5th June 1945
Avro Lancaster Mk I (NN799)
Mission of 5th June, 1945
Body thrown back by the sea at Plévenon (22) on 25th July, 1945
(contributors : Jimmy Tual, Jean-Michel Martin)
Avro Lancaster Mk I no 460 Squadron RAAF
© with courtesy www.adf-serials.com.au
Crew (460 Squadron RAAF):
- Pilot Officer (Pilot) Saxe Eric COVERDALE (service number 434498)
- Flight Sergeant (Flight Engineer - pilot) A. MADDOCKS (service number 1684275)
- Flight Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) Leonard Harris DUNCAN (service number 436729)
- Flying Officer (Navigator) Pauric Denis LANE (service number 436506)
- Flight Sergeant (2nd Navigator) Robert Georges BATTY (service number 430587)
- Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator - Air Gunner) George Richard CRUTE (service number 436695)
- Flight Sergeant (Mid-upper Gunner) Keith Henry McLEAN (service number 430977)
- Flight Sergeant (Rear Gunner) John Bullfinch THOMAS, aged 28 (service number 16696)
Plévenon communal cemetery (22, Brittany)
Flight Sergeant (rear gunner) John Bullfinch THOMAS,
Photos : National Archives Australia NAA series No. A9301 Item 4562556
THE STORY
The story of Flight Sergeant John Bullfinch THOMAS is strange. Born in Perth, Australia, on October 26, 1917, he was the son of Robert and Johanna THOMAS. On Tuesday June 5, 1945, World War II ended a month ago. From Brinkook, England, the Lancaster Mk 1 NN 799 took off for a training flight over France. Everything was going normally. The pilot, Saxe Eric COVERDALE, was piloting this aircraft. Flight Sergeant THOMAS occupied the rear turret of the bomber. In the middle of the day, the four-engine aircraft flew over the Saint-Malo region at an altitude of 12,000 feet when suddenly, the autopilot broke down, leading the aircraft into a dizzying descent. Arrived at 700 feet, COVERDALE finally succeeded in taking back the controls of the Lancaster. A few minutes later, the aircraft was stabilized and under control and headed the return route. Suddenly, a crew member noticed that John Bullfinch THOMAS was no longer on board. He warned everyone. They discovered that his parachute tangled in the controls of the turret he occupied. Did he think the aircraft was about to crash ? Probably yes. He hadn't told anyone of his decision to bail out. Everything must have happened very quickly. The rest of the crew returned safely to the base.
He therefore fell into the sea. His body was found on July 25, 1945, on the beach of "Les Grèves d´en Bas in Plévenon", Côtes d´Armor, west of Cap Fréhel, Brittany. He was 28 years old.
Lancaster NN799 served with 460 Squadron from 02/14/45 to 04/18/45. He carried out 13 missions and was struck off on May 7, 1947.
APPENDICES
♦ Gendarmerie Report (source: Côtes d'Armor Departmental Archives - reference 2W92 via Jimmy Tual);
This two-page document, dated July 27, 1945, details the circumstances of the discovery of the body of John B. THOMAS. Gendarmes Jules CLOLUS and Jean HERVOT, gendarmes at the Matignon residence, wearing their uniforms, stated that they had been informed of the sea-washing of a soldier's body at "La Fosse" beach in Plevenon. They went to the scene and noted that the body was wearing a green canvas jumpsuit, rubber boots, and a navy blue canvas jacket and pants. Unfortunately, the body was in an advanced state of decomposition and was missing a right hand. He had been searched before their arrival and had no papers, but his clothes suggested he was an aviator. These gendarmes interviewed several witnesses :
- Georges MENAGE, 23 years old, First Class Sub-Lieutenant of the Far East Light Brigade, on leave with his parents at Veaux en Plevenon: " At around 5 p.m., having learned that a drowned person had washed up on the beach at La Fosse en Plevenon, I went [to the scene], I searched him and removed the following objects : a gold watch with the inscriptions in English " From Jack, Christmas 1939", a black leather wallet, bearing No. 16696 [THOMAS service number], two telegrams in English which I was able to decipher as follows ; the 1st one dated May 31, 1945, No. I07.II.20 G.U.G.18 confirmation of another telegram from Lincolnshire, A 16696 THOMAS J.B. R.A.F. BINBROOK-LINCS [LINCOLNSHIRE] departure Monday crew established in an apartment (spi naup) sincerely Alain. C.T.A.16696 G.U.G. the second telegram which, dated June 1, 1945 sent by the same sender indicates the same address, I was able to decipher : Crew departed, best regards, Alain. An identity card describing ranks of the RAF, the RAF Women's Corps, or the Dominions, a card No. II48572 issued in the name of THOMAS, illegible, rank illegible, serving in the RAAF (Royal Australian AF), two invisible photos, signature of the holder J. THOMAS, rank appearing to be Sergeant, issued in July 1944, a plain metal lighter bearing the inscription " made in Canada " and a small wallet with two crosses and a religious medal. I took all these items and put them to dry to read his identity, knowing English. I will give the Mayor of Plevenon all the items I removed from this drowned man's pockets as soon as the two telegrams are dry.
