Operation 'Coup de Main' / Operation Tonga - 5/6 June 1944

[BIGVERN1966]

Hi All

I'm in the process of doing research for a project about the RAF/British Army Airborne forces operations on the morning of D-Day, and as part of this project I want to do a profile of an aircraft from each unit that took part in placement of 6th Airborne division into Normandy, I've done a trip down to Kew, and have compiled a list of the following RAF aircraft which took part in Operation 'Coup de Main' / Operation Tonga. What I'm looking for is any portside photo or profile of any of the aircraft on this list (the ones in blue being one's I would kill for). The ones in Red, I've already found the required info on and the rest of the serials or codes are up for other forum members to use, though info on serials and codes not listed would be of use.

48 Squadron - Dakota III

AJ/KG321
UC/KG337
AH/KG409
AF/KG364
AD/KG391
UG/KG414
AG/KG391
UG/KG406
AV/KG419
UM/KG416
AK/KG408
AL/KG452
AN/KG404
AM/KG394
UN/KG370
UD/KG406
AV/KG499
UM/KG416
AK/KG408
AL/KG452

196 Squadron - Stirling IV

LK510
LF641
LF502
EF309
LJ945
EF248
LJ810
LJ502
LJ841
LF276
LJ848
LJ937
LJ840
LJ502
LJ837

644 Squadron - Halifax V

LL350 'Z'
LL344 'P'
LL218 'N'
LL326 'N'
LL332 'K'
LL352 'Q'
LL402 'F'
LL338 'J'
LL357 'P'
LL198 'D'
LL305 'A'
LL399 'S'
LL219 'G'
LL351 'L'
LL345 'F'
LL400 'T'
LL342 'L'
LL328 'T'
LL403 'G'
LL340 'R'
LL301 'R'
LL312 'T'
LL325 'Y'

233 Squadron - Dakota III

KG424
KG341
KG329
FZ678
KG315
KG415
KG313
KG403
KG410
FZ685
KG427
KG399
KG440
FZ686
KG400
KG430
KG433
FZ679
KG356
KG429
KG455
FZ672
KG437
FZ688
KG448
FZ681
KG412
KG447
FG692
KG420

271 Squadron - Dakota III

KG545
KG500
KG564
KG444
KG512
KG516
KG387
KG515
FZ639
KG362
FZ613
KG376
KG365
KG345
KG367
KG357
FZ628
KG374
KG562
KG378
KG365
KG372
KG340
FZ601
KG358
KG514
FZ668

295 Squadron - Albemarle

V1740 8Z-A
V1656
V1753
P1430
V1784
V1751
V1757
P1404
V1613
V1647
V1723
V1750
V1777
P1436
V1766
P1369
V1607
V1763
V1748
P1445
P1397
V1749

296 Squadron - Albemarle

V1701
V1765
V1774
V1699 9W-H
V1696
V1616
V1605
V1744
V1630
V1698
P1501
V1785
V1646
V1810
V1632
V1813
V1739
V1775
P1439

297 Squadron - Albemarle (didn't get chance to read the F541)

V1823 P5-S

299 Squadron - Stirling IV

G
E
C
I
J
L
A
B
M
H
D
N
P
O
Q
T
S
U
V
Y
X
W
R
F

512 Squadron - Dakota III

KG392 'V'
KG390 'E'
KG422 'B1'
FZ647 'H'
KG322 'C'
KG314 'C1'
KG480 'G'
KG373 'B'
KG486 'A1'
KG407 'D'
KG324 'A'
KG333 'N'
FZ649 'J1'
FZ610 'O'
FZ694 'R'
FZ651 'J'
KG344 'L'
KG348 'K'
FZ658 'M'
FZ696 'Q'
FZ609 'P'
FZ656 'K'
KG368 'Y'
KG323 'U1'
KG418 'T1'
KG371 'X'
KG330 'T'
KG347 'S1'
KG361 'U'
KG379 'W'

