5th August 1944

Supermarine SPITFIRE LF Mk IXB
MK895 (code SH-J)
Bréhat Island
(contributors : Janice Newnham (nee Thorpe), Conservatoire aéronautique de Cornouaille. Francois Cadic, Claude Hélias)

Pilot :
Flying Officer Alan THORPE
(service number 131044)
No 64 SQN, Royal New Zealand Air Force

THE STORY
Alan THORPE was on a Lancaster bomber escort mission to Brest with Henry Joseph MEHARRY on August 5, 1944 (killed during the mission: see his story). He was hit by the flak in the Trieux area (the information we have says that he was hit by an armed trawler), near Lézardrieux (22). He flew away towards the sea and bailed out near the Bréhat island. He was rescued by a Supermarine Walrus from Air Sea Rescue (W 3038) from 276 Sqn (crew: F/Lt G.R. Johns, F/Sgt E. Perry and W/O Evans).
A source indicates that the two aircrafts were on a Lancaster bomber escort mission for a bombing mission over U-boat pens at Brest (RAMROD mission 162). Another source indicates that the two aircrafts attacked the 46^th Flotilla of minesweepers of the Kriegsmarine on the move from St-Malo to Brest.
Any information to clarify this story is welcome : info.absa.3945@gmail.com

The document below, which was provided to us by Mrs. Janice Newnham (née Thorpe), daughter of Alan Thorpe, reveals that during the return flight, the order was given to attack armed trawlers in the port of Pleubian and that the aircraft, hit by flak, fell into the water at 2:30 p.m.

Document with courtesy of Mrs. Janice Newnham, née Thorpe, daughter of Alan Thorpe.