Hi I am currently researching the back ground to the capture of two glider pilots the crew of one glider that went astray on D Day. The pilots in question are 6153130 S/Sjt Terence Collins and S/Sjt Hunter who were a part of 'A' Squadron and were flying glider chalk number 87 with a load from 6th A/B Div HQ. The glider was supposed to land on LZ'N' just North of Ranville as part of the third lift in the early hours of D Day. Obviously something went wrong as both were captured and ended up in different Stalags in Germany. Info from Sjt Collins wife and Sjt Hunters obituary state that they fought with the Resistance before being captured in company with two RAF pilots. The farmer and his wife and son were apparently executed on the spot by the Germans. This incident took place in early July 1944. There are no trace of either of the two Sjt's POW reports at the National Archives and apart from them being mentioned as POW's in a number of books I have been able to find any more information on the facts surrounding their capture. Is there anyone who might know any more about the facts relating to their capture out there or who can suggest any different avenues of research. Any help gratefully received. Cheers Arnhem
Hi Arnhem, You might want to write to David Brook editor of The Glider Pilot's Ass Mag The Eagle and tell him the above might take some time but I'm sure you get what your seeking.. His address David Brook Birds Hill Gt. Bealings Woodbridge Suffolk IP13 6NR I hope this helps Cheers Tom
Arnhem, Tom's advice is sound. Your letter would be in the December 'Eagle'. There are some A Sdn pilots still active in the GPRA. Alan Hunter's obit was in the April '93 issue; according to that, he and Terence Collins directed, by French Nazi sympathisers, to a German occupied farmhouse where they were taken prisoner. I haven't been able to find anything about Terence Collins. Steve W.
As far as I can make out the date S/Sjt's Collins and Hunter were captured was the 3rd July 1944 (or therabouts). Any help or ideas welcomed as I have come to a dead end with this. Cheers Arnhem
I was just thinking is it possible that Hunter and Collins were captured at the Vermughen Farm as the date does coincide when the farm was occupied by the Germans. I might be wrong.
Hi Thanks for your help. I'll check it out but I think the GP's were supposed to have been present when the farmer and his family were shot. However this is a possible for the incident in question. Cheers Arnhem
Here is an account by medic Roland Gant of his return visit two years after his drop into Normandy. In it he mentions a meeting with Madame Vermughen who was very much alive at the time (1946?). She tells of what happened to her family and farm. Her husband was never seen again after being taken away by the Germans. Unfortunately it's been mangled somewhat in the transition from the original print article. Return to France - Roland Gant Edit - That page is no longer available?
Arnhem, I was able to find more info about the pilots et al. Hunter and Collins flew glider 84, they were towed by an Albemarle aircraft V.1703 captained by P/O. Fisher of 570 Squadron, they left Harwell as part of the third wave at 01.33. The passengers were part of the Royal Engineers Headquarters; in the glider was: Captain Maynard (CRE's Adjt ) Sgt. Taylor (HQRE) L/Cpl Lawrance (RUR Def ) Spr Beeby (3rd Para Sqn RE) Spr Walker (HQRE) the glider was hit by flak and fell out of the sky, it is not clear where the glider came down. All survived and were made Prisoners of war, Taylor, Lawrence and Beeby were captured on the 6th June 1944 and Walker was captured on the 7th June, unsure of where. Lawrence was wounded and taken to Evreaux Hospital and then a sanatorium in Paris. I hope this helps unable to find anything on Maynard or where they crash landed, there seems to be a few paras captured around the 3rd July, 1944, it would make sense it was near the Vermughen farm.
Brithm Thanks very much for your help. It looks like the incident at the farm is one and the same that S/Sgt Collins was involved in. Can you tell me where the information came from? Cheers Arnhem
Hi Arnhem, How is your research with Hunter and Collins going? The info came from the archives at Kew the file is a missing file; WO 361/504 North West Europe: gliders and aircraft; 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps. What were the articles you read about the pilots? Is there a photo of Collins or Hunter? Brithm
Hi Brithm I do have a photo of Collins but not Hunter. The info I have came from Alan Hunters obit and some notes made by an unknown person on Collins service history. I will have a look at the file next time I'm at Kew. If you want a copy of a photo of Collins please let me know and I'll post one. Cheers Arnhem
Hi Arnhem, Would be great to see a photo of Collins, I'll send you a PM. I asked the curator at the Army Flying Museum, it seems there is not very much on the Glider pilots. I only received information that can be found in The Eagle journals and One Night In June. Sgt. Terence Collins (6153130) joined the army 16th May 1941 and S/Sgt. Alan George Hunter (6153101) joined the army 19th March 1941 both began service in East Surrey Regiment transferring to the Glider Pilot Regiment in 1942. It says they were hit by flak, crashed and evaded for the month and betrayed by French Nazi sympathisers on 2nd July, 1944 directing them to house near Dives sur Mer occupied by Nazi troops. Collins was sent to Stalag Luft 7 and Hunter to Stalag 8C. Hunter served in Palestine and Egypt, Collins and Hunter were released and transferred to Z/T Reserve, Collins on the 7th and Hunter 6th December 1946. I don't know if any of this helps your research at all. brithm
Hi Brithm Thanks very much again for the info. I have found the POW report for one of the occupants of the gliderSpr Beeby who states he was captured near Caen on 6th June. I have also checked 570 Sqdn's log for the 5/6th June which states that Hunter and Collins glider was successfully released. There were no aircrew casualties and only minor damage to all towing aircraft from flak. I'm still looking for the other glider occupants reports and those of Collins and Hunter but so far without any luck. Cheers Arnhem
I now have the POW reports for both Lawrence and Beeby who were part of Collins and Hunters crew. They don't shed much more light on what happened other than both were captured on 6th June. Beeby's report states near Caen and Lawrence's Normandy. So far I have not been able to find either of the GP reports or other mamber's of the glider load. Probably the best one to find other than the pilots would be Capt J Maynard RE as from past experience officers reports tend to be more detailed than other ranks Cheers Arnhem
Hi arnhem, Great items. Would it be possible to get a bigger picture as I can't make out the detail of the photo of Collins? I am wondering if they were captured at the Vermughen farm as the ferme was raided on the 5 July and burned to the ground by the 6 July. As the pilots were captured 2 or 3 days before it might be unlikely. Is there any other information with their capture, were they with anyone else? The answer maybe in their army files, I'm sure they would have been interrogated as to what happened to them.
Hi Arnhem, How is your research with Hunter and Collins going? The info came from the archives at Kew the file is a missing file; WO 361/504 North West Europe: gliders and aircraft; 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps. What were the articles you read about the pilots? Is there a photo of Collins or Hunter? Brithm Lucky I copied this file a couple of years ago!! The attached is the statement about Glider 84 from that file. John