298 Squadron - Halifax V

LL355 G
LL335 K
LL278 T
LL147 Q
LL349 W
LL348 M
LL343 L
LL273 Y
LL361 F
LK654 G
LL382 O
LL406 T
LL148 J
LL336 U
LL271 B
LK966 C
LL348 H
LL407 K
LL384 S
LL355 G
LL147 0
LL348 H
LL335 K

570 Squadron - Albemarle

V1814
V1694
V1617
V1645
V1704
V1653
P1379 V8-D
V1627
V1842
P1441
V1620
V1746
V1631
V1623
V1752
V1626
V1767
V1624
V1754
V1703
V1602
P1980

575 Squadron - Dakota III

KG449
KG442
KG434
KG695
KG431
KG363
KG425
KG311
KG640
KG310
KG328

620 SQN Squadron - Stirling IV

LJ847
EF295
LJ917
EF293
LJ865
LJ878
LJ849
EF256
LJ875
LJ588
LJ921
LJ872
LJ288
EF237
EF296
LK432
LJ850
LJ892
LJ869
LJ899
LJ866
LJ847
EF303
EF116
EF275

Thanks for any information or help in advance and PM me for contact details as regards e-mailing or photos.

Richard.

P.S. Does anybody know which one of the Stirling's Richard Todd jumped from?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Richard!
I am afraid your querrie is a bit too long, this is most of people did not reply yet.
I am sure you certainly do have this book, but I read it last year and found a good account with some information that you are looking for.
Have you tried to contact those Squadron´s Associations? Try out, you certainly will be sucessful.
Hope to have helped, even though being a small help...
Sincere and friendly yours
Adriano Baumgartner
ONE NIGHT IN JUNE

One Night in June is an account of the Glider Pilot Regiment’s role in Operation Tonga, the first stage of the Airborne assault in the Normandy landings in June 1944.The story includes stories of crew who evaded capture by the Germans and pays tribute to the help they received from local Resistance fighters.The contribution of the nine gliders which took part in the ‘Coup de Main’ landings has been well-documented but of the other eighty-nine gliders which took part little has been written.This book tells the full story.

Author:

Kevin Shannon & Stephen Wright; forword General Sir John HackettFormat:

208pp, b/w photographs, hb. Published Price £16.95

Price:

£ 4.99
Click Here to view this price in other currencies

Shipping Time:

Usually despatched Next DayProduct Code No:

6500

[BIGVERN1966]

Hello Adriano

Thanks for the pointer, No I've not got the book in question, however it is now on order. There is a French site that does list all of the glider sorties flown on the night of 5/6 Jun with 'One Night in June' as its sourse. Most of the details seem to be taken from the 38 Group Glider Raid Reports, the only Sqn 540 annexs that have these reports on microfilm at Kew seem to be those of the Tarrent Rushton units (298 and 644) The Orne bridge glider tugs were

298 Squadron - Halifax V

LL355 ‘G’
LL335 ‘K’
LL278 ‘T’

644 Squadron - Halifax V

LL350 'Z'
LL344 'P'
LL218 'N'

These are the ones I'm most interested in at the minute, however due to the size of the 2 squadrons, they had multiple squadron codes (8A (A Flt)or 8T (B Flt) for 298 and 9U or 2P for 644 Sqn). To make life even more interesting some of the Halifax V's at Tarrent Rushton had dual letter codes (KK is one that springs to mind, seing that its in a photo of the aircraft lined up for Op Mallard on the afternoon of D-Day (cannot make out the serial of KK on the photo though). Thanks to the 38 Group Reunited site, I'm sure that LL218 was 2P-N and I've found a couple of other codes for both Squadrons. Two books I was hoping would help are Ospery's Halifax Squadrons of WWII and the Warpaint - Hailfax and Halton, however every attempt to buy the later on line has ended up with 'out of print and out of stock'.

Cheers for the link however.

Regards

Richard

[raf38group]

Hello Richard,

I'm the Webmaster of www.raf38group.org
To begin to help you:

Here are the 297 Squadron aircraft serials (all were Albemarles) who participated to Tonga:

Tonga I/II
P1383
V1716
P1400
P1384
V1700
V1812
P1365
V1748
P1367
V1772
V1742
P1471
P1378

Tonga III
V1781
V1778
V1825
P1395
V1771
P1651
P1409
V1769
V1773
V1782
V1776

Concerning 299 Squadron I have a list of all the Stirling assigned to this Squadron who could have flown Tonga but it is a very long work because I've to retrieve what letter what assigned to each aircraft by checking in all the documents. It'll take a few months...

