9 June, 1944

De Havilland Mosquito Mk IV
DZ353 code AZ-B
"La cour", Saint-Erblon (35)
(contributors : J.P Favrais, Daniel Dahiot, Frédéric Hénoff, Bernard Gislard, Pierre Mahé, John Telfer, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Aircrew Remembered)

Mosquito DZ353 (code AZ-B) shortly before being shot down as it was wearing invasion stripes.
This photo is from a video shot by Brian Harris, a Mosquito navigator at No. 627 Sqn. Video source : Aviation Videos

Crew (No. 627 Squadron RAF)

- Flight Lieutenant (pilote) Harry STEERE

photo Imperial War Museum reference IWM (CH 1323)
Service number 46016, DFC, DFM, 30 years old, RAF, killed
Born February 7, 1914 in Wallasey (England).
Son of Ernest and Bessie STEERE, Wallasey, Cheshire, husband of Joan Margaret STEERE, Wallasey..
Grave #1, Saint-Erblon cemetery (Brittany)

- Flying Officer (navigateur) Kenneth William GALE

photo famille Gale (Colin Jacobsen)
Service number 404241, DFC, 24 years old, RAAF, killed.
Born April 12, 1920 in Brisbane (Australia).
Son of William James and Margaret Frances GALE from Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.
Grave #2, Saint-Erblon cemetery (Brittany)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- THE STORY
- THE CREW
- THE AIRCRAFT
- TESTIMONIES
- PARTS OF THE MOSQUITO DZ353
- COMMEMORATIONS AND FAMILY VISITS
- IN MEMORIAM (airmen graves)
- IN THE PRESS
- APPENDICES

PARTIE1

THE STORY

Night from 8 to 9 June, 1944.
On 8/9 June 1944, 483 aircrafts attacked rail targets at Alençon, Fougères, Mayenne, Pontaubault and Rennes to prevent German reinforcement from the south reaching the Normandy battle area. One of the objectives of the Bomber Command was the station and the marshalling yard of Rennes. Before the arrival of the main force with all the bombers, four twin-engine Mosquito aircrafts were in charge of indicating the target with the help of smoke bombs. The task was not easy because the target, but also the region around Saint-Jacques airfield, were protected by several positions of Flak, the dangerous German anti-aircraft artillery. These four Mosquitoes of No.627 Squadron took off from Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire at 23:47 (landing on return at 3:25 for the last one). The mission of these aircrafts was to mark the target with spot fires of different colours before the waves of bombers from the main force fly over the target. For this mission, the Mosquitoes used the GEE navigation system [1], which was more suitable than the H2S [2] when, like that night, the objective is relatively small. The marking technique was as follows : after flying over the objective and dropping flares, the Mosquitoes dived towards the centre of the target and dropped Target Indicators (spot fires of different colours) and then climbed with a vertiginous rate of ascent.

On board of one of these Mosquitos, the English pilot F/L Harry STEERE and his Australian navigator F/O Kenneth W. GALE. During their attempt to drop smoke bombs, they were hit by the Flak. Because of a direct hit, the aircraft burst into flames immediately and escaped to the south perhaps to try the impossible, a crash landing. We caught a last message, certainly sent by the pilot to his navigator, "get out of here immediately ! " But it was already too late. The Mosquito flew at low altitude over Pont-Péan, touched the tops of trees while approaching the village of Orgères and then hit the ground right after in a sheaf of flames near the locality "la Cour". In the crash, the two engines were thrown off and the aircraft broken into several parts. When the first people arrived on site, the remains were no longer burning and they found the horribly mutilated bodies of the two airmen. The local German occupation forces arrived quickly on site and asked the municipality to take care of the removal and burial of the two victims. Both bodies were transported to Saint-Erblon (35) and buried in the communal cemetery.

An ULTRA report [listening system by Allies of German communications] states for that night : " Raid on railway station and canal Rennes. Fair indications two three hours eighth. Local signals exchange hit. German Air Force trunk exchange – quote - said to be – unquote - in working order. Strong indications, town on fire ".

[1] The GEE was a radio navigation system.
[2] The H2S was a ground scanning radar system.

Sources : Bomber Command War Diaries and various Operational Record Books for June 1944 (see appendices)

PARTIE 2

THE CREW

Flying Officer Kenneth William GALE & Flight Lieutenant Harry STEERE
Photo Harry Steere family via Pierre Mahé (ABSA 39-45)

Flight Lieutenant Harry STEERE

Photo Imperial War Museum - reference IWM CH 1323

Harry STEERE was born in Wallasey on February 7, 1914. Wallasey is a city located in the Wirral Peninsula on the west coast of Great Britain ; the great city of Liverpool is located near Wallasey, on the opposite bank of the Mersey River. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) at Halton on September 9, 1930 as an Aircraft Apprentice and received the service number 564959 - he was then 16 years old. On September 29^th, he entered training course as a Metal Rigger. On August 18, 1933, he was appointed Leading Aircraftman Metal Rigger. After applying for pilot training and being selected, he began his flying course on November 25, 1935. He was appointed Sergeant on August 22, 1936. On March 16, 1937, he was confirmed as Sergeant Metal Rigger Group 1. An RAF tradesman who had trained as a pilot was expected to serve on flying duties for three years before returning to his basic trade.

