9 June, 1944
De Havilland Mosquito Mk IV
DZ353 code AZ-B
"La cour", Saint-Erblon (35)
(contributors : Brian Steere, Ken Crooke, J.P Favrais, Daniel Dahiot, Frédéric Hénoff, Bernard Gislard, Pierre Mahé, John Telfer, Etienne Maignen, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Aircrew Remembered)
© artwork Gaëtan Marie
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
- OPERATIONAL RECORD BOOKS
- NEWSPAPER "OUEST-ECLAIR" JUNE 1944
- DOCUMENTS HARRY STEERE
- DOCUMENTS KENNETH GALE
- VARIOUS DOCUMENTS
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
Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Medal Military Campaign Medal 1939-1945 Star Air Crew Star
Flight Lieutenant Harry Steere's medals
Photo Steere family
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 29th, 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 : Harry Steere family 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 (with F/Lt D.G. Clouston and F/O. G.W. Petre) in the probable destruction of a Ju 88, the squadron's first victory. Over Dunkirk on the 26th, he destroyed a Ju 87. On the 27th, shared a Do 215 probably destroyed off the French coast ; on the 28th he destroyed a Me 109 over Dunkirk and on June 1st, he destroyed a Do 215 and shared a Me109 (probably destroyed). He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 25th 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 15th, he shot down a Do 17 above London and a Me 109 south of Londin. On the 18th he shared a He 111 and a Ju 88 (destroyed), on the 27th he destroyed a Me 109 near Deal, in the Kent county, and on November 28, he destroyed another Me 109 east of Ramsgate. Harry Steere had 6 confirmed kills, 1 probable kill, 3 shared kills and 2 shared probable kills, for a total of 13 kills ; he therefore had the ace status (minimum 5 confirmed kills).
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 1st, 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].
Pilots of No. 19 Squadron at Fowlmere, August 1940. Left to right : Flight Lieutenant Brian 'Sandy' Lane, Sergeant Jack Potter,
Sergeant Bernard 'Jimmy' Jennings, Pilot Officer Raymond Aeberhardt, Flight Sergeants George 'Grumpy' Unwin and Harry Steere,
Pilot Officer Frank 'Fanny' Brinsden, Flying Officer Jack 'Farmer' Lawson, Flying Officer Leonard Haines, Pilot Officer Arthur Vokes,
Flight Lieutenant Wilf Clouston, Flying Officer Eric Thomas.
Photo Imperial War Museum - reference HU 27861
On April 1sr, 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 1st, 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.
Left to right:: Flight Sergeant Harry Steere, Squadron Leader Brian 'Sandy' Lane, CO of No. 19 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Wilfrid Clouston,
and Czech pilot Flight Lieutenant Frantisek 'Dolly' Dolezal in front of a Spitfire at Fowlmere, September 1940.
Photo Imperial War Museum - reference CH1325
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 18th 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.
Harry Steere (on the right)
Photo : Harry Steere family via Pierre Mahé
Flying Officer Kenneth William GALE
Kenneth William Gale
Photo famille Gale (Colin Jacobsen)
Distinguished Flying Cross - 1939-1945 Star-Air Crew Europe Star-Africa Star-Defence Medal-War Medal 1939-1945-Australian Service Madal 1939-1945
Flying Officer Gale's medals
Source Gale's family with courtesy of Ken Crooke
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.
Kenneth William Gale
Photo famille Gale (Ken Crooke)
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 86th 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)
When Robin Steere, son of pilot Harry Steere, came to Orgères in the 1980s, he signed the photo of Mosquito DZ353 (coded GB-E at that time),
visible on page 7 of the Atlas Editions magazine dedicated to the De Havilland Mosquito.
Document Pïerre Mahé's collection
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
(collected by Pierre Mahé)
♦ 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.
re, Pierre Mahé et M. Crambert
Photo Pierre Mahé
Robin Steere, Pierre Mahé and Mr Crambert
Photo Pierre Mahé
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.
