Secret mission 10 Sqdn RAAF 18/06/1940

[B.F.M. Droog]

Gentlemen,

Yesterday I stumbled on a remarkable story. Two Australian pilots from 10 RAAF Squadron, a captain from the Intelligence Corps and a telegraphist of the RAF flew in Walrus L2312 to France on a secret mission to rescue General de Gaulle's wife and children.

They did not succeed; the Walrus crashed near Ploudaniel in France (and De Gaulle's family escaped by boat to England). See: BBC WW2 People's War: Rescueing Madame De Gaulle

One question remains unanswered: were German or French fighters responsible for this crash?

Regards,

Bart

[Graham Boak]

Ploudaniel sounds Breton to me - as with other places in range of a Walrus, I think this would have been under German control with no French flying allowed. Or possibly it was just a crash, not a shoot-down?

[B.F.M. Droog]

Ploudaniel is indeed in Brittany. In the story on BBC WW2 People's War stands: 'it is believed they were fired on by the Germans or possibly the French.'
I don't know why this was believed.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Strange coincidence that i was just reading about this very event last night.
It seems that this Walrus (L2312)was requested on the 17th June from RAF Mount Batten where 10 Sqdn RAAF used it on occasion to fetch Mn DeGaulle and her family and maid from France on the 18th June.But it was not until many months after that notification of the site of the crews graves was received from the Red Cross that the a/c had crashed in fog two miles from Ploudaniel. The aircrew were -F/Lt. J.N.Bell RAAF, Major Norman Hope SIS and F/Sgt. C.W. Harris. However that is just the start. An MTB (29)was sent after her when nothing was heard from the Walrus. it left Plymouth on the 19th June.Mn De Gaulle with her people had already left France before the Walrus had even left for her. On the 17th June had gone into Brest and with money from an Aunt embarked on one of the last two ships to leave for England, a Polish one and an English one. She chose the English ship, and arrived safely in Falmouth on the 19th June they were in England before the MTB had sailed from Plymouth for them. The Polish ship was sunk.on the way over.

Details from Secret Flotillas by Brooks Richards (in two vols). A Great read for interest in James Bond and the "Secret" side of war and Sailing.

There is no mention of Bernard Nowell in the book.

Alex

[Leendert]

Bart,

According this Australian story the Walrus crashed when trying to land in foggy conditions: http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/044446

It therefore seems the weather was the enemy.

Groet,

Leendert

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Alex and Leendert,

Thanks, and yes, the weather conditions seem the most logical explanation for the crash.
10 Squadron RAAF was involved in more 'secret operations'; in the ORB of the unit I read a few times the caption 'secret convoy patrol ' - whatever that may be.