By 13th June 1939, when Steere was promoted to Flight Sergeant, the reversion to the basic trade plan had been dropped, probably in view of the strong likelihood of war. At the beginning of the war, Harry served with No.19 Squadron based at Duxford, a unit that would soon fly on the brand new Spitfire.

No. 19 Squadron at Duxford. Harry Steere is standing, far left.
Photo famille Harry Steere via Frédéric Hénoff

The Spitfire Mark I K9789 is the fourth Spitfire built and the first to be delivered to a Squadron in August 1938. At that time, flight tests were performed on the first Squadron to receive a new type of aircraft - No.19 Squadron - and the K9789 was selected for a series of flights up to 500 hours in order to establish a maintenance schedule that took into account the normal wear and tear due to these flight hours. Only a few pilots from No.19 Squadron were allowed to perform these tests, Harry Steere was one of them. On May 11, 1940 Steere shared in the destruction of a Ju 88, the squadron's first victory. Over Dunkirk on the 26^th, he destroyed a Ju 87, on the 27^th, shared a Do 17 probably destroyed, on the 28^th he destroyed a Me 109 and on June 1^st, he probably destroyed a Do 17 and shared a Me109 (probably destroyed). He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 25^th June 1940) [1]. On August 19, Steere shared a Me 110 probably destroyed, on September 9, he claimed a Me 110 probably destroyed, on the 15^th a Do 17 and a Me109 (destroyed), on the 18^th he shared a He 111 and a Ju 88 (destroyed), on the 27^th he destroyed a Me 109 and on November 28, he destroyed another Me 109.

A group of pilots of No. 19 Squadron discuss a recent sortie by Manor Farm at Fowlmere, September 1940.
Left to right: Sergeant David E Lloyd , Flight Sergeant George 'Grumpy' Unwin, Flight Lieutenant Cyril Arthur Jones,
Flying Officer Hugh 'Cocky' Dundas (of No. 616 Squadron RAF), Flight Sergeant Harry Steere, and
Squadron Leader Brian 'Sandy' Lane, the Squadron's CO. Flight Sergeant Unwin's pet German Shepherd 'Flash' can be seen to the left.
Photo Imperial War Museum - reference IWM CH 1370

On December 8, 1940, Harry was posted to the Central Flying School at Upavon (east of Bath, Wiltshire) as instructor training and then sent as an instructor to the Montrose No. 8 Flying Training School (northeast of Dundee, Scotland). On April 1^st, 1941 he was appointed Temporary Warrant Officer. On June 26, 1941, he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer on Probation in the General Service Branch of the RAF for the duration of hostilities [2]. On April 1^sr, 1942, he was promoted to Flying Officer on Probation for the duration of the hostilities [3]. On December 29, 1942, he served as Acting Flight Lieutenant and was confirmed in this rank for the duration of the hostilities on April 1^st, 1943 [4]. But Harry's prospect of « disappearing » in Training Command was intolerable to him. He made real fuss to get back on « Ops ». He achieved his goal in early October 1943 by joining the No.139 Squadron at Wyton (northeast of Cambridge) equipped with twin-engine Mosquitoes and he was to be involved in several missions over Germany.

On November 13, 1943, he was one of the aircrews planned to join the No. 627 Squadron being created at Oakington (north of Cambridge). The unit was also equipped with twin-engine Mosquitoes for pathfinder missions within the Bomber Command. It was during one of these missions that he was killed (as well as his navigator, Kenneth W. GALE) when flying his aircraft during a mission onto the Rennes marshalling yard during the night of 8-9 June 1944. Since his 18^th birthday on February 7, 1932, he had 12 years of regular service with the RAF. On June 23, 1944, Harry Steere was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for a mission flown on 25 May 1944 [5].

Note : in the R.A.F., it was common to have temporary appointments at 1, 2 or 3 ranks above the actual permanent rank. An officer appointed to a position would take the rank of that position. When he no longer occupied it, he returned to his former rank.

