Montlucon. September 1943.

Crew Photo of Halifax V DK253 ZL-M

 

Hi maidencanada: Yes, this is all correct. He was primarily working with my father, Ed Mason, throughout this period with the Maquis. Where are you located, BC?

 

Hello
Is it possible to wake up contributions of 10 years and more ???
I am French, new user of this forum and I use Google Translate to speak to you (be indulgent on my English). I live in the Montluçon region and it is by doing a research on Harry Dereniuk that I discover this old post !!!
To answer several questions about the fate of injured aviators, here is a photo which shows aviators gathered in Giat (Puy-de-Dôme) between September and October 1943.
Claude Grimaud, already quoted in the post, wrote a book in 2012 (in French): "They were seventeen - Seventeen aviators allied at Mont-Mouchet" which traces the journey of 17 escaped aviators, some of whom are mentioned. With his kind permission for my research on the Halifax DK119, I post two photos of these aviators. Perhaps you identify unidentified people! Be careful, there are French people among them!
(I hope my images will be visible!)
Kind regards
Michel03

 

For the crew of the Stirling Mk III, BF 569, "V-VICTOR", you will find under this link the commemorative plaque for the crash located about 10 km north of Montluçon: "In memory of the crew from Stirling Mk III, BF 569, "V-VICTOR" XV SQUADRON, shot down by the flak during the bombing of the Dunlop factory on the night of September 15-16, 1943 - ECB-CG 15/16 September 1993 ".
Do not forget to consult the few photos of the places I posted under the "Galerie photo" link.
The plane crashed near the Berry Canal.

 

For the crew of the Halifax LK913, under this link, you will find the commemorative stele located on the edge of the Tronçais fores tin a charming location, 30 km north of Montluçon as well as the photos I am enclosing.
"In the Tronçais forest, about 500 m after" the round of the bottle "to a place called La Bouteille - Içi came in disaster to land a bomber of the Royal Canadian Air Force, engaged in the bombing of the Dunlop factory , the night of September 15-16, 1943 "- Crew of the Halifax LK913 VA.N Squadron 428 RCAF "Ghost". This bomber, departing from Middleton Saint-George (England) was shot down by a bomb dropped by another bomber flying higher. Pilot: SMITH D. Lieutenant Colonel / Navigator: MASON E. Captain / Radio: MALINS R. Sub-Lieutenant / Mechanic: HAYWORTH C. Sergeant / Bombardier: DERENIUK H. Lieutenant / Senior machine gunner: HELMES JH. Sub-Lieutenant / Rear Gunner: FORMAN M. Captain / Co-pilot: BELL E.N. Sub-Lieutenant
"WE FLEW, WE FELL, WE SURVIVED" "
cordially
Michel03

 

During the bombing of the Dunlop factory very well described in Claude Grimaud's book "Objectif Dunlop", my uncle Lucien MARTIN living 2 km as the crow flies from the factory at a place called "Les Varennes" was injured by a burst of incendiary bomb which will require the amputation of his leg. Fifty people died as a result of the bombing and many were injured. The factory worked for Nazi Germany; Despite the suffering of the loss of loved ones and injuries, the people of Montluçon never wanted it against Allied aviation.

cordially

 

I visited Montlucon many years ago and stayed with Claude, sadly I have lost touch with him since then, he mentioned the village of Tizon was hit by several bombs with sadly a large number of local people killed.

 

Hello James
According to Claude, the bombardment of Tizon was due to a marking error because Tizon was 5 km away from the Dunlop factory site.
Claude lives in Lozère but I haven't contacted him for some time. A very interesting and caring person!
cordially

 

Michel, if you have his contact details I would be grateful if you could pop them to me. He is very much a gentleman, one of the good guys, - yes what you say is correct and a number of bombers bombed on the misdirected markers.
the raid was to be carried out at low level in an effort to avoid civilian deaths (as best could be managed) and to be certain of hitting the plant,Montlucon was the first of three ops. flown by an uncle of mine. His crew arrived with 158 Squadron a few days before, they would be missing two weeks later.

 

Hello Harry's Grandson!
I'm the daughter of Ed Mason, the navigator on your grandfather's crew. He wrote my father after the war with a very full account of his adventures, which I've scanned and can share with you. I've also visited the monument to the crash -- it's beautiful.
Regards, Lynn (Mason) Tarzwell

 

Michel, milles remerciements pour votre recherche et interet! Je suis la fille de Ed Mason, qui porte un beret dans votre deuxieme photo. Votre anglais est meilleur que mon francais, mais peut-etre je peux vous assister.

 

Like James, I would very much like M. Grimaud's contact information!

 

Bonjour Michel,

My grandfather, Sergeant Stanley Hathaway was the navigator of dk119.
BBC - WW2 People's War - RAF 161 Squadron (special duties) A veterans story

 

Hello Stephen
I am very happy to converse with you because it has been several years since I saw your post on www.bbc.co.uk. I wanted to write to you about it but I didn't have the possibility on this website.
Because I wrote the story of the DK119 crash. I have gathered other information but, to send it to you, I will continue in private messaging to give you my email address.
cordially
Michel03

 

I have emailed you

 

Just some photos of my Grandpa Nelmes and his mates