Lancaster shot down near Pommerval on 25 June 1944.

Cheers guys. Kev, that’s the one. I was talking to Mr Knaggs today on the phone. There is a memorial at Bully, two of the crew and Balbo Roelandt from 609 are on it. They were hit by flak. He and one other were the only ones to get out. He was on the run alone for 6 nights, then went into the vare of the resistance. Went to Paris courtesy of the Germans – the resistance got him on a truck as a Todt Organisation worker! Stayed there until the Allies caught up.

“Bully is nearest village to target when we were shot down and I was fortunate to spend next three months as an evader.”

He wrote a book which was privately published, I’ll post details soon in case anyone wants a copy. The two gunners were initially interred at Bully before being moved to Rouen.

Kev,

Tony Woods site can be found at http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm

Geoff.

I have the same book but there are around fifty claims so need a better location to narrow it down.

R4egards,

kev35

Kev I have a Night Fighters Claims book at home, but won’t be able to look until tomorrow. I’m on the lash tonight.

Mark.

Do you have any better idea of the location of the crash? Might help sort out who brought it down.

Does anyone have an address for Tony Woods excellent Luftwaffe Claims site? The only link I have took me to somewhere I really didn’t want to go….

Any help appreciated.

Regards,

kev35

According to BCL for 1944 you have four possible victims. Two from 44 Sqdn., one from 49 and one from 106. From your description it seems this is the most likely.

Lancaster I LL975 ZN-H 106 Squadron.

The aircraft was tasked to bomb a V1 launch site (No-Ball?) and took off from Metheringham at 22’25.

Crew were….

P/O S M Wright RAAF
Sgt. W S McPhail (evaded)
F/Sgt. H McP Smith
Sgt. W R Knaggs (evaded)
F/Sgt. L J McGregor RAAF
Sgt. A T Clarke
F/Sgt. W Beutel RAAF

Those who died are interred in the cemetery extension at St Sever, Rouen.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35