[page last updated 20 January 2012]
It came down in a field south west of Denouville Farm. Between the farm and the D49A road.
Aircraft Crashes at Château de Grangues :
On the night of 5th/6th June 1944, the residents and staff of the Château were aware that an invasion was taking place soon after the first wave of aircraft crossed the coast of Normandy. The aircraft were flying at a much lower altitude that they usually witnessed. Also on the Château estate at this time was a German military unit charged with looking after their regiment's horses in the stables at the Château. They had been making use of the facilities for several months. The German soldiers did not live in the Château, but camped in slit trenches and tents near to the stables. They had use of one of the servant's quarters as their kitchen. The remaining estate servants either lived in the Château itself or in estate cottages.
In the early hours of D-day, the Château de Grangues park and neighbouring fields were hit by 6 crashing British aircraft. Two Stirlings, 3 Horsa Gliders which were identifiable and a 4th Horsa which had no chalk mark but bore the aircraft makers number B&P728. Two of the Horsas landed on top of mature fir tree woods. This accounts for the high injury statistics from shattered leg bones. Weighed down with kit, many of the troops had fallen or dropped to the ground from the tree canopy. At least one unfortunate casualty had become entangled in branches and was not recovered for some time. His remains were intered in the Château grounds as 'unidentified'.The eye-witness accounts of events after the crashes can be read from the Grangues Index page. (CLICK)
This page will explain which aircraft fell in which location, and the names of those known to have been onboard. It is incomplete. Hopefully more details can be added after further research. An inquiry report states 50 of the air crew and passengers were killed on impact, at least 38 were injured and evacuated to a German Army Hospital, [one from EF2915-J the rest from Gliders] and 8 were shot at about 6am on 6th June 1944.
The first to crash was Stirling EJ116-U:
(This illustration is based on a 1945 plan of the lanes and fields.)
The plane had taken off from 620 Squadron at RAF Fairford, heading from drop zone 'N', there were no survivors of that crash.
Because the cargo it carried was full of explosives, and the plane had been been ablaze detonating the shells and bullets and other explosives on board, the crash site was deemed too dangerous for any locals to get near, to recover the bodies.
It was many months before the Red Cross could be pursuaded by the Comte at the Château, to arrange a military team to come to the site to make it safe and the deceased were removed and buried in the smaller grave A.2 on the plan in September of 1944. Given the length of time that had lapsed since the crash, all the human remains from this grave were transported to Ranville War Cemetery after March 1945 and interred in a collective grave VIA-1 to 25 at Ranville War Cemetery. The man who buried them initially in the Château grounds in September claimed in the Inquiry he had buried 18 bodies from this aircraft and he was adament it was a bi-motor plane. (Twin engined -which would indicate an Albemarle or Dakota type aircraft)
Those who perished in this crash and whose remains are interred in the collective grave at Ranville are as follows:
Air Crew
Stirling EJ116-UNAME
SERVICE No.
OCCUPATION
UNIT
Pilot Officer Albert Hamilton Barton
1348797 /
176884Pilot
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Flight Serjeant Henry Mark Bettiner
1550834
Navigator
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant Geoffrey Crosse
1894261
Flight Engineer
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant Donald Reid
1473068
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant John Gillies Smith
1059520
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant William Eric Wallis
1439755
Wireless Operator
/ GunnerRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Passengers EJ116-U Lieutenant Raymond Charles Belcher
258144
Paratrooper
Reconnaisance Corps , Royal Armoured Corps
Trooper Michael Percy Done
7947393
Paratrooper
Reconnaisance Corps , Royal Armoured Corps
Corporal Peter Thomas Earwicker
420192
Paratrooper
Reconnaisance Corps , Royal Armoured Corps
Trooper George Wilson Lamont
7903897
Paratrooper
Reconnaisance Corps , Royal Armoured Corps
Trooper Arthur Harry Wilson
7961412
Paratrooper
Reconnaisance Corps , Royal Armoured Corps
Craftsman George William Hunt
4470319
Paratrooper
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Private Geoffrey Copson
14405006
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Private Reginald Albert Edward Francis
6354955
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Private Vincent Patrick Cole Frost
14420431
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Lance Corporal John Gascoigne
4343281
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Colout Serjeant Major John Edward Philip Hutchings
5674216
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Corporal Alfred Ronald Kemp
5676360
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Corporal George Henry Leamer
5675357
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Lance Corporal Robert Laurence Mitchell
3066484
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Private Walter Scott
3251811
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Private Denis Shutt
14218485
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Private Robert William Stobbart
2026577
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Lance Corporal Robert Twist
3244791
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
Corporal Albert Van-Rynen
5676770
Paratrooper
7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion
The 2nd Aircraft down was Stirling EF295-J
Like the previous aircraft it too came from RAF Fairford 620 Squadron. It crashed in a triangular shaped field, two fields north of the previous crash site. With the D27 road on the north of the field and the link road to D49A road running down the western side. Not that far from La Forge Ancienne or The Old Forge.