[1] The London Gazette – 25 June 1940 [D.F.M.] 564959 Flight Sergeant Harry STEERE : " Flight Sergeant Steere has destroyed three enemy aircraft and has assisted in the destruction of three others. He has displayed considerable coolness and gallantry in the face of the enemy, and has at all times set an example to his fellow pilots by his-devotion to duty.". (see appendices)
[2] The London Gazette – 25 July 1941 : see appendices
[3] The London Gazette – 24 Juillet 1942 : see appendices
[4] The London Gazette – 2 July 1943 : see appendices
[5] The London Gazette – 23 June 1944 [DFC] : "Flight Lieutenant Harry STEERE, D.F.M. (46016), Royal- Air Force, No. 627 Squadron. Recently, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to - attack gun emplacements sited on the French coast. In spite of continuous heavy anti-aircraft fire, Flight Lieutenant Steere spent much time over the target area in order to identify accurately the precise target. Finally, his aircraft was struck by a shell which severely damaged the starboard elevator, forcing the aircraft into an uncontrollable climb. Displaying great coolness, Flight Lieutenant Steere promptly transmitted clear instructions to his deputy to assume control of the operation. He afterwards succeeded in regaining a measure of control and flew the damaged aircraft back to this country. He displayed a high degree of skill, courage and devotion to duty. This officer has completed a large number of varied sorties ". (see appendices).
Mission in connection with the above DFC award : " 25.05.1944 Mosquito IV “B” DZ353 00.17 - 02.47 Marker aircraft - Target gun battery, ST VALERY. First flares went down at 01.29 which were slightly out of the area. Dropped a Wanganui [1] over target, but this failed to ignite. At 01.35 hrs received a direct hit on starboard elevator which causing the aircraft to go into a steep climb. We informed the controller, who ordered us back to base. 2 red spot fires and green T.I. not requested ".

[1] The Wanganui was a target marking system by blind-dropped sky markers when ground concealed by cloud.

Flying Officer Kenneth William GALE

Kenneth William Gale
Photo famille Gale (Colin Jacobsen)

Kenneth William Gale was born on 12 April, 1920 as the only son of William James and Margaret Francis Gale, of Surfers Paradise in Queensland. Ken attended his local Primary school before enrolling as a boarding student at Scots College in 1934. Ken’s record at Scots showed him to a keen Sportsman as well as a very diligent and conscientious student. The Scots College’s “The Clansman” has him featured in articles on Australian football and cricket. It said about his football : " He is a good worker in the rucks but nervousness let him down in open play, handling was good but tackling needs to improve ”. However, Ken did not let this deter him as he was a regular member of the First XV from 1934-36. Ken’s other great interest was cricket in which he was a fair wicket-keeper, but at times a bit disappointing with the bat. He was vice-captain in 1935, and received his Colours in cricket and swimming. He was also a Prefect in his last year at Scots in 1935. On leaving school, Ken enrolled in a Business course at Stott’s Commercial College in Brisbane, were he graduated as an Administration Clerk. While in Brisbane Ken kept up his interest in sport and was a contender in the Junior Freestyle Swimming Championships, where although not successful, he demonstrated the determination he was reknown for at school. Around the period of 1939, Ken decided to take up a position as a clerk in Gladstone, Central Queensland, however, like many of his former classmates at Scots, he answered the call to arms and enlisted in the R.A.A.F.

Yorkshire, England. C. 1942-02. Group portrait of the crew of Wellington aircraft " N for Nuts " of No. 458 Squadron RAAF,
at the Holme-on-Spalding-Moor RAF station. Left to right: Sergeant C. C. Chambers (service number 1359874), RAF, wireless operator ;
Pilot Officer K. Campbell (service number 404371), observer; Sergeant N. G. Stewart (service number 400497), second pilot ;
Pilot Officer K. Moore (service number 400595), captain ; Flight Sergeant K. W. Gale (service number 404241), observer ;
Sergeant B. G. Buchanan (service number 404376), rear gunner.
Photo Australian War Memorial reference SUK10141

It is unclear whether Ken undertook Pilot training but he ended up qualifying as a Navigator and was posted to No.458 Squadron in the United Kingdom and then in the Mediterranean. Ken was then assigned to No.221 Squadron, also in the Mediterranean. On one mission off the coast of Italy, he successfully navigated his Wellington bomber which sank the enemy motor vessel “Manzoni”, near Capri on the 22 March 1943. A vessel of 8,000 tons, this was a great achievement, and earned Ken the Distinguished Flying Cross. His citation reads : ” He has completed numerous operations, the majority of these were accomplished in the Middle East and the remainder in Great Britain. Throughout his operational career, this Officer has maintained a fine reputation for determination in the face of the enemy. The aircraft in which he was a Navigator has, on several occasions been damaged by the enemy defences and has subsequently been forced to make crash landings, but these incidents have not affected this Officers determination to bring every operational flight to a successful conclusion ”.

