Sgt. Toombs Larry

[Archéavion]

Hello,

Do you have any information on Sgt. Larry Toombs crew member shot to Halifax on June 4, 1944 in Normandy?

Thank you

[Larry]

Sgt Toombs was I think Sgt LW Toombs RCAF of 158 Sqn who evaded capture after his Halifax LK841 coded NP-X crashed 14km East North East of Beaumont-le-Roger on night of 2/3rd June 1944.

[Aknevelman]

Lawrence W. Toombs, RCAF, service nr. R152718, died 7 Feb 1986:

http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/las...tData_ID=36706

I assume this is the L.W. Toombs of 158 squadron.

[Icare9]

Googling shows this information:-
LK841 MP-K Operation Trappes 2nd/3rd June 1944
LK841 was one of six No.158 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this operation. See: LK875; LK877; LV792; LV921; LW635. Airborne 2234 2 Jun 44 from Lissett to bomb the railway yards. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Ste-Colombe-la-Commanderie (Eure), 14 km ENE of Beaumont-le-Roger. Sgt Fox is buried in Evereux Communal Cemetery, alongside his Squadron comrades killed in LW635.
F/O A. Reynolds Inj
Sgt J.E. Shore PoW
F/S W.F. Thompson Evd
Sgt L.W. Toombs RCAF Evd
Sgt J. Pennie Evd
Sgt R.W. Gilbert Evd
Sgt S.W. Fox KIA
F/O A. Reynolds was confined in Hospital due injuries. No PoW No.
Sgt J.E. Shore in Camp L7, PoW No.130.

So, it looks as if they are the same. It seems as if archeavion has information that they were shot down.
There may be evaders reports which confirm that.

[Larry]

Icare9,

I think you meant to say LK841 was coded NP-X as MP codes were for 76 Sqn

[Icare9]

larry, I have to agree that what you suggest makes sense. MP may simply be a typo for NP. NP-K was lost that night, LW635, so another misread could be X (not 2 NP-K's!!). That's what there was and I assumed (never assume!) that this might be a 158 Squadron Flight being set up to form another Squadron and carrying different codes, which was a frequent practice in Bomber Command.
Thanks for spotting both typo's.

[Archéavion]

Hello Larry, Eknevelman and Icare9

Bravo for all this information. You are very strong.
Thanks to you, I was able to gather more information that went together.
Let me send you an account of my work.
Thank you for your help and again congratulations.


Night of 2 / 3 June 1944
Sainte Colombe the Commandery

Returning from a bombing mission in Trappes, the Halifax III of 158 Sqn. the 5th Group of RAF Bomber Command are intercepted by the night hunting of the Roger Beaumont.
Around 2:00, the Halifax III s / n ° LK841 "NP -? Is shot down and crashed on a farm in Sainte Colombe Campaign (Commandery after war) where he made two civilians.
The crew jumps except the tail gunner, Sgt. Fox SW, probably killed at his battle station. After the war, he will be buried in the cemetery of Evreux.
Sgt. Gilbert Ralph Wilson, gunner, landed to Faverolles Campaign. He is rescued by the family of Arnoult Berville Campaign and Authieux extracted from the part of local resistance.
It remains to Berville Campaign until the liberation of the town, August 26, 1944.
Sgt. Jim Pennie, radio, landed at Le Mesnil-Hardray. Shortly after, he found Gilbert GR Berville Campaign.
Sgt. Toombs lands to Conches. He continued his march, arrived at Chesne and finds refuge in a farm owned by the Salmon family. He remains there until the liberation of the town in late August. With him is Frank Borcyzka fallen to June 22 and killed Dudley Webb June 24
Sgt. William F. Thompson is rescued by the family to the Deduced Authieux.
The F / Off. A. Reynolds and Sgt.Shore J.E. are taken prisoner.






* I try to send pictures? If it is good, Toombs is the 4th in from the left (Borcyzka 6th and Dudley Webb 7th)

[Archéavion]

Apparently the photo does not appear. Too bad, excuse me!

[Archéavion]

Here the picture, I hope it is good

[Steve Darlow]

Hi

In my book D-Day Bombers I gave a full account of the 2/3 June raid to Trappes. Included were details of the loss of F/O Reynolds 158 Sqn Halifax, obtained from the 'K' report held at the National Archives.

Below are my notes on the loss - hope it helps.

Steve Darlow
www.stevedarlow.co.uk
www.fightinghigh.com

LK841 158 Squadron F/O Reynolds

On the first leg out of the target the mid-upper gunner on a 158 Squadron Halifax sees an enemy fighter flash past on a reciprocal course. He tells his rear gunner who asks the pilot to corkscrew, which he does for two minutes. The rear gunner tells his skipper to resume course. Att 0115 hours a long burst of cannon fire slams into the Halifax, from vertically below, raking the aircraft along the underside of the fuselage. Cannon shell takes out the intercom and lighting system. The rear turret is lit up by tracer and the nose of the aircraft is smashed. The inside of the bomber becomes a mass of flames. The wireless operator and flight engineer try to use the fire extinguisher, but the situation appears beyond saving. The navigator opens the front hatch and the flames then appear to subside. The wireless operator again goes back with the extinguisher, but by then the pilot is shouting ‘bale out’. An attempt is made to contact the rear gunner using call-lights, without success. The navigator, bomb aimer and wireless operator bale out. The flight engineer gives his skipper his parachute and both follow. The mid-upper gunner leaves by the rear exit, through the fire and exploding ammunition. On the way down the navigator has to swing violently and pull on his parachute cords to avoid tracer fired from a fighter at another Halifax. The Halifax falls in flames, breaks in two, hits the ground and explodes. The rear gunner is the only fatality from the crew.