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

[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