Flight Sergeant Kenneth W. Gale in Londres, at RAAF Overseas Headquarters,
on June 2, 1944, a week before his death.
Photo Australian War Memorial reference UK1485

After his conversion on twin-engine Mosquito aircraft at the No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit, in October 1943 he joined No. 139 Squadron for a short time, some crews of this Squadron being sent to form the No. 627 Squadron that was created. He is therefore assigned to No. 627 Squadron, flying on Mosquitoes. On his 86^th sortie, on June 9, 1944, Ken and his Mosquito crew set out on a mission over North-West France where his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire. The last words recorded was the Pilot ordering the crew to bail out and Ken and the crew were officially listed as missing in action over France. Ken’s Commanding Officer, Wing Commander G.W. Curry, wrote a letter to Ken’s wife in which he said: “ I can tell you that Ken was a member of the Pathfinder force, and previous to that, he was involved in high level bombing in Mosquito aircraft. He did a large number of trips with his Pilot, Harry Steere, who is missing with him. They were a great pair. I myself participated in the attack in which they were lost and can assure they did a great job which materially contributed to wiping out of a very important Marshalling yard. Before and after D-Day, we were very busy indeed, and some of the jobs were rather tough, but they certainly never troubled neither Harry nor Ken. They had experienced plenty of difficult times together, especially on our raids on Berlin. I think Ken had attacked every major object in Germany ”.

On April 12, 1946, almost two years after he was reported missing, his father received information from the Department of Air. ” Your son’s Mosquito crashed in a field at Orgeres, near St.Erblon, on 9 June, 1944, at 2p.m. According to local inhabitants, the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Your son and the other members of the crew were buried in the local cemetery by the Mayor of Saint-Erblon. A religious service was held in the presence of nearly all the inhabitants and the graves have always been, and are still most carefully looked after and furnished with flowers ”. Kenneth William Gale, DFC, lies buried in the beautiful Saint-Erblon Communal Cemetery, Grave #2, in France. Ken may be buried a long way from home but he will always be remembered as one of “The Magnificent Forty One” at his Alma Mater, Scots College

With our grateful thanks to John Telfer, Warwick - Australia.

[1] The London Gazette – 21 April 1941 : see appendices

PARTIE3

THE AIRCRAFT

Before being assigned to No. 627 Squadron RAF, Mosquito DZ353 was with No. 105 Squadron and carried the code GB-E. It was then assigned to No. 139 Squadron and finally to No. 627 Squadron.

Mosquitos Mk IV of No. 105 Squadron at Marham in December 1942. DZ353 is the second aircraft.
Photo Imperial War Museim - reference HU 95284

Two Mosquito Mk IVs in formation. DZ353 is in the foreground.
Photo Imperial War Museum (IWM) - RAF Collections - WWII (public domain)

Mosquito Mk IV DZ353 in flight.
Photo Imperial War Museum (IWM) - RAF Collections - WWII (public domain)

Once assigned to No. 627 Squadron RAF, Mosquito DZ353 was photographed and filmed by Brian Harris, a Mosquito navigator in the same squadron.

In this video shot by Brian Harris in 1944, Mosquito DZ353 (code AZ-B) appears at the 23rd second being pulled by an aircraft tractor.
It has invasion stripes, which suggests that this was filmed very shortly before the tragic deaths of Steere and Gale.
Video from the Brian Harris collection - source : Aviation Videos

Flight "A" – Oakington airfield, March 1944. Center, the Mosquito "AZ-B" DZ353
Photo Brian Harris collection (navigateur at No. 627 Squadron RAF)

PARTIE4

TESTIMONIES

♦ Mr CHAZEAU, CRAMBERT and QUINTON.
The Mosquito, with its entire rear section on fire, flew over Pont Péan, south of Rennes. Mr. Chazeau, a resident of Pont-Péan, remembers very well seeing the disabled aircraft on fire flying over the village. Another witness from the same village saw the burning aircraft flying very low, making a terrible noise. The aircraft flew over a small wood, cut down the tops of several fir trees and crashed in a meadow, not far from a water tower and the "Villesbret" castle. Just after the crash, Mr Crambert went on site, the aircraft was completely destroyed, but no longer burning, and the pilot and navigator who remained in the aircraft were unfortunately dead, their bodies were dismantled. That same night, two coffins were made by carpenters and then they were transported to the village of Saint-Erblon and placed at the bottom of the church. And during the night, they were buried in the cemetery of that same town, fearing of the turn that a public burial could have taken, in the presence of the Germans.

In 1983, Harry Steere's family traveled to France to visit the crash site and met Mr Crambert.
From left to right : Mr Crambert, Robin Steere (Harry Steere's son), and his son, Brian Steere.

Testimony of Mr Quinton. The Mosquito was to illuminate the target for the bombers on a mission to Rennes marshalling yard. It is possible that one of the flares with its parachute remained attached to it and the flare transmitted the fire to the aircraft. The pilot and the navigator were probably trying to make an emergency landing in a field [in fact the plane was hit by flak]. The aircraft was seen above Pont-Péan, at the level of the place called "Villesbret", while flying over a small wood, the aircraft clipped the tops of some fir trees (pieces of wood from the plane were found in the fir trees). At this moment, the aircraft hit the ground in a field behind the wood and the engines were thrown further away. The debris of the aircraft remained in the field for quite a long time. One day the owner dragged the large pieces of equipment, including the engines, to the side of the road to Orgères with the help of these horses.

