Traces of World War 2 
RAF - No. 142 Squadron
10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940

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142 SQUADRON - - Bomber, Fairey Battle
AASF | Bomber Command 1, Group

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In the early months of the Second World War it served with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France and on 10th May 1940, the day the Germans invaded the Low Countries, it gained the 'distinction' of being the first AASF unit to bomb the advancing enemy. Later that month No. 142 was one of the Fairey Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in a further attempt to stem the German advance.

Despite their appalling losses the Battle Squadrons struggled on valiantly until mid June when, with the war situation in France now hopeless, the remaining serviceable aircraft were flown back to England. No.1 Group was reformed, again equipped with Battles and for several months operated by night from northern airfields against Dutch and French ports in which Hitler was massing his invasion craft for Operation Sealion.

The last operational sorties with Fairey Battles flown by No.1 Group took place on 15/16th of October 1940, when No.301 (Polish) Squadron bombed Boulogne and Nos.12 and 142 Squadrons bombed Calais. During late 1940 No.1 Group converted to Wellingtons.

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Operations and losses 10/05/1940 - 30/06/1940
Not all operations listed; those with losses are.

10/05/1940: Luxembourg. 3 Planes lost, 4 KIA, 3 POW
12/05/1940: ground, F. 1 Plane lost
14/05/1940: Sedan, F. 4 Planes lost, 5 KIA
17/05/1940: ground, F. 4 Planes lost
19/05/1940: Laon, F. 3 Planes lost, 2 KIA, 5 POW
20/05/1940: ?. 4 KIA
23/05/1940: ?. 1 KIA
11/06/1940: Battle Area, F. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA, 1 POW
12-13/06/1940: Gisors, F. 1 Plane lost, 3 KIA
13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F. 3 Planes lost, 4 POW
14/06/1940: Battle Area, F. 1 Plane lost

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Fatalities 01/01/1940 - 09/05/1940 (in progress)

Flying Officer (Pilot) Patrick A.L. Farrell, RAF 39866, 142 Sqdn., age 25, 07/04/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Sergeant (W.Op./Obs.) Leslie A. Raper, RAF 516071, 142 Sqdn., age 25, 07/04/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France
Corporal (W. Op.) Clifford E. Wilburn, RAF 534269, 142 Sqdn., age 25, 07/04/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France

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10/05/1940: Luxembourg

The overall British commander, Air Marshal Barratt, acting on his own initiative, orders 32 Battles from Nos 12, 103, 105, 142, 150, 218 and 226 Squadrons to attack German troops advancing through Luxembourg at noon. As it was impossible to provide fighter escort the bombers were briefed to make a very low approach to target and attack from as little as 250 foot (80 meters) using bombs with a delayed fuse.

In a chilling scene-setting series of events, 13 are shot down by mobile anti-aircraft and machine guns. The remainder all suffer damage of some kind. In a second attack during the afternoon, a further 10 Battles from 32 ordered into the air are lost to German fighters and flak.

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5242, WT-?
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/O A.D. Gosman
Sgt Pollock
AC1 Cave Inj
Airborne from Berry-au-Bac. Badly shot about and left at Berry-au- Bac when the Squadron retreated to Faux-Villecerf 16May40.

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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5578, WT-?
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
Pilot Officer (Pilot) Frederick S. Laws, RAF 41431, 142 Sqdn, age 22, 10/05/1940, Petange (La Madelaine) Communal Cemetery, Luxembourg
Sergeant (Obs.) Robert F. Miller, RAF 521994, 142 Sqdn, age 31, 10/05/1940, Petange (La Madelaine) Communal Cemetery, Luxembourg
Aircraftman 1st Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Leon M. Langton, RAF 615807, 142 Sqdn, age unknown, 10/05/1940 (Petange (La Madelaine) Communal Cemetery, Luxembourg)
Airborne 1200 from Berry-au-Bac. shot down near Petange, 18 km SW of Luxembourg.