Reading done, persist and sign.
- Auguste PETIBON, 62 years old, fisherman living in Les Veaux in Plevenon : " This morning, at around 10 o'clock, I went to "La Fosse" beach in Plevenon to go fishing with Mr. DEJONGHE. The sea being too rough, we did not leave. Looking at the sea, I saw something large in the waves at the edge of the sea, I approached and saw that it was a drowned person. With the help of Mr. DEJONGHE, we pulled him out and placed him in such a way that the sea would not take him back. I asked Mr. DEJONGHE, living in the town of Plevenon, to kindly inform the mayor of the town. I did not search this drowned person, nor did Mr. DEJONGHE, and we both returned home.
- Paul DEJONGHE, 59 years old, fisherman living in the town of Plevenon : " At around 10 o'clock this morning, I went to "La Fosse" beach in Plevenon to go fishing with Mr. PETIBON, living in Les Veaux in the said town. The sea being rough, we were unable to put our boat into the sea and when we were about to leave, Mr. PETIBON pointed out something large in the waves. With Mr. PETIBON, I approached the sea and noticed that it was a drowned person. With the help of Mr. PETIBON, we took out the body and brought it up so that the sea would not take it back, and we left for home without searching it. As I live in the town of Plevenon, I immediately informed the mayor of our discovery. I simply noticed that this drowned person must have been an aviator according to his clothes, and that he was wearing a watch on his left wrist. This drowned man no longer had a right hand, his face was eaten away, he must have stayed several days in the sea, because he was in an advanced state of decomposition."
- Dr. G. Catherine submitted a certificate to the gendarmes stating : " I, the undersigned, G. Catherine, Doctor of Medicine at Matignon, certify that I have examined, in the presence of the Matignon gendarmerie, the presence on "La Fosse" beach in Plevenon of a male body, believed to be an Australian airman belonging to the RAF [in fact, the RAAF]. The body was in a state of decomposition that suggested it had been in the water for about a month."
The two gendarmes sent four copies of their report to the Prefect of Côtes du Nord in Saint-Brieuc, the Public Prosecutor in Dinan, the Maritime Administrator in Saint-Brieuc, and their superiors.
♦ Letter from the Prefect of Côtes d'Armor to the Minister of War (source: Côtes d'Armor Departmental Archives - reference 2W92 via Jimmy Tual)
This document, signed by the Prefect Henri Avril, informs the Minister of War of the discovery of the body of John B. Thomas on the coast of Plevenon.
♦ Telephone Conversation Memo (source: Côtes d'Armor Departmental Archives - code 2W92 via Jimmy Tual).
This document records a telephone conversation on July 28, 1945, at 10:30 a.m. It tells us that the body of aviator John B. Thomas was taken to the Plevenon gendarmerie before being buried.
♦ Death Certificate (source: Côtes d'Armor Departmental Archives - code 2W92 via Jimmy Tual).
This certificate formalizes the discovery and death of Flight Sergeant John Bullfinch Thomas.
IN MEMORIAM
The grave of John Bullfinch THOMAS at the communal cemetery of Plévenon (22)
Photos Benoit Paquet - ABSA 39-45
IN THE PRESS
• Article August 10, 2025 - (Le Petit Bleu des Côtes d'Armor - editor Dinan)
• Article July 27, 2020 (Ouest France)
Jean-Michel MARTIN (ABSA 39-45)
Sources :
Air Historical Branch (RAF) - Letter of 05/12/2007.
ADF-serials : www.adf-serials.com.au
Forum Royal Air Force Commands
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