That same year, they also met Mr Quinton.
From left to right : Robin Steere (son of Harry Steere), Mrs Mahé, Mr and Mrs Quinton, Mrs Steere, her daughter Heather, and a nephew.

Testimonies collected by Pierre Mahé between 1981 and 1982.
Mr Crambert, Quinton, and Robin Steere are now deceased.

♦ Mr GENDRON brothers and Mister HOUGET
Mr Jean-Baptiste Houget, living at the farm “La Cour” in Saint Erblon, was 12 years old in June 1944. He remembers the crash of the British aircraft very well. He was one of the first witnesses at the scene of the aircraft's remains the following morning. Part of the aircraft had slid down the meadow, probably the front of the aircraft, towards the eastern part of the meadow, near the embankment, just at the border of the communes of Saint Erblon and Orgères. The body of one of the two airmen was still at his post, probably that of the pilot. A body was found dismantled in the field. Mr. Houget senior received orders from the Germans to notify the Mayor so that the burials could proceed. Two coffins were made. The victims were buried that evening in the presence of about thirty people.

The farm of the HOUGET father family

Mister Jean-Baptiste HOUGET and the GENDRON brothers.
The red arrow behind them indicates where the aircraft hit the treetops on June 9, 1944.

The Gendron brothers arrived at the “La Retenue” farm in 1952. Many parts of the aircraft were found in the field and embankments, including a fire extinguisher in very good condition.

The Gendron brothers show us the aircraft's fire extinguisher, which was found almost intact.

PARTIE5

PARTS OF THE MOSQUITO DZ353 (found by the Gendron brothers and Bernard Gislard - photos ABSA 39-45)

The fire extinguisher of the aircraft

A part of the landing gear

A piece of metal sheet An engine part

An inspection trapdoor A part of the control shaft

Piece of sheet metal from the tail fin

Exhaust pipe

Hydraulic fittings and various parts

Other parts

PARTIE6

COMMEMORATION AND FAMILY VISITS (photos ABSA 39-45 unless otherwise stated)

♦ Sunday April 29, 2012
Gary Crooke, nephew of Keneth Gale, came from Australia to Saint-Erblon with his wife to visit the site where his uncle's Mosquito crashed. He was received at the town hall by the mayor and Mr Follic, as well as by Pierre Mahé, Daniel Dahiot and Bernard Gislard of the ABSA 39-45. The day was spent discovering the parts of the Mosquito, paying tribute at the cemetery and looking at the photo album from November 11. As a thank you, Gary offered the mayor a frame with an Australian boomerang.

♦ November 11, 2011
Several highlights in Saint-Erblon (35) to pay tribute to the airment and to inform the inhabitants of the town :

a) Walking to the crash site with Harry Steere's family and an Australian diplomatic mission

b) people gathered at the town hall for a procession to the church then the cemetery for a tribute

Below the texts read by children from the Colombes and Saint-Jean schools

c) a medal ceremony by the town hall, including one medal awarded to Daniel Dahiot, president of ABSA 39-45 at that time

d) a testimony session by witnesses, the Gendron brothers and Mr. Houget, in an amphitheater in front of school children.

e) An exhibition organized by ABSA 39-45 from November 7 to 11, 2011, visited by the CM1 and CM2 classes of the schools of the town who read texts in tribute to the lost airmen. Various parts (among them the engine and the tail wheel of the Messerschmitt Me 109 of Harti Schmiedel) and mannequins in uniform were exhibited.

Top right and below, the model kit of the Mosquito DZ353 made by Pierre GIMONT

The ABSA 39-45 team (Bernard Gislard, Michel Dolcini and Pierre Mahé) with the Gendron brothers, witnesses of the crash.

♦ Thursday, November 11, 2010 - Saint-Erblon (35) : tribute to airmen and inauguration of a plaque today in front of the town hall..

PARTIE7

IN MEMORIAM

♦ Harry Steere's post-war grave in the Saint-Erblon communal cemetery

Steere family photo via Pierre Mahé (ABSA 39-45)

♦ Graves of Harry Steere and Kenneth William Gale in the Saint-Erblon cemetery today

Photo collection Frédéric Hénoff

Photos collection Benoit Paquet (ABSA 39-45)

PARTIE8

IN THE PRESS

♦ Ouest-France - June 12, 2019 - Saint-Erblon (35).

♦ Ouest-France - November 12-13, 2011 - Saint-Erblon (35).

♦ Ouest-France - November 2010 - Saint-Erblon (35).