Unfortunately I don't have all the aircraft letters you search but I'll try to help you with what I have (off board).
My email is raf38groupATgmail.com (replace AT with @)

Regards.

Bruno LECAPLAIN

[BIGVERN1966]

Thanks Bruno, E-mail on its way. Also welcome to 12 O'clock high, and congratulations on your excellent web-site.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Richard,
I am not at home right now, but as soon as I got home, I will try to put you in contact with the Stirling Aircrew Asssociation. You could, however, meanwhile try to contact them. They are very helpful and, I am sure, will try to help you with information on 299 Squadron´s Stirling during Operation Tonga.
I am glad that the book will help you...it is a great reading!
Sincere and friendly yours
Adriano

[mike shearing]

Dear Richard

I've just been doing some research for my family history and just seen your request for pictures of aircraft that you listed.

I do have one that may be of some intrest to you, as i believe it was taken before the mission on the eve of D' Day. my Mothers Cousin,
Robert Farrow was the navigator on the Albermarle, reg v1740. hence i have the photo.

The pilot was Squadron leader Claude Merrick, and i know that Air Vice Marshall Hollinghurst was also on the flight too.

The only other thing that I've found out so far is that Squadron Leader
Merrick and Robert Received the DFC each for their part in the mission

Richard. I hope that you you receive the picture in the attachment ok, as I've had some problems with it's file size. The only way i could seem to do it was to use the camera on my phone, but the quality isn't great. if you have any ideas of how i could email you a better copy just let me know. Also if a hard copy would be any use, i'd be more than happy to send you a one.

Good luck with your research.

Regards

Mike Shearing

[BIGVERN1966]

Originally Posted by mike shearing

Dear Richard

I've just been doing some research for my family history and just seen your request for pictures of aircraft that you listed.

I do have one that may be of some intrest to you, as i believe it was taken before the mission on the eve of D' Day. my Mothers Cousin,
Robert Farrow was the navigator on the Albermarle, reg v1740. hence i have the photo.

The pilot was Squadron leader Claude Merrick, and i know that Air Vice Marshall Hollinghurst was also on the flight too.

The only other thing that I've found out so far is that Squadron Leader
Merrick and Robert Received the DFC each for their part in the mission

Richard. I hope that you you receive the picture in the attachment ok, as I've had some problems with it's file size. The only way i could seem to do it was to use the camera on my phone, but the quality isn't great. if you have any ideas of how i could email you a better copy just let me know. Also if a hard copy would be any use, i'd be more than happy to send you a one.

Good luck with your research.

Regards

Mike Shearing

Hi Mike

Thanks for the offer, which I'm glad to say is a photo of one of the Aircraft that was on my must find list. a few more details for your use.

V1740 was an AW Albermarle of 295 Squadron RAF which took off at 23.03 5th June 1944 from its base at RAF Harwell

Crew was as follows

83256 S/L Merrick. C - Pilot
1268885 W/O Farrow R.E. - Navigator
145382 F/O Saddler N.E. - Air Bomber
1312408 F/S Lindsey W. - Wireless Operator
J.17236 F/S Walker J.R. - Air Gunner

The aircraft did carry a VIP crewman in the form of the AOC 38 Group as 2nd pilot and 10 paratrooper 'Pathfinders' of 22nd Independent Parachute Company. These troops were believed to be the first British paratroopers to land in France (at Drop Zone ‘K’ at around 00:20) as part of Operation Tonga.

The aircraft returned safely to Harwell at 01.48 on the 6th

I’ll PM you later with E-mail details. Scanned image if possible, the bigger the image size, the better.

Regards

Richard

[eddieitman]

Sorry to resurect an old thread i have the Flight log books for LL343 (298 Squadron) and many photographs of the squadron please let me know if you would like them

[eddieitman]