I am researching the crash of the above aircraft. At least two members of the crew survived, one was later killed by a German SS Division while fighting with the US 507th PIR. The other got back to the UK in July 1943.
The flight was one of 16 from 106 Squadron - RAF Metheringham - tasked with bombing bridges in Caen the day after D-Day - and it would appear it was the only one that didn't get back.
I am researching the only Australian member of the crew Flt Sgt S K Black and would really appreciate any photos of RAF Metheringham from January 1944 onwards. Or any information pertaining to Flt Sgt Black.
I have a photo of most of this crew, including Black, taken whilst at an HCU at Winthorpe, which was given to me by the daughter of Sgt Wigham. 106sqdn,were actually tasked with bombing "Communications" at Coutances on this operation, not Caen, and as Dave has already stated, they lost two aircraft. The War Crime of Graignes, is quite well documented, and can be seen by typing Battle of Graignes, into google.
-- Edited by AW on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 11:02:51 AM
You've undoubtedly seen the Casualty file of F/Sgt Stanley Kevin Black, the Aussie in this crew? If not, it's held at the NAA, www.naa.gov.au and use 418790 to search.
But on the same raid, 106 Sqn did lose another kite. ND680 (ZN-P) was lost with both gunners killed. Of the remaining five, three evaded and two were POW.
AW - I would love to see the photo of this crew, we were in Bayeux on the 6th June and put a poppy cross on Flt Sgt Black's grave and we met two gentlemen from the Australian military attaché whilst we were there. The summer holidays are soon to be upon us and I will be making it a project for my teeneage sons to find the final resting place of the five members of the crew who died with the aircraft. I have a photo of their original grave in the cemetery of St Jean de Daye and I have a copy of the report sent to the air ministry on 11th June 1944 from the Wing Commander of the 106 Squadron stating that they were tasked with bombing bridges in Caen which would explain why they ended up near St Jean de Daye. They were hit by anti-aircraft fire over Lison, because I know of someone whose father worked at the railway yard in Lison and remembers the Germans celebrating that they had shot down a bomber.
I live in Graignes and what troubles me is that Flt Sgt Black is not represented on the memorial they have in the church commemorating the deaths of the US parachutists and there does not appear to be any official memorial to the five members of crew lost with the aircraft. I know they were interred with military honours, I have letters from the investigating team and one from P/O Warren's father confirming this. There was one survivor, Flight Officer Dryllie, his name changes depending upon which report you read- as does the names of the rest of the crew. However, I know that Flt Sgt Black's name is going to be on the new memorial which will be unveiled next year for the 70th anniversary. Flt Sgt Black's part in the battle of Graignes only came to light four or five years ago thanks to our mayor who found a copy of the local newspaper La Manche Libre from 1945 which mentioned Flt Sgt Black.
AW - I am a "civvie" and have no idea what an HCU is!!! Please could you enlighten me? Dave - yes I have been on the excellent austrialian site it has been invaluable.
The rest of the crew were;
PilotPO Merrick WarrenDied 07/06/44 - NavigatorFO John Drylie Survived (Got back to UK 19/7/44) - Bomb AimerFlt Sgt Stanley BlackDied 11/06/44 - Flt Eng.Sgt Corner Died 07/06/44 - Wireless OpSgt Norman RookerDied 07/06/44 - GunnerSgt WighamDied 07/06/44 - Rear GunnerSgt Puckett Died 07/06/44
I was told that Flight Officer Dryllie was still alive, but I haven't got a clue how I would go about finding him.
HCU, Heavy Conversion Unit, where they would have been posted (after completing training at an OTU, Operational Training Unit, probably on twin engine Wellingtons), to convert to 4 engined heavies.
For a copy of the photo, you will have to let me have your email address, but do not post it, you can write on my board, in my profile.
Many thanks to those who have responded...I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet that none of this crew have been recognised by the two communes, so I am making it my mission to "encourage" the mayor of St Jean de Daye to put something up in the memory of the five airmen who lost their lives. They were given a military funeral and the commune managed to find a Union flag and the Tricolor to drape on the coffins and the children of the village planted union flags around their grave. No mean feat given there were germans around at the time. The mayor of Graignes, where Flt Sgt Black was killed, is already on the case and the Americans will be unveiling the new plaque featuring his name next year on the 70th Anniversary.
We must have missed you at Bayeux war Cemetery on June 6, 2013. We were there and I videoed your Poppy Cross at the foot of Flt Sgt S.K. Blacks headstone.
Being an ex RAAF National Serviceman and following our trip to Normandy on June 5 -7, this year I have developed an interest in discovering the circumstances surrounding the deaths of a number of RAAF aircrew, flying with the RAF, all buried together. It was very sobering to see groups of aircrew all lost the same day, obviously shot down/
I took particular interest in Flt Sgt Black and found that he died on June 11, 1944. A search of the Australian records show that he survived his Lancaster NE150 being shot down, only to die along with members of the U.S. 507th PIR at Graignes.
It is of particular interest that many of the American reports of the Graignes Massacre mention that "There was one Army Air Force fighter pilot. None of the surviving vets remembers where the fighter pilot came from nor what happened to him afterwards." Could it be that the "Fighter Pilot" with the Paratroops of the 507th was, in fact, Flt Sgt Black, an RAAF Bomber Crew member of Lancaster NE150?
I have also read the same reports, although a glider pilot and his co-pilot landed in a WACO Glider in the Graignes area and the co-pilot was killed while the other escaped. So the reports may be referring to him. Leave me your email address on my whiteboard via my post name MOL69 and I can keep you "in the loop" with any information I find. I managed to speak to the the two representatives of the Australian Embassy while we were at the cemetary and they are now helping me with my enquires.
Thanks for your response. I would like to provide my contact details but I'm not sure how to post onto your "Whiteboard". Can you please explain how. Thanks.
Great News!! I have been given the go-ahead to create a memorial to the crew of NE150 who died in the early hours of 7th June 1944. Not so good news is the mayor is keen for it to be in place for the 70th anniversary commemorations, which doesn't give me much time!!
I would love to find any relatives of the crew who died. A wonderful ex RAAF serviceman contacted me through this forum and with his help we tracked down the family of Stanley Black; his great-niece is now coming over to France for the re-dedication of a new memorial in Graignes, where he died 70 years ago and which will now feature his name. There will be a big ceremony in Graignes in Manche on Saturday 7th June at 17h00 at the memorial.
I'll keep you posted if there is to be an official unveiling of the memorial in St Jean de Daye ...
anonymous: either you missd the name on the list or they.ve changed the panel since. Today, 1 june 14, i saw the name there which led me to google and find this thread.