PARTIE9

APPENDICES

♦ Operational Record Book du Squadron 627 pour la nuit du 8 au 9 juin 1944
(source documents : The National Archives)

Pages 2 and 3 of ORB AIR-27-2148-15
The first part of the text, outlined in red, indicates that on June 8, 1944, four aircraft took off to mark a railway junction at Pontaubault (50).
Then the second part describes the mission of Mosquito DZ353 :
" 4 aircraft marked the marshalling yards at RENNES. 1 Mosquito dropped 2 Red Spot fires and Green T.I.s but our aircraft was unable
to observe main force bombing as they were too low and Flak was intense.Marker leader was heard to say that he was hit and on fire.
1 a/c failed to return (F/L STEERE DFC. DFM.) F/L STEERE was awarded an immediate D.F.C. to-day."

Page 4 of ORB AIR-27-2148-16. This page tells us that Steère and Gale's plane took off at 11:47 p.m. It mentions :
" Target RENNES. This aircraft failed to return. Called out to say he was hit and on fire over the target.
Heard to say “Get out of this as quickly as possible” believed to have addressed this words to the Navigator."
Note that Brian Harris, of No. 627 Sqn, author of the video above, was on board Mosquito DZ482 code AZ-P flown
by F/O. Thomson on that day for the mission to Pontaubault (green frame).

pages 87 and 88 of ORB AIR-27-2149
The first page of the document specifies that the marking was successful through a combination of the OBOE system (target location using
radio transponders) and red markers (flares). It details the sequence of events compared to the attack plan. The second page of the
document is a damage report following June 9 raid, which was carried out on June 10 at 9:15 a.m.
It says: " The road over bridge at the western end of the marshalling yard had one side wall broken by a near miss, but the deck of the bridge
is undamaged. One or two small craters are visible iat the constriction of the yards from the marshalling yard at this point and one track is cut.
Heavy damage is visible in and near the sorting sidings and the railway station, and fires are buring at the time of the photograph,
among houses and industrial plants. Details of damage are given in the full report.
NB: No photographs received with this report." The photo below the text is difficult to interpret.

♦ Operational Record Book of Squadron 463 for the night of June 8 to 9, 1944
(documents source : The National Archives)

Among the bombers that participated to the bombing of Rennes, on the night of 8/9 June, 1944, 14 Lancaster Mk I and Mk III belonging to No. 463 Squadron of the RAF. Hereafter the ORBs of this unit.

page 1 of ORB AIR-27-1921-15
The text framed in red specifies : " A clearer day to-day. OPS. ON. Target: RENNES. Continuing the attack on the enemy’s lines of communication
our Squadron joined in the attack on this important Junction and Marshalling Yards. The opposition from
Flak was considerable. P/O Sanders and P/O Mustard were hit over the Target, but both brought back good
photographs which reveal and excellent concentration. The weather at take-off and on return was very bad,
our boys having to land up North ".

pages 8 to 11 of ORB AIR-27-1921-16.
It lists the 14 Lancaster Mk I and Mk III crews that participated in the bombing of Rennes. The aircraft took off between 10:50 pm and
11:18 pm and returned to base between 4:23 am and 5:20 am. As an example, the report of Lancaster Mk III ED611 flown by P/O. N.W. Sanders :
" Sortie complted. Thin layer of cloud – slight haze. Red Spot Fires and Green T.I.'s [Target Indicators] in centre of sights – four seconds delay.
Hit by Flak, had to weave. 8,250 feet, 01h51. 4 x 1 000 SAP (USA) [1,000 pounds american bombs], 10 x 500 GP [English General Purpose 500
pounds bombs]. No time for observation – Flak too hot, « our night off ». Tyre burst on take-off at 95mph. Had great difficulty in getting
aircraft off ground, having bounced twice on one wheel. However, proceeded only to be greeted over the target with considerable ground
opposition, which caused us to make three dummy run, and in the end we make our final run on the correct heading, when we got
shot up considerably. ENTIRE CREW STATED: Pilot made a superb effort at take-off and landing on one wheel.
Could not have been better if we had had both.

♦ Operational Record Book of Squadron 467 (Royal Australian Air Force) for the night of June 8 to 9, 1944
(documents source : The National Archives)

Among the bombers, 10 Lancaster Mk I and Mk III also took part in the bombing of Rennes on the night of June 8-9, 1944.