The aircraft had been hit by flak as it crossed the Normandy coast, and a piece of flak caught and ignited some of the explosives being carried by the 591 Antrim Parachute Squadron Engineers. The fire was quick to take hold, and it became a race to evacuate the burning plane before it came down. Five jumped, the first four survived the jump though three were later captured and held POW till the end of the war. Major PA Wood, Lieutenant AB Oliveira and Sapper CM Bartlett. The last to Jump was Sapper Albert E Austin, he was last seen falling with his parachute aflame. His body was recovered and is interred in Bayeaux War Cemetery. Driver F Jacklin landed safely and then spent several weeks evading capture as he made his way back to rejoin the squadron. Four of the air crew perished in the crash and are interred in a collective grave at Ranville VA.D.3-8 along with Sapper JJ Evans and Sapper J R Youell, both of whom also died in the crash.
Two aircrew were injured and taken POW, 10 passengers were taken POW either uninjured or superficially injured.
Of the 10 passenger survivors, 1 Officer Lieutenant J Shinner from Head Quarters Royal Engineers was taken away for interrogation and his colleague Sapper P Guard, a clerk with the HQRE was held prisoner, and with 6 other members of 591 Parachute Squadron, and a Glider Pilot from one of the Horsas, were executed at approximately 6 am by the German Soldier in charge of the unit based at the Château. One survivor who was seriously injured and received medical aid Sapper CT Law, he was evacuated to a German Hospital at Pont-l'Évêque and remained a POW till the end of the war, Lance Corporal J Reardon-Parker died from his crash injuries on 7th June 1944 and was interred in the large grave A1 at the Château.
The man who buried the seven deceased from this crash, stated in the Grangues Inquiry that the bodies were interred in a 3rd collective grave on the 11th June 1944 in the grounds of the Park. It is not identified on the plans used in the Inquiry and it is not possible to identify where this 3rd grave site was, likely somewhere beyond grave A2 heading away from the Château itself.
Air Crew
Stirling EF295-JNAME
SERVICE No.
OCCUPATION
UNIT
Squadron Leader Wilmott Reginald Pettit
J/15517 - killed in crash
Pilot
Royal Canadian Air Force
Flying Officer Richard George Watkins
135746- killed in crash
Navigator
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant Geoffrey Albert Maund
1851161-killed in crash
Flight Engineer
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves
Serjeant Albert Ernest Pryce
(1923-2004)1314446-injured POW
Air Gunner - Rear Gunner
Royal Air Force
Flight Serjeant Edward Harry Frederick Atkinson
424961-killed in crash
Bomb Aimer
Royal New Zealand AIr Force
Flight Serjeant Robert (Bob) Frederick Kebbell
(1921-1997)1295606- injured POW
Wireless Operator
Royal Air Force
Passengers EF295-J Major Philip Andrew Wood
(1908-1990)41207-POW
Officer in Command 591 Antrim-jumped
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Lieutenant Anthony Benjamin Oliveira
(1923-1983)277794-POW
Paratrooper-jumped
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Lieutenant John Searle Shinner
(1920-1999)233373-POW
Paratrooper Information Officer
Head Quarters Royal Engineers
Sapper Peter Guard
1876309-POW shot
Paratrooper Clerk
Head Quarters Royal Engineers
Lance Corporal 1878189-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Lance Corporal 882124-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Corporal 1944972-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 5669776-POW
Paratrooper-jumped
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 14404888-killed in jump
Paratrooper -jumped
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 1877562-killed in crash
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 14422902-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 14537569-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 14504398-POW
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 14550031-POW died next day from injuries
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper 2116526-killed in crash
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper/Driver 14283438-POW shot
Paratrooper
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Sapper/Driver Frank Jacklin
(1915-2003)14275964-evaded
Paratrooper-jumped
591 Antrim Parachute Squadron
Of the following 4 aircraft, all were Horsa Gliders, three crashed and one landed.