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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5231, WT-?
Operation: Luxembourg
Lost: 10/05/1940
F/O M.H. Roth PoW
Sgt W.F. Algie PoW
Sgt H. Morris PoW
Airborne 1200 from Berry-au-Bac to attack enemy troop columns, heading out of Luxembourg towards Dippach. Shot down in the target area. Sgt W.F.Algie was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357. PoW No.13059 with Sgt H.Morris, PoW No.13073. F/O M.H.Roth in Camps 9AH/L1/L3, PoW No.333.

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Sergeant (Obs.) George B. Irvine, RAF 580456, 142 Sqdn, age 21, 10/05/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, F,

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12/05/1940: ground

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K9259, MT-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 12/05/1940
Abandoned on evacuation. Badly damaged by bomb fragments 0730 during an air attack on Berry-au-Bac airfield.

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14/05/1940: Sedan, F

The events of 14th May determined both of the A.A.S.F. and of the campaign. The French High Command called for a supreme effort at Sedan, where the ground forces massing for counter-attack had been rudely scattered. Arrangements were accordingly made for the whole strength of the Allied bombers in France to be hurled against the Sedan bridgehead in a series of waves, and soon after noon the few French aircraft available went into action. Attacking bridges and columns of troops, they suffered losses so severe that their remaining operations for the day were cancelled.

Then came the turn of the A.A.S.F. Between 1500 and 1600 hours the entire force of available Battles and Blenheims was flung against the same objectives. But the Me.109's absent in the morning, were now on guard. No. 12 Squadron lost four aircraft out of five; No. 105 Squadron, six out of eleven; No. 142 Squadron lost four, No. 150 Squadron, four out of four; No. 139 Squadron, four out of six; No. 218 Squadron, ten out of eleven (?). In all, from the seventy-one bombers which took off, forty did not return. No higher rate of loss in an operation of comparable size has even been experienced by the Royal Air Force.

Type:
Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K9333, WT-?
Operation: Sedan
Lost: 14/05/1940
P/O H.L. Oakley
Sgt Martin
AC1 Presto
Airborne Berry-au-Bac tasked to attack bridges androads in the area around Sedan. Shot down near Ecly (Ardennes), France. The crew evaded capture and were soon re-united with their Squadron.

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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: P2333, WT-?
Operation: Sedan
Lost: 14/05/1940
Sgt A.N. Spear Evd
Sergeant (Obs.) James Brooks, RAF, 560537, 142 Sqdn., Mentioned in Despatches, age 29, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Leading Aircraftman (W. Op. Air) Ronald H. Nugent, RAF 537353, 142 Sqdn, age 35, 14/05/1940, Choloy War Cemetery, F
Airborne Berry-au-Bac to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed, cause unknown, killing two crew members. Both are buried in Choloy War Cemetery. Sgt Spear evaded capture and returned to his Unit.

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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5517, WT-?
Operation: Sedan
Lost: 14/05/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Kenneth R. Rogers, RAF 39473, 142 Sqdn, age 23, 14/05/1940, Chehery Communal Cemetery, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Herbert F. Trescothic, RAF 563511, 142 Sqdn, age, 14/05/1940, Chehery Communal Cemetery, F
Corporal (W. Op. Air) Henry Todd, RAF 539637, 142 Sqdn, age 21, 14/05/1940, Chehery Communal Cemetery, F
Airborne from Berry-au-Bac to attack bridges and roads in the area around Sedan. Crashed (cause unknown) at Cherey (Ardennes), 9 km SW of Sedan.

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Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: P2246, WT-?
Operation: Sedan
Lost: 14/05/1940
S/L J.F. Hobler Evd
Sgt R.V.T. Kitto Evd
Cpl D.J. Barbrooke Evd
Airborne Berry-au-Bac to attack bridges and roads inthe area around Sedan. Shot downby intense small-arms ground fore and crash landed just behind enemy lines, but all evaded capture. S/L Hobler was quite seriously burnt and was later evacuated to England.

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17/05/1940: ground

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5440, WT-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 17/05/1940
L5440 was one of the battle damaged 142 Sqdn Battles abandoned at Berry-au-Bac, when the remnants of 142 Sqdn withdrew to Faux- Villecerf aerodrome.

