Operation: Shipping

Date: 15th June 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 2 Squadron (motto: 'Hereward – Guardian of the Army')

Type: Mustang

Serial: FD565

Code: OI-?

Base: RAF Gatwick, West Sussex, England

Location: River Seine, Caudebec, France

Pilot: F/O. Douglas Gordon Reich 133108 RAFVR Age 21. PoW No. 4619 Camp: Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 08:40 hrs with F/O, Brodwick (1) lying Mustang I FD502 to attack shipping at Quillebeuf-sur-Seine. The Germans were using these ferries to cross the Seine as all the bridges had by this time been destroyed.

They reported many hits despite coming inset heavy defence flak. During one such attack F/O, Reich was pulling out of his dive when the Mustang struck the water at high speed at Caudebec.

He was in the water supported by his Mae-West for several hours before being picked up unconscious by a French fishing vessel. They handed him over to the Germans who took him to a French cottage hospital to treat his injuries - bruising, concussion and a broken ankle.

After being interrogated in Frankfurt he was sent to Stalag Luft I in July 1944 on Germany's Baltic coast at a small town named Barth, near Stettin where he spent the last 11 months of the war. Conditions in the camp were tough but inmates did receive Red Cross parcels from Britain and the US to stave off starvation. Under captivity, however, he did develop acute appendicitis. A fellow PoW and doctor removed the organ by torchlight during an air raid.

Douglas survived and prisoners learnt about the end of the war by listening to a secret hidden radio in the camp hospital. In May 1945, Stalag Luft I was liberated by the Russians.

On the 13th of May 1945, a fleet of American Flying Fortresses evacuated all RAF personnel. Doug returned to England, transferred to the RAF reserve in 1946 and found employment as a newspaper photo engraver in Manchester. He married Sheila in 1948 and had a son and a daughter. In 1983, he retired and moved to North Wales. Douglas passed away on the 05th April 2010, age 98

1) F/O. Alan Ronan Brodrick 142069 RAFVR in August 1944, this officer from 2 Squadron flying Mustang I FR913 was badly shot up while on a Reconnaissance mission over the continent. He managed to return to his base where he collapsed soon after landing. For this, he was awarded the DSO:

London Gazette No. 36728, Dated 03RD October 1944.

This officer has completed a large number of reconnaissances and his great skill and determination have been proven by the excellent photographs he has secured. In August 1944, he was detailed to reconnoitre an enemy headquarters south of Caen. The target proved to be heavily defended and Flying Officer Brodrick was met by a hail of shells. Defying the barrage he maintained a straight course over the objective. When about to leave the target area the aircraft was hit in several places. The pilot's cockpit was shattered and Flying Officer Brodrick was badly wounded. Undaunted, this brave pilot set course for his base where he made a safe landing. Almost immediately afterwards he fainted through loss of blood. In the successful execution of a vital task, this officer displayed the finest qualities of skill, courage and endurance.

Burial details:

None - both pilots survived the war.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archive. Kew AIR-27-20-11/12, Elizabeth Whyman (Daughter)

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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