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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

500818

Sgt. Lorne Mallory

RCAF air gunner. 433 Sqd.

from:Canada

During a recent coach tour in Alsace Lorraine we passed what was obviously a memorial to some RAF airman. We were only able to remember a RAF Badge and the words, "Sergeant", "Halifax" as we swept by. Interested, I did a little digging and today I received the following wording from the memorial sent by the local tourist bureau. I have been able to establish that Halifax MZ 807 had been on 433 RCAF Sqn at Skipton on Swale.

Il s’agit de la stèle inaugurée en Mai de cette année sur la route des crêtes après la ferme auberge du Freudstein et dédiée à l’équipage anglo-canadien du Halifax MZ-807 « Corkscrew Charlie » qui, au retour de bombardement sur la ville de Hagen (nœud stratégique situé un peu au Sud d’Essen) et nécessitant 504 avions, s’est écrasé sur le Riesenkopf. Parti à 17h de Skipton-on-Swale (entre Leeds et Manchester) le bombardier largue ses bombes sur l’objectif à 21h, puis met le cap au Sud. Touché probablement par la FLAK (Flieger Abwehr Kanone), les dégâts sont irrémédiables, l’avion est à la traîne et ne peut franchir la crête des Vosges. Le pilote tente une manœuvre desespérée, mais le bombardier heurte le massif et s’abîme en forêt à 23h en ce 2 Décembre 1944. Tous les occupants périssent dans les flammes. Seul le mitrailleur dorsal, grièvement brûlé, survit ; il est receuilli le lendemain par le propriétaire de la ferme et emmené à Willer sur Thur où il est hébergé et caché. Le 8 Décembre le village est libéré et l’aviateur remis à la 1ère Armée Française qui le transporte à l’hôpital américain de Neuilly. Il atteindra le Canada en Février 1945. Ses coéquipiers, enterrés dans une fosse commune, ont été transférés en 1950 au cimetière de la Royal Canadian Air Force à Choloy (à côté de Toul). La stèle a été inaugurée le 7 Mai 2006 en présence du Sgt Lorne Mallory (seul survivant du drame), accompagné de son épouse Constance et de membres de sa famille. En présence du Cdt C. Gautier (Attaché Défense à l’Ambassade du Canada), Mme M. Diffon (Conseillère Régionale), Mr M. Habib (Conseiller Général), du Ltn-Col. J. J. Borel commandant la Base aérienne 132 de Colmar Meyenheim (Délégué Militaire) et du Maire de Willer sur Thur : Mr A. Delestan. Une exposition, avec des pièces et une maquette de l’appareil, avait été organisée dans sa Mairie.

Translated by computer: This is the stele was inaugurated in May this year on the road crests after the farm of Freudstein and dedicated to the crew Anglo-Canadian Halifax MZ-807 "Corkscrew Charlie" which, in return bombing on city of Hagen (strategic node located just south of Essen) and require 504 aircraft crashed on Riesenkopf. Party to 17h of Skipton-on-Swale (between Leeds and Manchester) bomber dropped its bombs on target to 21h, then takes off the South. Probably hit by FLAK (Flieger Abwehr Kanone), the damage is irreparable, the aircraft is lagging behind and can not cross the crest of the Vosges. The pilot tried to maneuver desespérée, but the bomber struck the massive and crashed in the woods at 23h in December 2, 1944. All occupants perish in the flames. Only the dorsal gunner, badly burned, survives and is receuilli the next day by the owner of the farm and taken to Willer on Thur where it is hosted and hidden. On December 8 the village is freed and handed over to the airman 1st French Army who carries the American hospital in Neuilly. He will reach Canada in February 1945. His teammates, buried in a common grave, were transferred in 1950 to the graveyard of the Royal Canadian Air Force at Choloy (near Toul).

The stele was inaugurated on May 7, 2006 in the presence of Sgt Lorne Mallory (sole survivor of the tragedy), accompanied by his wife Constance and members of his family. In the presence of C. Cdt Gautier (Defence Attache at the Embassy of Canada), Ms. M. Diffon (Regional Adviser), Mr M. Habib (General Counsel), Ltn-Col. J. J. Borel commander of the Air Base 132 of Colmar Meyenheim (Military Officer) and the Mayor of Willer on Thur: Mr A. Delestan. An exhibition, with coins and a model of the aircraft, was organized in its City Hall.

The Halifax took off at 17:49 on the 2nd of December 1944 from Skipton-on-Swale. At the time the cause of loss and crash site was not established. F/S Mallory was treated for his injuries in a French Hospital, the rest of the crew are buried in Choloy War Cemetery.

  • F/L W.H.Cook
  • Sgt R.E.Ainsworth
  • F/O J.E.Grant
  • F/O R.H.Shiells
  • P/O J.B.Pittman
  • F/S L.A.Mallory
  • Sgt J.W.Ash






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