115 Squadron

8 June 1944

Lancaster Mk I - HK552 KO-J

T/O Witchford 0037 - target Chevreuse, France.
Shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Montchauvet 9 Km SSW of Mantes-la-Jolie.

The target was a major road bridge in Paris between Massy and Palaiseau.
Its destruction would seriously hamper the movement of reinforcements to the invasion Front.
To avoid loss of French cicilian life orders were to wait for the Master Bomber to verify that the markers were correct before bombing took place.
There was thick ground haze and the Master Bomber went u/s.
The deputy took some time to get it all together and in the meantime the force of 337 bombers sent to various targets around Paris waited.
It was a clear night and the night fighters descended.

Source: 115 Squadron Roll of Honour by D. Bruce, W. R. Chorley, J. G. J. de Haan.

337 aircraft - 195 Halifaxes, 122 Lancasters, 20 Mosquitos.

Attacks railway targets at Achères, Juvisy, Massey Palaiseau and Versailles. Bombing conditions were better than on the previous night.
All targets were accurately bombed and, although no details are available, it is probable that fewer civilians were killed.
The targets were mostly more distant from the battle front than those recently attacked and German night fighters had more
time to intercept the bomber forces.

17 Lancasters and 11 Halifaxes were lost, 8.3 per cent of the forces involved.

Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk - Bomber Command - Campaign Diary June 1944.

ORB 8th June 1944.
18 aircraft were detailed to attack CHEVREUSE and all took off between 00.20 hours and 00.40 hours.
6 aircraft -
H.ND.790 (Captain P/O. S. FRANCIS), Lancaster Mk III ND790 KO-H, 7 KIA
J.HK.552 (Captain P/O. J. TODD),
W.HK.548 (Captain P/O. E. A. LAW), Lancaster Mk I HK548, KO-W, 2 KIA, 5 EVA
C.ND.761 (Captain F/L. P. W. NORBURY), Lancaster Mk III ND761 A4-C, 7 KIA
H.LL.864 (Captain P/O. MAUDE) Lancaster Mk I LL864, A4-H2, 7 KIA &
K.ND.760 (Captain P/O. C. H. QUINTON), Lancaster Mk III ND760 A4-K, 7 KIA
failed to return from Operations and no news was received from them.
The remainder identified the target by means of red & green indicator markers on which they dropped their bombs from heights
ranging between 4,000 feet & 6,500 feet.
All the bombs bursts appeared to be concentrated around markers. Many combats were seen. Photographs attempted

04.03. 12 aircraft had returned safely to Base after Operations.

HK552 L. to R.;

Sgt Blench Arthur
Sgt Morgan Frederick
Sgt Stallwood Ralph
Sgt Scrivens Victor
P/O Todd John
F/O Tarlton Roger
F/Sgt Bamford Tom

During this fatal operation, Sgt Blench's replacement was Sgt Mount Albert, he survived the war.

Source: CWGC - photo by Sylvia Nicholson (nee Bamford) , thanks.

Todd John Edward - Pilot

P/O - Service No 418889

Age: 28

RAAF

Son of Edward and Mary Todd, of West Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
Certificate of Merit from Royal Humane Society of Australasia.

Montchauvet Communal Cemetery, Departement Seine-et-Oise - collective grave

Source: CWGC - photo by Sylvia Nicholson (nee Bamford) - In Memories - Headstones via francecrashes39-45.net, by C. Dannau - Find a Grave.

Mount Albert George Edward - FE

Sgt - Service No 1891923

Age: 19

RAFVR

Son of Edward A. Mount and Gladys E. Mount, of Sittingbourne Kent.

Montchauvet Communal Cemetery, Departement Seine-et-Oise - collective grave

Source: CWGC - photo by Sylvia Nicholson (nee Bamford) - Find a Grave.

Tarlton A. R. - Nav

F/O - Service No 152311

Age: - captured in Paris June 1944 with Horler from 466 Squadron - POW No

RAFVR

Son of

Source:

Stallwood Ralph - WOP

Sgt - Service No 1399911

Age: 22

RAFVR

Son of Fredrick Edwart Stallwood and Martha Amelia Stallwood, of Willesden, Middlesex.

Montchauvet Communal Cemetery, Departement Seine-et-Oise - collective grave.

His brother Frederick also died on service. 25 February 1941, age 24 - Ordinary Coder, Service No C/JX 213893, H.M.S. Exmoor - Chatham Naval Memorial - panel 46. 2.

Source: CWGC - photo In Memories - Find a Grave.