♦ Madame QUATREBOEUFS de Saint-Erblon
During the night of June 8 to 9, 1944, Mrs. Quatreboeufs, who lived at a place called Telle, heard a loud noise, went out of her parents’ house, and saw a plane passing right above her, almost entirely on fire. Only the nose of the plane was visible, and a trail of green light could be seen within the flames. The plane appeared uncontrollable, swaying from one wing to the other, and hit the tops of the trees just in front of her house.
PARTIE5
PARTS OF THE MOSQUITO DZ353 (found by the Gendron brothers and Bernard Gislard - photos ABSA 39-45 unless otherwise stated)
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
Another part of the control shaft
(photo Steere family)
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).
♦ La chronique d'Hermeland (Saint-Erblon municpal magazine) Novembre 2011.
♦ Ouest-France - November 2010 - Saint-Erblon (35).
Sources :
- Aircrew Remembered
- Australian War Memorial
- The London Gazette
- Bomber Command War Diary
- International Bomber Command Center
PARTIE9
APPENDICES
.
OPERATIONAL RECORD BOOKS
♦ 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 to 12 of ORB AIR-27-1931-12.
It lists the 14 Lancaster Mk I and Mk III crews that participated in the bombing of Rennes. The aircraft took off between 10:48 pm
and 11:15 pm and returned to base between 4:10 am and 5:18 am. Note that Lancaster Mk III LM440 was unable to return to its home base but crashed
at 3:57 am near RAF Catfoss, Yorkshire. Unfortunately, four crew members were killed and two seriously injured died later.
The only survivor was the wireless operator, Flight Sergeant Mossenson, who was nevertheless injured.
♦ Operational Record Book of Squadron 50 for the night of June 8 to 9, 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 to 12 of ORB AIR-27-488-12.
Above is the list of the 17 aircraft that carried out the mission. Note that Lancaster Mk I LL841 (code VN-O) did not return. At the time of the ORB,
it was stated that no messages or signals were received. We have since learned that the aircraft, hit by flak, fell in Betton (35) near the farm "La Foye",
north of Rennes. All crew members perished in the crash and are buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Here are two photos taken by two Lancasters of No. 50 Squadron over the Rennes marshalling yard..
Photograph taken during the bombing raid by Lancaster LM391 belonging to No. 50 Squadron and flown by Pilot Officer PETHICK.
Photograph taken at 4,000 feet. Photo International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC)
Photograph taken during the bombing raid by Lancaster LL922 belonging to No. 50 Squadron and flown by Pilot Officer MILLIKIN.
Photograph taken at 7,000 feet. Photo International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC)
Location of the two photographs above on an aerial photo of Rennes in the 1950s-60s.
♦ 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 1st, 1944 in Rennes, attached to the 13. Flak-Division
- Kommandeur : Oberst Paul Heck, July 24, 1943 – October 1st, 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 ".
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NEWSPAPER "OUEST-ECLAIR"
♦ Issue dated June 10-11, 1944.
(Source : Etienne Maignen's collection)
Etienne Maignen is an illustrious historian of the Rennes area ; he has kept original copies of the newspaper Ouest-Eclair (ancestor of Ouest-France). At that time, the newspaper was in the hands of the Collaboration and the bombing of Rennes was used for propaganda purposes as seen in this article entitled "A terrorist raid by the Anglo-American air force on the civilian population of Rennes".
Below the article.
Above, back of the June 10-11, 1944 edition, reporting on the "terrorist raid of June 9, 1944" and below, a zoom on the article.
♦ Issue dated June 12, 1944.