Horsa Aircraft Numbers: LM 467, LM 475 and LM 494 plus 4th glider B&P478 (the maker's mark.)
It is not known which order they came down, other than they all hit the estate grounds after the two motorised aircraft.
A. Horsa (Chalk No. 74) crashed: From RAF Harwell towed by Tug Aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Peel 295 Squadron.
Pilot Serjeant Barry Powell (5184835) was killed in the crash, the other pilot Staff Serjeant Duncan Frank Wright (1509818) was taken prisoner and locked in the stables with the survivors from 591 Parachute Squadron who had been on board Stirling EF295-J.
He was shot with them in the early hours of 6th June and buried in their mass grave A1 lower level, by the Germans on 6th June 1944.
Serjeant Barry Powell and two other casualties of this glider crash were buried on the 9th June 1944 in grave A1 upper level. This is likely to be the glider that crashed behind the Chateau on top of trees.
Air Crew
Horsa CN74
(3rd Wave)NAME
SERVICE No.
OCCUPATION
UNIT
Staff Serjeant Duncan Frank Wright
15090818- POW shot
Glider Pilot
Glider Pilot Regiment
Serjeant Barry Powell
5184835- killed in crash
Glider Pilot
Glider Pilot Regiment
Captain John Hornsby Max
137383- killed in crash
Airlanding
Head Quarters Royal Engineers
Lance Corporal W.D. Ainsley
2657749- Held POW
./.
Royal Signals
(Stalag IV-B / POW No.80955)Signalman Howarth
Held POW
./.
Royal Signals?
Serjeant Major F.W. Martin
6153792- Held POW
./.
Royal Signals
(Stalag Luft III /POW No.80975)Corporal A.T MacDonald
3305725-Held POW
./.
Royal Signals
Lance Corporal Sydney Ellis
S/14563271- Held POW
./.
Royal Army Service Corps
(Stalag IV-B/ POW No.80922)./. ./.
./.
./.
Glider Pilot Regiment
B. Horsa Glider (Chalk No.90) Crashed: From RAF Harwell towed by Tug Aircraft flown by Pilot Officer Houlgate of 570 Squadron.
Both Aircrew were killed in the crash. This crash is located closest to the Château. 8 onboard this aircraft were buried on the evening of the 7th June 1944 in the grave A1. Lieutenant Shinner claims that his local enquiries revealed there were no survivors of this crash, the glider having landed on top of dense woodland.
Air Crew
Horsa CN90
(3rd Wave)NAME
SERVICE No.
OCCUPATION
UNIT
Lieutenant John Lee Bromley
137319- killed in crash
Glider Pilot
Glider Pilot Regiment
Staff Serjeant Samuel Roy Luff
1462774- killed in crash
Glider Pilot
Glider Pilot Regiment
Passengers CN90 Captain Robert Arbuthnot Hunter
58911- killed in crash
AirLanding
Royal Artillery, No.3 Combined Operations Bombardment Unit
Telegraphist Arthur Frederick Martin
D/JX453556- killed in crash
AirLanding
Royal Navy HMS Mastodon
Telegraphist Spencer Charles Porter
C/JX572702- killed in crash
AirLanding
Head Quarters Royal Engineers
C. Horsa Glider Landed:
unmarked and unidentified Glider, occupants unknown- there might have been fatalities, casualties, POWs or evaders.D. Horsa Glider Crashed: occupants unknown
(a reported 37 injured survivors, and may be more, from the Gliders were transferred to the German Hospital at Pont-l'Évêque. Those who survived their injuries were held Prisoners of War.)
The other identified casualties of the Horsa's, which were interred in the grounds of Château de Grangue and subsequently moved to Ranville are:
Unknown
Horsa A,B or CNAME
SERVICE No.
OCCUPATION
UNIT
Lance Corporal Wiliam Winfield
4927999- killed in crash
AirLanding
1st Airborne Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles
Lance Corporal Sidney Alfred Davies
7685953- killed in crash
AirLanding
Corps of Military Police attached to 6th Airborne
Private Wiliam Piper
S/6403808- killed in crash
AirLanding
Royal Army Service Corps attached to
Head Quarters Royal EngineersPrivate Reginald Charles John Ventham
97002810 died 7th June
AirLanding
Royal Army Medical Corps attached to
6th Airborne Division
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