Hello,

Just updating this thread to ask if anyone has information.

Cheers,

Fox.

The big question is – where is the rest of it?

The wreck of the aircraft was taken away by the Germans, but I do not know where they took it. However, it is known that the aircraft was totally ‘split’ after the crash, and lots of pieces were blown away far from the place it hit the ground.

Gilbert Coons (Possibly L.G.?, but my father has no recollection of knowing him by any other names than Gilbert or ‘Gib’) who at some point in late ’43 was, according to Willis’ obit “doing pilot duty out of Algiers” I don’t know whether this ‘gibes’ with 401’s operations at the time.

Hello,

1) I have come to consider that Gilbert Coons could be the ‘right’ one. In his memoirs, Lucky Thirteen, Hugh Constant Godefroy says: ‘Another 190 was trying to get on Gib Coons, my No.2’s tail.’ (speaking of a mission led by 401 Squadron on 17 January 1943)

Would you have any more information related to Gilbert Coons? He was a Flying Officer at that time, not a Pilot Officer as I thought.

2) I’m also missing the service number of the following airmen: S/P John A. Chapin (Brantford, Ont.); S/P Paul K. Gray (Toronto, Ont.); S/P Cyril B. Cohen (Saskatchewan); F/S Frank B. Evans (Ontario).

Thank you,

Fox.

It seems to be correct.

The remains of the pilot were extracted on Thursday.

They first tried to extract the aircraft (a Spitfire LF IX) on Friday, and finally did it on Saturday.

The pilot was from 453 (RAAF) Squadron. He was hit by Flak above Troarn on 11 June 1944 and force-landed on the sea, in the area of Sallenelles.

The pilot, F/L W.L. Smith, 24 years old, tried to escape from the sinking aircraft, but couldn’t make it.

The video corresponds to the article dated Friday 5 November: http://info.francetelevisions.fr/?id-categorie=REPORTAGES_CULTURE

Hit the link, then wait for loading and watch the top right video reading: “Normandie : un Spitfire renfloué à Sallenelles”.

We still do not know if the wreck has been extracted or not. They said they were able to extract the remains of the pilots – he would be an Australian pilot shot down in 1944 who force-landed on the sea.

They also recovered a plaque with the serial number of the Spit, that looks like a Mk IX.

Keeping posting,

Fox.

Thanks a lot.

S/L Hodson flew BS172, but his main aircraft was BS383 (5 times.)
Chapin flew BS196, BR263, W3839, BS383 (twice,) EN858 (3 times,) BS183 (9 times.)
Godefroy flew BS534, BS183, EN129, BR630, AD231 (twice,) EN130 (7 times.)
Sorry, like most Squadrons, 401 registered the serials, but not the code letters.
Edgar

Could you tell the serial of the a/c flown by these pilots on January 15th, 1943? That would be a great help for me.