(Source : Etienne Maignen's collection)
But beyond being an historian, Etienne Maignen and his family were also directly affected by this raid of June 8-9. Almost the entire family was at that time refugees in Soudan (Loire-Inférieure) near Châteaubriant. But Etienne Maigne's aunt had remained in Rennes. She was one of the victims of the bombing. Etienne Maignen senior, who wanted to go to his sister's funeral by bicycle, thought he had to request a certificate from the Mayor of Soudan to be presented in case of a check on this long journey. Below is the article from Ouest-Eclair (back) dated June 12, again mentioning the victims of the "terrorist raid" (full page and zoom on the article - note a spelling mistake made on the name of Miss "Meignen") followed by the letter from the Mayor of Soudan to Mr. Etienne Maignen senior.
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DOCUMENTS HARRY STEERE
♦ Combat Reports of Flight Lieutenant Harry Steere
- May 11, 1940 (Harry Steere was a Flight Sergeant in No. 19 Squadron). This combat report describes the combat of 3 Spitfires of No. 19 Squadron flown by F/Lt D.G. Clouston (Blue 1), F/Sgt H. Steere (Blue 2) and F/O. G.W. Petre (Blue 3) against a Junkers Ju 88 between 13:40 and 13:45 at 10 miles east of the East Dudgeon Lightship (Norfolk coast).
(source document : Brian Steere)
(source document : The National Archives)
- May 26, 1940 (Harry Steere was a Flight Sergeant in No. 19 Squadron). Harry Steere shot down a Junkers Ju 87 after a long burst lasting 8 seconds. The Ju 87 lost its port wing and spiralled down in flames.
(source document : Brian Steere)
- May 27, 1940 : Harry Steere claims 1/3 of a Dornier Do 215 at 14,000 ft over the French coast after firing a 5-second burst. The aircraft was seen diving and Steere considers the aircraft couldn't recover.
(source document : Brian Steere)
- May 28, 1940 : Harry Steere shot down a Messerchmitt Bf 109 over Dunkirk by firing short bursts. He saw the aircraft falling in flames towards the ground.
(source document : Brian Steere)
- June 1, 1940 : Harry Steere shared a Messerchmitt Bf 109 with his Blue leader then shot down a Dornier Do 215 by firing on its left engine.
- September 9, 1940 : Harry Steere probably shot down a Messerchmitt Bf 110 ; his leader, F/Lt W.G. CLOUSTON, saw the Bf 110 apparently out of control as it turned left
- September 15, 1940 : Harry Steere shot down a Messerchmitt Bf 109 south of London. He was number 4 in the Red Section.
- September 15, 1940 : Steere shot down a Dornier Do 17 over London by firing on its port engine, which burst into flames. The crew was seen bailing out.
- September 18, 1940 : within a few minutes, Steere shared a Heinkel He 111 that fell at the mouth of the Thames and fired on the starboard engine of a Junkers Ju 88, which burst into flames. Two or three other Sptifires fired on the Ju 88, which crashed near the Isle of Sheppey, on the south coast of the Thames mouth.
- September 27, 1940 : Steere leading the Green Section and attacked a group of eight Messerschmitt Bf 109s at 20,000 ft near Deal (Kent). He fired a burst into the rear of the engine and into the cockpit. Sergeant Plzak saw the Me 109 going down in flames.
- September 28, 1940 : 4 Messerschmitt Bf 109s attacked Steere's Green Section. Harry fired a 7-second burst at one of them, which rolled and fell into the sea 8 miles east of Ramsgate, on the northeast coast of Kent.
♦ Wallasey local newspaper articles :
- Left : article dated June 25, 1940, stating that Harry Steere shot down three enemy aircraft and shared three others. We learn that Harry's father, Ernest Steere, was a sailor on a minesweeper during World War I, and that Harry has two brothers also in the RAF.
- Top right : article dated June 23, 1944, informing us that Harry Steere is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for a mission in which he brought back his aircraft after it had been hit by a shell. He was a student at Oldershaw Grammar School, which he left to join the RAF at the age of 17. One of his brothers in the RAF is assigned in Italy (Ernest, 37) and the other one is instructor (Jack, 33). The husbands of Harry's two sisters were also in the RAF. We also learn that his father, who had joined the merchant navy, died at sea in 1942. The article, although published after his death, makes no mention of it.