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K7700, WT-? (Lost Bombers: RH-?)
Operation: (-)
Lost: 17/05/1940
K7700 was one of the 142 Sqdn battle-damaged Battles abandoned at Berry-au-Bac, when the remnants of 142 Sqdn. withdrew to Faux- Villecerf aerodrome. 

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: K9366, WT-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 17/05/1940
K9366 was one of the battle-damaged 142 Sqdn Battles abandoned at Berry-au-Bac; when the remnants of 142 Sqdn withdrew to Faux- Villecerf aerodrome.  

Type: Fairey Battle 1
Serial number: L5440, WT-?
Operation: (-)
Lost: 17/05/1940
L5440 was one of the 142 Sqdn battle-damaged Battles, abandoned at Berry-au-Bac, when the remnants of 142 Sqdn withdrew to to Faux- Villecerf aerodrome.

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19/05/1940: Laon, F

Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: P5238, WT-?
Operation: Laon
Lost: 19/05/1940
Sgt G.H. Ebert
Sergeant (Obs.) Tom Jones, RAF 561183, 142 Sqdn, age 29, 19/05/1940, Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, F
LAC R.S. Utteridge
Airborne from Faux-Villecerf. Badly shot about by enemy fighters and forced landed on Nantes/Chateau Bougon aerodrome where it was abandoned.

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Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: K7696, WT-?
Operation: Laon
Lost: 19/05/1940
P/O H.H. Taylor PoW
Sgt S. Lang PoW
AC1 H. Long PoW
Airborne from Faux-Villecerf. Crashed in the target area. Sgt S.Lang was interned in Camps 8B/L3/L6/357. AC1 H.Long in Camp 357, PoW No.2665. F/O H.H.Taylor in Camp L3, PoW No.584. Promoted to F/O during captivity.

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Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: L5226, WT-?
Operation: Laon
Lost: 19/05/1940
Sgt A.J. Godsell PoW
Sgt B.A. Hopgood Inj, POW
Leading Aircraftman (W Op./Air) William D. Boyle, RAF 618097, 142 Sqdn., age 19, 19/05/1940, Dagny-Lambercy Churchyard, F
Airborne from Faux-Villecerf. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dagny-Lambercy (Aisne), 13 km SE of Vervins, France. Sgt A.J.Godsell was interned in Camps 8B/L6/357, Pow No.13109. Sgt B.A.Hopgood was confined in Hospital due injuries and was repatriated 2Feb45 aboard 'Letitia'. No PoW No.

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20/05/1940: ?

Aircraftman 1st Class Raymond Bird, RAF 631221, 142 Sqdn., age 20, 20/05/1940, Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class Leonard Jenkins, RAF 548328, 142 Sqdn, age 21, 20/05/1940, Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, F
Aircraftman 1st Class John McGrath, RAF 297701, 142 Sqdn, age 36, 20/05/1940, Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, F
Corporal Wilfred Passey, RAF 627956, 142 Sqdn, age unknown, 20/05/1940, Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, F


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23/05/1940: ?

Aircraftman 2nd Class Daniel Knowlton, RAFVR 900320, 142 Sqdn, age 32, 23/05/1940, Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery, F

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11/06/1940: Battle Area, F

Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: L5200, WT-?
Operation: Battle Area
Lost: 11/06/1940
P/O B.W. Peryman PoW
Sergeant (Obs.) Jack N. Fraser, RAF 581049, 142 Sqdn., age 19, 11/06/1940, St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, F
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) James H. Ledson, RAF 615842, 142 Sqdn., age 21, 11/06/1940, St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, F
Airborne from Villiersfaux. Shot down Les Andelys, (Eure) P/O B.W. Peryman was interned in Camps 9AH/L3, PoW No.413. Name also spelt as 'B.W. Perynan'.

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12-13/06/1940: Gisors, F

Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: ?, WT-?
Operation: Gisors
Lost: 13/06/1940
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Arthur D.J. Martin, RAF 40127, 142 Sqdn., age 23, 13/06/1940, Les-Corvees-les-Yys Churchyard, F
Sergeant (Obs.) Ernest F.W. Curtis, RAF 564067, 142 Sqdn., age unknown, 13/06/1940, Les-Corvees-les-Yys Churchyard, F
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) George H. Kettlewell, RAF 551137, 142 Sqdn., age 20, 13/06/1940, Les-Corvees-les-Yys Churchyard, F
With no serial number recorded it is not possible to present a potted history. Airborne from Villiersfaux. Cause of loss not established. Crashed in the vicinity of les Corvees and les Yys (Eure-et-Loir), 28 km WSW of Chartres, France.