pages 3 and 4 of ORB AIR-27-1931-11.
In the red frame, we can read the list of the 14 aircraft commanders who were assigned to the mission followed by the following text :
" The weather was very bad for take-off, and as a result AUS418812 P/O P. W. RYAN, who was on his first solo, was scrubbed from the
programme. All other got away. Target was RENNES. Two news crews, those of AUS427177 F/O W. R. WILLIAMS and AUS418812
P/O P.W. RYAN arrived. During the day 4 flights, totalling 8 hours, were made. All aircraft got back to this country and all were diverted
to CATFOSS owing to the unfavourable weather. Unfortunately AUS422259 P/O H. A. PARKINSON crashed whilst circuiting
and four members of the crew were killed. Later in the day both the Pilot and Flight Engineer died whilst the Wireless Operator
escaped with minor injuries. This was a very bad blow for this crew had the makings of a really fine team. The weather at CATFOSS
was also very bad and P/O PARKINSON hit a tree outside the aerodrome. The majority of the crews after circuiting for about
½ hour returned to various 5 Group stations and landed safely. Over the target the cloud base was 8000 ft. but visibility was good otherwise.
Very few crews observed the results of bombing but those that did all thought it very concentrated. P/O SAYERS was coned
by about five searchlights and descended to 2000 ft. and opened fire on the searchlights positions. Light flight Flak was experienced,
but the only bad part of the trip was the weather at take-off and on return, particularly the latter. 20 x 1000lb SAP USA, 4 x 1000lb GP USA,
24 x 500lb MC and 180 x 500lb GP were operated. Today was stand down. 13 flights, totalling 3 hours, were made during the day.

pages 9 à 12 de l'ORB AIR-27-1931-12.
On y trouve la laiste des 14 équipages de Lancaster Mk I et Mk III ayant participé au bombardement de Rennes. Les avions décollèrent entre 22h48
et 23h15 et revinrent à la base entre 4h10 et 5h18. A noter que le Lancaster Mk III LM440 n'a pas pu rejoindre sa base de départ mais s'est écrasé
à 3h57 près de la base RAF de Catfoss, dans le Yorshire. Malhereusement 4 membres d'équipage furent tués et 2 sérieusement blessés
décédèrent plus tard. Le seul survivant fut l'opérateur radio, le Flight Sergeant Mossenson, néanmoins blessé.

♦ Operational Record Book du Squadron 50 pour la nuit du 8 au 9 juin 1944
(source documents : The National Archives)

18 bombardiers du No. 50 Squadron de la RAF furent également affectés à la mission de bombardement sur la gare de triage de Rennes pour la nuit du 8 au 9 juin 1944. 17 seulement l'effectuèrent. Ci-dessous les ORB du Squadron pour cette opération.

page 4 of ORB AIR-27-488-11.
We can read in the red frame : " BOMBING ATTACK ON RENNES :
Eighteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above named target. Unfortunately, one (P/O Gilmour [1]) failed to return, and yet another (F/O Enoch)
was cancelled immediately prior to take-off. The remainder proceeded to the target without incident and successfully attacked it.
10/10ths thin cloud, base 6/7000’ Target identified by red spot fires and green Target Indicator’s. The target was well marked and
the bombing appeared concentrated. Sortie completed on the morning of 9.6.44.
(34 x 1 000 MC., 238 x 500 GP) [34 x 1,000 pounds Medium Capacity and 238 x 500 pounds General Purpose bombs were dropped] "

[1] Hit by Flak - Crashed at Betton, near the farm of La Foye (North of Rennes). Lancaster - LL841 - VN-O.
All the crew perished in the crash and are buried at Bayeux War Cemetery

pages 10 à 12 de l'ORB AIR-27-488-12.
Ci-dessus la liste des 17 appareils qui effectuèren,t la mission. A noter que le Lancaster Mk I LL841 (code VN-O) n'est pas rentré. A l'époque de l'ORB,
il est précisé qu'aucun message ou signal n'a été reçu. Nous savons depuis que l'avion, touché par la Flak, est tombé à Betton (35) près de la ferme
de La Foye, au Nord de Rennes. Tous les membres de l'équipage ont péri dans l'accident et sont enterrés au Bayeux War Cemetery.

Voici deux photos prises par deux Lancasters du No. 50 Squadron au dessus de la gare de triage de Rennes.

Photographie prise durant le bombardement par le Lancaster LM391 appartenant au No.50 Squadron et piloté par le Pilot Officer PETHICK.
Photographié à 4.000 pieds. Photo International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC)

Photographie prise durant le bombardement par le Lancaster LL922 appartenant au No.50 Squadron et piloté par le Pilot Officer MILLIKIN.
Photographié à 7.000 pieds. Photo International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC)

Localisation des deux photographies ci-dessus sur une photo aérienne de Rennes dans les années 50-60.

♦ German Flak units located in Rennes in June 1944 : it was probably one of these units that hit Steere and Gale's aircraft.
- Flak-Regiment 15 (v) – June 1^st, 1944 in Rennes, attached to the 13. Flak-Division
- Kommandeur : Oberst Paul Heck, July 24, 1943 – October 1^st, 1944
- leichte Flak-Abteilung 90 (mot.)
- leichte Flak-Abteilung 752 (v)
- leichte Flak-Abteilung 912 (v)
- leichte Flak-Abteilung 852 (v)
- gemischte Flak-Abteilung 441 (o)
- gemischte Flak-Abteilung 596 (o)
- gemischte Flak-Abteilung 497 (v)

(o) = ortsfest [stationary]
(v) = verlegefähig [transferable, partly motorized]
(mot.) = motorisiert [motorized]

In his mission report (see above page 9 of ORB AIR-27-1921-16), Squadron Leader FORBES, on board of Lancaster Mk I LL790 said concerning the Flak : " Defences on the target were approx. 12 light and 1 heavy Flak gun position and 4 searchlight ".

