; some records incor rectly have F/O. Wybrants middle name as Hetley, and that it was a four man crew) (Fl/Lt. Arthur hunter passed away on the 11th May 2008, age 90 MiD)
(Further details available)

5

F/0. (Fl.Lt.) Eric Neil Baker 41641 RAF PoW No: 463 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst flying with 419 Flight Whitley V T4264 out of RAF Stradishall, Suffolk Monday/Tuesday 17/18th February 1941 1:15 hrs. A Lysander pilot but flying as an air gunner to familiarise the route. On return aircraft hit by flak and forced landed. All six crew survived and taken prisoner Pilote s Sq/Ldr. Francis John Baptist Keast DFC. 28090 RAF PoW No: 468, F/O. Kenneth Stanley McMurdie 43832 RAF PoW No: 474, Observer Sgt Archibald John Cameron 517909 RAFVR PoW No: 488, Air Bomber Sgt David Harold Bernard 966856 RAFVR PoW No: 481 and another Air Gunner gt Davud Waldo Davies 904254 RAFVR PoW No: 493. (F/0. Eric Neil Baker passed away on the 05th May 2008 age 93)(Further details available)

6

F/O. (Fl/Lt.) Herbert Douglas Newman 37584 RAF (later RNZAF) PoW No. 4509 Stalag Luft Sagan. Whilst with 75 Squadron (Bomber Command). Flying Wellington IC R3211 AA-J out of RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk. Sunday/Monday 29/30th December 1940 02:25 hrs. During the return trip encounter strong headwinds. All six crew survived as PoW: 2nd pilot, Sgt. Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF PoW No. 429 observer Sgt. Sergeant Robert Garth Stark Sergeant Robert Garth Stark NZ/40631 PoW] 597, wireless operator air gunners, Sgt. Sidney Laurence Spittle 968421 RAF PoW No. 447 and Sgt, Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAF PoW No. 429, air gunner Sgt. David Garrick Branscombe Protheroe NZ//401231 RNZAF PoW No. 446. (F/O. Herbert Newman passed away in April 1996, age 77)
(Further details available)

7

P/O. (Fl/Lt.) Michael Cyril Wallace Ormond (pre commission 907903) 88465 RAF NZ//2387 RNZAF PoW No. 39327 610 Squadron. Flying Spitfire IIa P7752 DWW-E. Three others from the squadron were lost; 21 year old P/O. Nigel George Drever 42205 RAF PoW No. 451. (survived the war, passed away on the 10th September 1964, age just 43) Flying Spitfire Ia P8027. Sgt. Sgt. Samuel Hamer 758049 RAFVR killed flying Spitfire IIa P7501 DW-O. 22 year old P/O. Raymond Edwin Owen 88466 RAF Spitfire P7752 DW-N missing - believed killed (PO. Michael Ormond passed away on the 10th Sept 1964 in Fife, Scotland, age 43)
(Further details available)

8

F/O (W/Cdr) Cecil Dunn “Snowy” Milne PoW No: 412 Sagan 57 Squadron (1936), 212 Squadron PDU (later PRU); 617 Sqn (1947). Flying Spitfire PR.III N3071 shot down on the 25th April 1940 at Esslingen near Stuttgart. Captured by Ger9man forces and made PoW. Son of William and Catherine Milnen Death: August 15, 1983, in New Zealand). W/Cdr. Cecil Milne DFC. passed away on the 15th August 1983, age 67 DFC)
(Further details available)

9

Sgt. (W/O.) Albert Geroge Murray Coulam PoW No: 42719 Sagan. NZ/413286 RNZAF, 35 Squadron. Halifax II W7851 on an operation to Nurnberg on the 09th March 1943, taking off at 00:30 hrs. Shot down by Oblt. Ludwig Meister of the Stab I/NJG 4, flying Bf 110 F-4 3C+MB from Laon-Athies airfield. Pilot, F/O. John Hilton Brown RAFVR 109028 (NCO:1066452) killed. Fl/Eng. Fl/Sgt. Alan Tacey RAF 1057600 PoW No: 27744, Navigator Sq/Ldr. Gomer Donald Waterer RAF 77214 (NCO:749414 : Commission Gazetted Tuesday 06 February, 1940) PoW No: 937, Air/bmr. Albert Geroge Coulam, W/Op/Air/Gnr. Fl/Sgt. David Aitken Sibbald DFM RNZAF NZ/411102 evaded capture, Air/Gnr. Fl/Sgt. Patrick Flynn RAFVR 1174414 killed, Air/Gnr. Stanley Seymour Vinicombe NZ/413286 RNZAF killed. (Albert Coulam passed away on the 17th August 1999, age 82)
(Further details available)

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