WWII Death in France

[peggypatch]

Thanks so much Ann, I'll keep my eye on the  RAF board so please don't feel you need to keep reposting it here. I really appreciate your help. my Mum noticed his lone grave in Connelles churchyard and wondered what happened to him, she will be thrilled with all this great information. One more question though - what does 'hit by flak' mean?

Many thanks
Peggypatch

[Kevwood]

Peggy you didn't say if you found the death reference:

Day Robert L F   f/lt  41263 or 41265 (can't read it) 132 sqdrn 1944

volume 4 page 222.


Kev.

[peggypatch]

Thanks Kev,

I hadn't as was trying to find a local library which held the overseas records and save myself £4.50! You have just done that for me, so thanks again.

Peggypatch

[annsa]

Hi Peggy,

Flak means basically the shells fired by ground batteries or flying bullets, bits of ammunition etc. If anyone has a better definition please add it, I haven't had to think of how to explain flak before.

All the best,

Ann

[annsa]

Hi Peggy,

I'll post another reply just in case others are watching this thread. This one from Allan:

'Hello Ann
Perhaps you might like to also pass on this report from the 125 Wing ORB, which gives more detail than the bare facts in FCL

18/6/44

In the afternoon 6 aircraft of 132 sqdn. flew a sweep in the Fecamp-Evreux area, and running into 6 FW 190's flying north on the deck in the Evreux area a combat ensued during which 1 FW 190 was damaged and shared by S/L Page DFC and F/O Collings (N.Z.). F/L Day was hit by flak. He was last heard to say over the R/T that his rudder was hit but his ailerons were O.K. He was at 5,500 ft. at the time and there is every possibility that he was able to bale out.

125 Wing, comprising 132 (City of Bombay), 453 RAAF and 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadrons, was then based at Ford in Sussex - moving to B.11 Longues-sur-Mer on 25 June.

If I can find the 132 Squadron ORB for that day I will post it as well

I hope this helps

Allan'

[peggypatch]

This is wonderful information. Thank you so much for helping me out with all this Ann, I really appreciate the time you are taking over it. Please pass on my thanks to Allan & Finn, I have tried to reply to the thread, but can't manage that either. The meesage I am getting tells me to contact my administrator, so I suspect it is some kind of set up on my pc that isn't allowing me to post on that board.

Thanks again
Peggy

[annsa]

Hi Peggy,

Some further info from Allan:

Hello Ann
I have now found the 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron ORB for June 1944 and here is the complete entry for 18 June '44 which I would be grateful if you can bring to the attention of Peggy and her mother.

18.6.44

The first show this morning was escort to 54 Bostons bombing FORET DE BOURSE. After lunch six aircraft led by the Commanding Officer, took off on a Ranger in the Evreux area, and sighted six F.W. 190's. They turned away and made off but not before one had been attacked by S/L A.G. Page DFC, and F/O B.F. Collings - this was claimed as a damaged. F/L R.L.F. Day DFC is missing from this operation, he called up to say this his aircraft had been hit, and as he climbed to 5,000 feet, it is reasonable to hope that he baled out. The third and last show of the day was a beachead patrol, which was carried out without incident.

and at the end of the entry for 19.6.44 it states;

"...Another pilot arrived tonight - F/O I. Forbes - from 83 GSU - to make up for the loss of F/L R.L.F. Day DFC."

F/O Forbes first operation is listed for 20 June 16.50 - 19.05 in a Beachead patrol, so no time to settle in!!

and from the Form 541 it states;

14.55 - 16.30 Ranger in the EVREUX area. 6 F.W. 190's were sighted 10 miles N of EVREUX, and one was attacked by S/L A.G.Page DFC, and F/O B.F. Collings, and is claimed damaged. The others made off. F/L R.L.F. Day DFC is missing from the operation, it is presumed that he was hit by flak during the chase.

The six pilots in this operation were:-

S/L A.G. Page DFC FF-O
F/O B.F. Collings FF-M
F/L M Graham FF-A
W/O V.C.Parker FF-F
F/L R.L.F. Day DFC FF-P
W/O J.E. Ford FF-V

Interestingly enough, although the Form 540 (ORB) states "The first show this morning was escort to 54 Bostons bombing FORET DE BOURSE." this operation is listed in the Form 541 as between 18.10 - 20.00, so it just shows how two squadron documents can contradict themselves!!

The third operation that day - a Beachead Patrol - is listed between 21.00 - 23.00 in the Form 541 which fits into the ORB entry "The third and last show of the day was a beachead patrol, which was carried out without incident."

Although the bombing escort is not relevant to the request about F/L Day, I then checked back on the 125 Wing ORB for clarification and it shows the Wing escorting Mitchells and Bostons in the evening, after the loss of F/L Day.

No doubt the fact that the Wing and Squadron personnel were going through the concentration and marshalling area "sausage machine" in their move to Normandy at the time a few inaccuracies can be expected. My own father moved to France on 18 June as part of the 125 Wing HQ Advance Party.

In the Form 540 (ORB) at the end of the month in the nominal roll of the squadron it lists current members, but not the loss of F/L Day and in the Form 541 it lists the "Aircraft numbers" A=MJ146 (for example) but does not show any P at all, so, as no P appears in the daily entries after 18 June, presumably no replacement had by then been issued.

Hope this all helps - I only hold a small amount of 132 Squadron ORB so I am very pleased that I can help fill in a few blanks.

Allan

Peggy - ORB stands for Operations Record Book, these are held at the National Archives at Kew. If you are interested in any furhter information on Day, then someone on the RAF Board will no doubt have a citation for his DFC.

All the best,

Ann

[peggypatch]

Thank you so much Ann, you have been really very helpful, as have Finn and Allan. I shall try to post a request for information on his DFC using a friend's computer.

Peggy

[peggypatch]

Oh I see Terry has posted the information already! Again please pass on my thanks.

Peggy