♦ Journal "Ouest-Eclair" du 10-11 juin 1944.
(Source gallica.bnf.fr Bibliothèque nationale de France )
A cette époque, le quotidien était à la main de la Collaboration et le bombardement de Rennes fut utilisé à des fins de propagande comme on le voit dans cet article intitulé " Un raid terroriste de l'aviation anglo-américaine sur la population civile de Rennes ".

Ci-dessous l'article en gros plan.

♦ The London Gazette, 25 June 1940 : publication de la DFM d'Harry Steere

♦ The London Gazette, 25 Juillet 1941 : Harry Steere est promu officier pour la durée des hostilités avec le grade de sous-lieutenant à l’essai (Pilot Officer on probation).

♦ The London Gazette, 24 Juillet 1942 : Harry Steere est promu lieutenant à l’essai (Flying Officer on probation) pour la durée des hostilités.

♦ The London Gazette, 2 Juillet 1943 : Harry Steere est confirmé dans le grade de Acting Flight Lieutenant pour la durée des hostilités le 1 avril 1943

♦ The London Gazette, 21 April 1944 : Kenneth William Gale is awarded the DFC.

♦ The London Gazette, 23 June 1944 : Harry Steere is awarded the DFC.

♦ Excerpt from the handwritten Gendarmerie report regarding the crash of an aircraft that occurred at Orgères, near Rennes, France
" Legion of Brittany – Company from Ille-et-Vilaine - Rennes Section – Brigade of Bruz, withdrawn to the village of Pont-Péan.
Report by Adjudant TONQUEDEC Eugène, Brigade Commander about the fall of an English aircraft at Saint-Erblon.
On 9 June, at around 1 a.m., during the bombing of the city of Rennes, an English aircraft (Mosquito) hit by anti-aircraft fire fell into flames at La Cour, locality in the commune of Saint-Erblon. The two airmen aboard the aircraft were killed and the aircraft completely destroyed. Soldiers of the occupying army arrived on the scene of the accident. No civilians were killed or injured during this aircraft crash. "

♦ Transcription d'n courrier du Ministère de l'Air daté du 23 février 1946 adressé à Madame Steere :

" Chère Madame,
Vous remerciant de votre lettre du 18 février, je suis heureux que vous ayez reconnu l'alliance, comme étant celle de votre époux, ce qui confirme que les renseignements que nous avons reçus concernent bien l'avion dans lequel se trouvait votre époux. Les renseignements précisent que l'avion est tombé dans une lande d'Orgères, près de Saint-Erblon, à 9 km au sud de Rennes, Ille et Vilaine, France à deux heures du matin le 9 juin 1944. Malgré l'ordre des autorités allemandes d'enterrer les membres de 1'équipage sur place, le maire a mis les deux corps en bière et, après un office religieux, ils ont été enterrés en la présence de presque tous les habitants dans le cimetière de St Erblon. Les tombes ont été désignées : Première tombe - un capitaine aviateur, pilote. Deuxième tombe - un officier aviateur observateur. Les tombes ont toujours été très bien entretenues, et décorées de fleurs.
Je suis désolé que ces nouvelles vous parviennent si tardivement, et j'espère que vous pourrez être consolée dans votre grande perte d'apprendre que les habitants de la commune aient rendu un si bel hommage à votre mari et son camarade. Je vous remercie pour votre offre d'aide, mais nous avons terminé notre enquête. J'aimerais, cependant, vous dire que nous apprécions énormément toute aide, car nous avons souvent si peu pour nous aider dans notre tâche.
Dans le cas présent, nous avons d'abord reçu les renseignements suivants : les initiales d'un membre de l'équipage étaient H.S. et s'appelait LOOD ou WOOD et ses initiales étaient U.C.. Il semblerait que ce dernier renseignement ait été basé sur une plaque d'avion portant la mention U/C LOCK (Under Carriage Lock) verrou du train d'atterrissage), qu'un habitant dans la commune avait pris par erreur pour une plaque d'identité. La D.F.M. (Distinguished) Flying Medal). Médaille d'aviateur) de votre mari nous est parvenue en même temps que l'alliance; et nous avons pensé que vous voudriez la reprendre également. Veuillez agréer, etc...".

♦ Maquette du Mosquito IV DZ353 (AZ-B) du No. 627 Squadron RAF