Trying to find out more about 122 Squadron.

[Larskristel]

Hi, how are you all doing?

Anyone got some info like mission reports or any links to interesting sites?

Reason I ask is this picture...

And:
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2320846

[Larskristel]

Reporting back if anyone is interested. Found some Combat reports on 2 of his missions.

In short:

19 April 1944 - Damaged Heinkel 111. Near Dijon.
(1)7 June 1944 - 2 FW 190's destroyed and 1 damaged. Near Hernay. (a month before crash)

Copie of docs in link below:

http://yfrog.com/hqflpaveyd

More information sure is welcome!

Lars

[Icare9]

Larskristel
Maybe I lost something in the translation but your link is to:-
Name: DEFFONTAINE, CHRISTIAN GEORGES AUGUSTE J.
Initials: C G A J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 26
Date of Death: 27/02/1942
Service No: 87682
Additional information: Chevalier de L'ordre Leopold avec Palme, Croix de Guerre avec Palme. Son of Lieutenant-General Georges Francois Auguste Deffontaine and Lucienne Virginie Jeanne Marie Deffontaine.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 69.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Whereas the headstone is for
Name: PAVEY, ALAN FRANCIS
Initials: A F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 122 Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 27/07/1944
Service No: 119252
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Son of Lt.-Col. Samuel Pavey, M.C., and Eva Mary Pavey, of Hove Sussex; husband of Beatrice Pavey, of Barnet, Hertford.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: LES PREAUX CHURCHYARD
which is I presume the 122 Squadron connection..... but is there something we are supposed to know about Deffontaine?
In 1944 122 Squadron were flying Mustang III fighter bombers in support of the Normandy invasion and drive through France.
It would appear that F/O Pavey may have been shot down during a ground attack, presumably an airfield or other target of opportunity near where he crashed.
His is the only CWGC grave in the churchyard, which usually infers that the village may have "adopted" him, which I do hope is the case.
Pierre Vandervelden has an extensive website of most (if not all) of the CWGC cemeteries in France and Belgium for both WW1 and WW2, well worth bookmarking for future rfererence.
The relevant page is here:-
http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/lespreaux.htm
The Squadron code was MT, but I don't have the Mustang serial or individual letter.
Hope that helps to some degree

[Larskristel]

Icare,

You are absolutly right...I've put in the wrong link...will correct it. I don't know yet if there's something about Defontaine. Had in my research file, probably a name I found somewhere. Thank you for the info on F/L Pavey...Will look into it further and check back if I find more!

Thx again. All the best,

Lars.

[Nick Beale]

If you want his combat report, you can buy an online copy here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...&resultcount=7

[Dan Gilberti]

Hi
I found no attack on Dijon for the 19/4/44 the attack was 45 miles SE from Dijon
but i have one on Tavaux Airfield with Pavey (50 km from Dijon) am 23/4/44,
diverses He 111 was Claimed by 4 mustangs from 122 sq.

About Crashed Mustang in july
Code was MT + individual letter
For serial i have FZ167
I have 2 bases during the period :
B12 Ellon & B24 St André de l'Eure .
Bsrg, Dan

[Icare9]

From Googling, have found this:-
6548 to RAF as Mustang III FZ167. Missing near Pont l'Eveque, Apr 27, 1944. Presumed shot down by Fw 190s. This is an earlier date than the loss of Pavey. (but could a "4" have been misread for "7"?).
7014 to RAF as Mustang III SR412. Wrecked when collided with Mustang SR422 (42-106637) on runday at airfield B.12 (Ellon, France) Jul 25, 1944.
is the closest I could find for RAF Mustang losses...

[Peter Beardmore]

Re: Trying to find out more about 122 Squadron.
My father was a pilot in 122 squadron from the time the Mustang was introduced till early 1945. He died some years ago but I wonder whether something that he said and was involved in might shed some light on this issue. My understanding of what he said that three mustangs were taxying for take off (somewhere in france) . My father was flying one of those planes when a bomb fell off his Mustang scattering ground crew because they thought it may explode (if this sounds humorous it wasn’t)! I believe he also got out of his plane in a hurry. The two remaining plane took off and as they were climbing out they were bounced by a group of FW190’s both planes being shot down and both pilots (I understand) being killed. I do not know the date of this event but it did happen in France. I know my father was shocked and extremely upset by this event As an aside the Mustang 111 was fitted with Bomb racks which had a maximum bomb load of 2x500 lb bombs, but a simple mod was made to up this to 1000 lb (they changed the maximum load plate on the bomb racks, nothing mechanical was done at all). Also at the time of” Operation Market Garden” 122 squadron was in the area of the bridges (i.e. the Netherlands) because when we first watched the film “A Bridge too far” Dad commented that he was amongst a flight of Mustangs sent to verify whether (this is from my memory of that conversation) that the Arnhem Road Bridge was still standing. He rarely commented on operations just the flying and his love of flying. As far as the Mustang 111 went his plane (which I believe he shared with another pilot) had the bulged canopy (the Malcolm canopy?) but he always felt very lucky to be posted to Mustangs and was quite blunt in saying that it was the best allied fighter (although he loved the Spitfire which he said was faster in a dive and the Tempest V which was faster in a straight line). The FW 190 gave them a few frights and he had great admiration for that plane. He did do some Bomber escort but unlike some USAF squadrons they would escort them part of the way to Germany and would often meet the same formation coming back. He had great respect for those crews. I hope this information helps; I know it is a bit sketchy but the conversations took place a while ago and also I do not want to embellish them with what may be my interpretation of the conversations. Also there is a book the “2nd Tactical Air Force” that gives details of the movements of 122 wing and also has a colour plate of a 122 Squadron Mustang. I will try and locate that book and post its publisher in this thread. Another point I know the squadron was in Belgium I assume late 1944 because Dad came of Ops at that time and was in a Mustang involved in the training of bomber crew gunners by making mock attacks on the bombers. But in Belgium I believe they were trying to find mobile V2 sites, because they found one just as it launched. I remember his description of the launch vividly he said “it was just sitting there on the pad with and he knew it was launched and all of a sudden it went straight past his nose and was gone”.He said it gave him a bit of a fright to say the least.

Peter

[Icare9]

Welcome, Peter and thanks for a very useful first post! I hope it won't be your last, as I'm sure you'll have some more anecdotes of your fathers to share. Sounds like the first instance of using a V2 in an anti aircraft role!! Obviously he was a very lucky man, firstly to have a bomb fall off and not explode, thus not taking off with the other Mustangs...

See you're from Melbourne, the wife's son lives in Prahran... Hope the weather is not too hot, cold and wet here in London!!

[gedburke3]

Hi Lars,
I have attached a copy of an oil painting I have showing 122 squadron Mustangs in France in 1944.
The picture doesn't depict anyone in particular, just an everyday scene showing all going about their business.
I hope you enjoy seeing it.
Gerry
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...qnFrance44.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>