- Bottom right : 1940 article reporting the awarding of the DFM to Harry Steere for shooting down 3 aircraft and 3 others shared.
Document : Pierre Mahé's collection
♦ Letter from the British Air Ministry to Joan Margaret Steere, wife of Harry Steere
In this letter, we learn that Harry Steere's identity was confirmed by his wife's identification of his ring. The Air Ministry recounts the circumstances of the crash to Mrs. Steere, as well as the attention paid by the local population to the burial of the two airmen (the two coffins made overnight, the presence of inhabitants at the funeral) and the regular placement of flowers on the graves. We also learn that initially, the villagers of Orgères, having found a plaque marked "U/C LOCK," thought that one of the airmen was named U.C. LOOD or WOOD. In fact, "U/C LOCK" stands for "Under Carriage Lock".
Document : Pierre Mahé's collection
♦ "The London Gazette", 25 June 1940 : publication of Harry Steere's DFM
♦ "The London Gazette", 25 July, 1941 : Harry Steere was promoted to officer for the duration of hostilities with the rank of Pilot Officer on probation.
♦ "The London Gazette", 24 July, 1942 : Harry Steere was promoted to Flying Officer on probation for the duration of hostilities.
♦ "The London Gazette", 2 July, 1943 : Harry Steere was confirmed in the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant for the duration of hostilities on 1st April, 1943
♦ "The London Gazette", 23 June, 1944 : Harry Steere is awarded the DFC.
♦ Message of condolence from King George VI to Joan Margaret Steere, wife of Harry Steere
Document : Pierre Mahé's collection
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DOCUMENTS KENNETH WILLIAM GALE
♦ "The London Gazette", 21 April, 1944 : Kenneth William Gale is awarded the DFC.
♦ Australian local newspaper article from 1944
This article mentions that Kenneth Gale, son of Mr and Mrs William James Gale, is reported missing in action ; he received his decoration a few weeks earlier (presumably his DFC mentioned in the London Gazette above).
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VARIOUS DOCUMENTS
♦ 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 of a letter from the Air Ministry dated February 23, 1946, sent to Madame Steere :
" Dear Madam,
Thanking you for your letter of February 18, I am pleased that you recognized the wedding ring as your husband's, which confirms that the information we received does indeed concern the plane your husband was flying. The information specifies that the plane went down in a field in Orgères, near Saint-Erblon, 9 km south of Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, France, at 2:00 a.m. on June 9, 1944. Despite orders from the German authorities to bury the crew members on site, the mayor placed the two bodies in coffins, and after a religious service, they were buried in the presence of almost all the inhabitants in the cemetery of St. Erblon. The graves have been designated : First grave - a Flight Lieutenant, pilot. Second grave - a Flying Officer, observer. The graves have always been very well maintained, and decorated with flowers.
I am sorry that this news reaches you so late, and I hope you may be consoled in your great loss to learn that the people of the town have paid such a kind tribute to your husband and his comrade. I thank you for your offer of assistance, but we have completed our investigation. I would, however, like to say that we greatly appreciate any help, as we often have so little to assist us in our task.
In the present case, we first received the following information : a member of the crew had his initials H.S. and his name was LOOD or WOOD and his initials U.C. It would appear that this last information was based on an aircraft plate bearing the words U/C LOCK (Under Carriage Lock), which a resident in the town had mistaken for an identity plate. Your husband's D.F.M. (Distinguished) Flying Medal (Airman's Medal) came to us with the wedding ring; and we thought you might like to take it back as well. Yours faithfully, etc...".
♦ Model kit of the Mosquito Mk IV DZ353 (AZ-B) of No. 627 Squadron RAF
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