Dear Treavor,

The 802nd Recon Group (Prov) at Watton, launched a series of mission titled, "Rooster", to photograph the D-Day invasion beaches. The term "Rooster" was not a program but a designation used for statistical purposes in identifying the various types of mission flown by the group. Just as the term "Redstocking" was not a program but a designation used for statistical purposes in identifying missions flown for the OSS.

The final Rooster mission was flown 8 June by Capt. Walter D. Gernand of Beaumont, Texas, and 8th Combat Camera Unit photographer Sgt. Ebbet C. Lynch in Mosquito NS555. After successfully completing the mission the aircraft returned to England and landed at Middle Wallop to refuel. It then took off for Watton.

Three hours later, Watton received a report the Mosquito crashed one mile from High Wycombe killing both men. According to the 802/25th BG and AAF accident records, witnesses reported that at 1900 hours they heard an aircraft above in the clouds flying in a northerly direction with the engines being continuously throttled down and then opened up. The aircraft suddenly broke through the low overcast in a vertical dive with both engines running full-out. The aircraft made a half-turn before diving straight into a railroad embankment and explode in a ball of flame.

This was Eb Lynch's tenth mission. Apparently Gernand became disoriented in the clouds and failed to use his flight instruments properly to maintain level flight. He previously flew P-38s with 50th FS in Iceland before joining the 802nd RG (P) at Watton. The 802nd dropped its provisional designation on 9 August 1944, and formalized as the 25th BG Rcn.

The Moquito Air Museum recovered the Merlin engine from the crash site of this aircraft. They have further information in this regard.

Norman Malayney