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13/06/1940: Forêt de Gault, F

Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: ?, WT-? [#1, 13/06/1940]
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
Sgt D.J. Holliday PoW
Sgt D.A. Whiting PoW
AC1 T. Greenall PoW

Since no Serial Number is recorded, due, undoubtedly to the chaotic conditions that prevailed during the Fall of France, it is not possible to present a potted history of this, or the other two 142 Sqdn Battles that were lost on this day.

No.142 Sqdn Battle No.1. Airborne from Villiersfaux to attack a Panzer column reported refuelling in the woods. Shot down by intense ground fire. Crew subsequently reported to be in enemy hands. AC1 T.Greenall was interned in Camp 357, PoW No.16123. (Ended the war as a W/O) with Sgt D.A.Whiting, PoW No.20096. Sgt D.J.Holliday also in Camp 357, PoW No.520.

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Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: ?, WT-? [#2, 13/06/1940]
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
 F/L J.M. Hewson
Sgt R.V.T. Kitto DFM
LAC R.J. Utteridge DFM PoW
142 Sqdn Battle No.2. Airborne from Villiersfaux. Shot up by Me109s and after the Observer baled out, as ordered, the pilot crash-landed in a field, S of Rouen (Seine-Maritime), France. F/L Hewson and Sgt Kitto made their way to Allied Lines, but LAC Utteridge was later reported to have been captured and interned in Camps L1/L6/357, PoW No.741 DFM Gazetted 16Aug40 (150 Sqdn).

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Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: ?, WT-? [#3, 13/06/1940]
Operation: Forêt de Gault
Lost: 13/06/1940
P/O K.R. Sutton
Sgt Rudd Inj
Sgt B.J. Rowe Inj 
 
No.142 Sqdn Battle No.3. Airborne from Viliersfaux. Crashed landed in the vicinity of Evreux (Eure)/Dreux (Eure-et-Loir), France.

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14/06/1940: Battle Area

Type: Fairey Battle Mk. I
Serial number: L5397, WT-?
Operation: Battle Area
Lost: 14/06/1940
Airborne from Villiersfaux. Badly shot about by fighters. Returned safely but was abandoned at Faux-Villecerf.

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Sources

Air Force POWs 1939-1945
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fairey Battle
Lost Bombers
Milestones - Sedan Area - 14th May 1940
Royal Air Force - 142 Squadron
RAF - Campaign Diary - The Battle of France (May-June 1940)
RAF History - Bomber Command
RAF Museum: British Military Aviation in 1940
RAF Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940
Royal Air Force History Section
The Royal Air Force, 1939-1945
The Second World War - a day by day account

War over Holland

Books

Barry Blunt '142 Mosquito Bomber Squadron' (2006)
Ian Reid 'To fly over Waltham' (Ashridge Press 1997 ISBN 1 901214 10 9)
Albert & Ian Smith 'Mosquito Pathfinder' (Crecy Publishing 2004)

Links

Airwar over Denmark
Allied World War II Casualties in the Netherlands
Battle-of-Britain.com
Belgian Aviation History Association Archaeological Team
Bomber Crew (Channel 4)
British Aviation Archaeological Council - Books and research links
CWGC Cemeteries Netherlands
The National Ex-Prisoners of War Association
Pilotfriend.com: aircraft of WW2
Polish Air Force 1940-1947 Operations Record Books
RAF Battle of Britain
Second World War | NZ History
De Slag om de Grebbeberg (Dutch)
Warbird Alley
www.bomber-command.de

The Aerodrome - Aces and Aircraft of World War 1


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This page is dedicated to the men of 142 Squadron.

© Bart FM Droog / Rottend Staal Online 2008. Permission granted for use of the data gathered here for non commercial purposes, if this source is mentioned with a link to http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/index.html