Operation: SOE

Date: 19th July 1944 (Monday)

Unit No: 138 (Special Duties) Squadron

Type: Halifax V

Serial No: LL364

Code: NF:B

Location: Marigny-l’Eglise , France

Base: RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire, England

Pilot: Flt Lt. John Allan Kidd 152342 RAFVR Age 20. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Plt Off. Cyril Frederick Thomas Miles 56010 RAF Age 24. KiA

Navigator: Fg Off. Kenneth Robertson Urquhart J28220 RCAF Age 23. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Bernard Stroud 1315980 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Charlie Taylor 1581229 RAFVR Age? KiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upper): Sgt. Grayham Bancroft Byrne 1547072 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. James Revill Moody 1576882 RAFVR Age 20. KiA

Flt Lt. John A. Kidd (Credit:Paul Stroud); Fg Off. Kenneth R. Urquhart from his Service record; Flt Sgt. Bernard Stroud (Credit: Paul Stroud).

Sgt. Charlie Taylor; Sgt. Grayham B. Byrne; Sgt. James R. Moody. (Credit: Paul Stroud)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Halifax V LL364 took off from RAF Tempsford at 22:30 hrs on the night of the 18th July 1944 and set course France to drop supplies to the Special Air Service (SAS) operating in the area. This was one of two parachute drops expected in the area, the second being by B-24H 42-51187 of the 850th Bomber Squadron, 801st/492nd Bombardment Group, US Army Air Force, which was to drop supplies to the resistance fighters of the Maquis Camille at Peinture.

Halifax II LL364 turned towards the Eureka beacon and crossed over the route for drop zone (DZ) Dick 89. B-24H 42-51187 turned over a nearby village to line up its run to drop its supplies on DZ Dick 28A. The two aircraft collided in mid-air at about 01:00 hours near Marigny-l’Eglise, France, some 9 miles south of Avalon in eastern France.

Rebecca/Eureka was a short-range navigation system used to accurately locate a position to insert airborne forces and supplies. The system comprises two parts, the Rebecca transceiver aboard the aircraft and the Eureka ground based transponder

The Rev. Fraser McLuskey, the first Chaplain of the 1st SAS, was operating with one of the SAS squadrons behind German lines near Mazignien (Nièvre), when the two aircraft collided and fell to earth in the vicinity of his camp. The burial of 1st Lt. Michelson and his crew from the B-24 was organised by Rev. McLuskey. However, the wreckage of Halifax II LL364 crashed near the main road and its crew were buried by the Germans in a local cemetery.

After the war broke out the Rev. Mcluskey joined the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. He then volunteered for parachute training and upon completion he was posted to the 21st Army Group and subsequently joined 1 Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment as chaplain. Later in the month of June 1944 he accompanied "A" Squadron to France. For his 3 months with "A" Squadron the Rev. James Fraser Mcluskey 270929 was awarded the Military Cross (MC).

The citation attests to the courage and determination with which he carried out his duties, and draws attention to the long, dangerous journeys he made by civilian car, through areas full of German patrols, to visit outlying units. His bravery, steadiness and cheerfulness in all situations, it states, were an inspiration to the whole squadron.

(1) Flt Lt. Kidd and his twin brother Flt Lt. Geoffrey Arthur Kidd 152341 RAFVR, arrived at RAF Tempsford on the 15th April 1944, from 431 Sqn.

Arthur Kidd tells us that Geoff was on ops the same night as John and, as his twin, was profoundly affected by his loss. He was awarded the DFC for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations in November 1944 and after the war, went on to enjoy a long career with British European Airways (BEA). He died in 1995.

The gratitude of the people of Marigny and Mazignen for the sacrifice of both crews that night endures to this day. He attended the 75th anniversary of the event in Marigny, along with representatives from the French military. The graves are maintained in immaculate condition and a memorial to the aircrews has been erected near the crash site. Many items of wreckage from both aircraft are still to be found at the crash sites.

Flt Lt. Geoffrey Arthur Kidd’s DFC was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 14th November 1944.

Burial Details:

There are monuments at Marigny-l’Eglise and Mazignien for the crews of each aircraft.

Grave markers at Marigny-l'Eglise: (Credit: Bill Sheret - FindAGrave)

Flt Lt. John Allan Kidd. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 1. Inscription: "SOME CORNER OF A FOREIGN FIELD THAT IS FOR EVER ENGLAND". Born in 1924. Son of Roland Arthur and Olwen Mary Kidd, of Bristol, England.

Plt Off. Cyril Frederick Thomas Miles. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 2. Born in 1920. Son of Charles William and Alice Ruth Miles, of Wimbledon, Surrey, England.

Fg Off. Kenneth Robertson Urquhart. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 1. Inscription: "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE". Born on the 10th June 1921. Son of Kenneth Urqhart and Mina Robertson Urquhart, of Williamstown, Ontario, Canada.

Flt Sgt. Bernard Stroud. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 1. Inscription: "HAPPY AND UNFADING MEMORIES EVER PRESENT OF A VERY DEAR SON AND BROTHER". Born in 1924. Son of Frederick Ernest and Sarah Eveline Christabel Stroud, of Hereford, England.

Sgt. Charlie Taylor. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 1. No further details

Sgt. Grayham Bancroft Byrne. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 2. Inscription: "ONLY SWEET MEMORIES REMAIN". Born in 1923. Son of Arthur and Mary Byrne, of Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. James Revill Moody. Marigny-l’Eglise Communal cemetery, Collective Grave 2. Inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS". Born in 1924. Son of Charles Revill Moody and Edith Ann Moody, of Colwall, Herefordshire, England.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Oct 2019). Thanks to Paul Stroud, a cousin of Flt Sgt. Stroud, for the crew photographs (Jan 2021). Many thanks to Nick Kidd for the correction to his the name of his uncle, Flt Lt. Geoffrey Arthur Kidd and for the additional information (Apr 2024). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2024). Thanks to Liz Byrne for the correction to her uncle’s Christian name (Nov 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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