5 July, 1944

De Havilland Mosquito Mk IV (HR161 - code LA-R)
"Champ des Forges" - Talmont-Saint-Hilaire (85)
(contributors : Pierre Corny, Philippe Dufrasne)


A De Havilland Mosquito Mk IV
© IWM (CH 7781) - public domaine

Crew : 235 Squadron RAF

- Flying Officer (pilot) John Thomas SAMMON, 21 years old - RCAF (service number J/21782)
Son of Joseph Patrick and Catherine Sammon, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont cemetery, grave # 2
- Flying Officer (navigator) Franck Stanley HARRIS, 23 years- RAF Volunteer Reserve (service number 136382)
Son of Walter Stanley and Alice Jean Harris, Coventry, England.
Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont cemetery, grave # 1

Flying Officer Frank Harris & John Sammon
photo via Pierre Corny

THE STORY
On July 5, 1944, a patrol of two fighter-bomber aircrafts from 235 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, based at Portreath airfield in Cornwall, attacked a German “pathfinder” ship (mine barrage breaker) off the coast of Royan. The first aircraft, flown by the Canadian John Sammon, navigator Frank Harris, saw the fire of the ship's Flak (anti-aircraft fire) concentrated on him ; the second aircraft, flown by Tom Warwick, navigator Ken Gratton, followed the same trajectory. The two Mosquitos dropped their 250 kg bombs on the objective and headed north to return to their base. But both were hit.

The left engine of Sammon and Harris' aircraft was out of service, and they were at low speed and low altitude when they were returning north, followed by the other aircraft, also seriously hit. They probably wanted to stay close to the coast in case, as the situation worsened, a landing became inevitable. Were they hit again, by a coastal battery ? It is possible, but the fact remains that as Sammon and Harris' aircraft lost more and more altitude, the pilot had, upon arriving at Bourgenay, no other choice than a forced landing, attempted with an aircraft that was already difficult to pilot when everything was working, in a field located in "Les Forges". Navigator Harris, ejected during the crash, was killed instantly ; he was 23 years old. Pilot Sammon was burned alive in the wreckage which burned as munitions exploded ; there was nothing to do. He was 21 years old.

The two bodies were recovered the next day. Harris was identified by his plate number, while Sammon was just an unidentifiable charred body. They were both buried in the Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont cemetery ; the Germans would have rendered the honors during the ceremony. The second Mosquito did not go much further and had to land off "L'Île d'Yeu", in front of the port of "La Meule". A fisherman rescued the two airmen who were captured and sent to a prison camp. As for the German ship, it was spotted the next day by another patrol of Mosquitos, in tow towards La Rochelle ; so it had indeed been hit by the two Mosquitos !

COMMEMORATIONS
A tribute was paid to the airmen in July 2004, for the sixtieth anniversary of their sacrifice. Their families were able to go to Talmont-Saint-Hilaire and paid their respects at their graves.

IN MEMORIAM

At Saint-Hilaire-de-Talmont cemetery

The graves of Flying Officers Franck Stanley HARRIS and John Thomas SAMMON 
Photo Pierre Corny

A stele erected in tribute to the Flying Officers Franck Stanley HARRIS and John Thomas SAMMON near the crash site.
Photo via Pierre Corny

APPENDICES

Extracts of the Operations Record Book (ORB) of 235 Squadron for July 1944
Source "The National Archives"

On the 1^st page, we learn that the weather for July 5 was cloudy with bright intervals, that F/O Warwick and Sammon took off at 7:53 a.m. for a reconnaissance mission to the mouth of the Gironde, and that they didn't come back. It is believed that they attacked a 1 500 to 2 000 ton "pathfinder" ship.

On the second page, we learn that Sammon and Harris' Mosquito had the letter "R", that they took off at 7:53 a.m. and that Warwick and Gratton's Mosquito had the letter "J" and that they took off at 7:54 a.m. “R” (i.e. Sammon) was the leader of the formation. The two aircrafts did not return. Aircrafts from Squadron 248 (letter codes "B" and "D") spotted in this area of ​​the Gironde mouth a "pathfinder" ship with a 30 degree list to starboard which led to the conclusion that the ship must have been attacked by Sammon and Warwick.