The Wartime Memories Project

- Operation Citronelle during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Operation Citronelle




If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Those known to have fought in

Operation Citronelle

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Armour DFC DFM. James Alexander. F/O (d.8th May 1944)
  • Brown DFC. Donald. F/O (d.8th May 1944)
  • Bryce Alexander Frederick. F/O (d.8th May 1944)
  • Cable George. F/Sgt. (d.8th May 1944)
  • McGonagle DFC. Bernard Pierce. F/O (d.8th May 1944)
  • Russell DFC&Bar. William Macfarlane. WingCdr. (d.8th May 1944)
  • Simister DFM. Norman. F/O (d.8th May 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about Operation Citronelle?


There are:-1 items tagged Operation Citronelle available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


F/O Norman Simister DFM 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

F/O Simister was killed on 8th May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • F/O James Alexander Armour DFC DFM 1 (d.8th May 1944)

    F/O Armour was killed on 8th May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • F/O Bernard Pierce McGonagle DFC 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

    F/O McGonagle was killed on 8th May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • F/O Donald Brown DFC 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

    F/O Brown was killed on 8th May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • F/Sgt. George Cable 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

    F/Sgt Cable was killed on 8th May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • WingCdr. William Macfarlane Russell DFC&Bar 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

    W/Co Russell was killed on 8th May 1944 duringOperation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O. The crew were:

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans west cemetery.




  • F/O Alexander Frederick Bryce 138 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1944)

    I am trying to find out more about the life of my uncle, Flying Officer 149705 Alexander Frederick Bryce, who was killed on 8 May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.

    Update

    I don't know how much info you have but this may be of interest. From Chorley's Bomber Command Losses:

    Halifax v LL280 NF-O

  • W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
  • F/S G Cable DFM
  • F/O D Brown DFC
  • F/O B P McGonagle DFC
  • F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
  • F/O A F Bryce
  • F/O N Simister DFM

    T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40 m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans West Cemetery.

    I have some information on your uncle's crew that I am more than happy to share with you. A summary follows below. My uncle J W McLeod (RAAF 418296; 576 Squadron) was killed on 7 May 1944 along with most of the rest of the Lancaster crew of pilot J M Shearer (RNZAF 415721) when they were shot down about 50 kms north of Le Mans.

    The post-war paperwork on the graves of the two crews spends some time sorting out the burial arrangements for the two crews that crashed not far apart in two consecutive nights. The question is not yet fully answered and an unknown airman is buried with your uncle's crew who may be from the crew of J M Shearer.

    In May 2004 I visited St Denis d'Orques and the Le Mans Cemetery and have photos.

  • Edwin Bryce







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