8/9 August 1944

Graham Warren Paterson
NZ 424509
Died 9th August 1944
Age 22
Pilot Officer RNZAF
Buried Lusigny-sur-Barse Communal Cemetary. Coll. Grave 22
Died on his 22nd Op. 624 hours.

Halifax V LL308/C took off at 2200 and was bought down 16km SE of Troyes, crashing near Lusigny- sur- Barse, where the 6 who died are buried in a collective grave. Only RNZAF rear gunner Flt Sgt F E O Evan's baled out at 0300 hours 9th Aug about 2kms South of Geraudot. He buried his parachute, harness and mae west and began walking SW. Assisted by the Frence Resistance he evaded capture.
Evan's was interviewed by Max Lambert for his book 'Night after Night' ( see pg 326).

He confirmed the target was in Belgium( dropping supplies to the Belgium resistance.) On the return journey Evan's spotted a fighter but was unable to bring his gun to bear (there was no mid- upper turret on this aircraft). He lost sight of it, the fighter apparently having slid underneath before delivering a burst which quickly led to the Halifax's destruction. Evan's attended the funeral of his crew mates a few days later but was not recognized by the German who briefly entered the church or by those outside when the mourners exited with the coffin ( containing all of the few remains)

None of the documented German night fighter claims for that night can be tied to the loss of 138 Sqn LL308.

[Nick Beale]

I'm not sure what question you are asking. Could you make that clearer please?

[Chris Goss]

If it is who might have shot it down, if anyone knows it is Theo Boiten but he acknowledges the loss but that there was no corresponding German claim. Also, the Allied claims in case it was a blue-on-blue were nowhere near Troyes

[Theo Boiten]

Hello Sheryl,

Here's the claims details, full narrative will be published in the next issue of the Nachtjagd Combat Archive series:

Oblt. Ernst-Georg Drünkler: 22 1./NJG5 Lancaster Troyes area (CJ, prob. Krebs): 1.400 m. 03.10 138 Sqn Halifax LL308

Cheers, Theo