FRENCH RESISTANCE AND TOWNSHIP 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION

 

Background

 

4624 Sqn have been approached by the Mayor of the town of Lannemezan in southern France, near the Spanish border, to attend 60th anniversary ceremonies of liberation, specifically relating to the close association they have to the RAF and in particular 624 Sqn, who played a pivotal role in their survival in the fight against the occupying forces. 

 

4624 have hosted the 624 Squadron Association since 1989 and are the holders of their F540 records. The main event in history that the local villagers and resistance fighters focus on is the role of 624 Sqn resupplying the resistance fighters operating within the Pyrenees, and the loss of a specific Halifax aircraft and crew during a low level night-time supply drop.

 

There are two “web” sites that give considerable detail.  They are run by the family of the Canadian pilot and a local French Canadian resident.  Both have contributed to this document and the source details and other sites are available if required.

 

History

 

624 Sqn operated, at the time from Blida airfield in North Africa.  The Squadron aircraft at the time were mostly Halifax, but they also operated Stirlings, Lysanders, Walrus, and on occasions, a Feisler Storche. 

 

624 Sqn at Blida

 

Primarily assigned covert operations, 624 Sqn provided the aircraft and crew to meet the Secret Operations Executive’s (SOE) requirements, such as supply drops, dropping secret agents and propaganda leaflet drops into enemy territory.  The supply drop in question was for the Marquis operating within the Pyrenees.  They were engaged in a substantial fire-fight with an SS Panzer Division.  With medical supplies and ammunition resupply desperately needed, an urgent request was put to SOE to provide a supply drop.  This was given to Canadian Pilot Officer Les Peers and his British crew for the night of 14 July 1944.  From the contemporary reports, the Halifax circled high at least three times with the target area cloud covered.  On it’s final pass, it struck tall trees and then impacted into the mountainside at approx. 1400m on the Pic du Douly which is 1650 m.  The aircraft was completely destroyed on impact with no survivors.

 

PO Les Peers and crew

 

 

 It appears that, because of the cloud cover, the aircraft was about 8kms off target and therefore into the higher range of the Nistos at Pic du Douly with an absence of valleys.  The explosion of the impact was heard by many. The following morning, a shepherd boy found the crash site and ran to the local Mayor who, along with others went to the site.  The following day, with the resistance notified, the townspeople returned to remove the unrecognisable bodies of the crew.  The Maquis provided protection during this difficult task. 

 

 

 

Some supply containers were recovered and the Maquis removed ammunition and grenades to enable a continued action against the panzer Division. The bodies were buried in the empty supply containers under earth and ferns.  Within a week, a small fenced area was created around the grave area, despite the constant attention of the German army in the area.  This would have a huge impact on the local population over the following days.

 

 

 

Once the Germans found out about the air drop and crash site they interrogated the local population.  This meant rape, torture and summary execution of the villagers.  Many of the resistance families ensconced in the woods in the Pyrenees were rounded up and shot.  Three villages were awarded the French Croix de Guerre for their resistance to the Nazi occupiers.  Despite the oppression, the villages continued to maintain the grave site, improving it when they could.  The farmer who controlled the gate to the site would berate any person not taking flowers to the graves.  Only when covered in snow are fresh flowers not laid daily.  The grave site was primarily maintained by Monsieur Jean Bordes, a Resistance veteran,  who was awarded a decoration by the Canadian Government in recent history for looking after “one of it’s sons”.  To date, there has been no involvement from the UK other than inclusion of the names in the Runneymead memorial as the war Graves Commission considered the 624 Sqn crash site too inaccessible to include in it’s maintenance agreements.

 

In 1994, with the assistance of the French Govt. the local communities, paid for the reconstruction of the site into a permanent structure that could withstand the rigours of the weather in that region.  The French Air Force used helicopters to airlift the heavy materials to the site. 

Site after the rebuild

 

As we approach the 60th anniversary of the crash and of the liberation of France, there is a strong feeling amongst the local community that this may be the last year that any large meaningful ceremony can be held, with so few survivors still alive. The pressure for the surviving veterans of 624 Sqn and modern air force in the shape of 4624 as custodians of the 624 history to attend is growing. Several hundreds of people are expected to attend the three ceremonies. A torch light parade through the town of Lannemezan Friday evening 2nd July, a guard of honour at the grave site on Pic du Douly Saturday morning 3rd July and a ceremony at the war memorial in Lannemezan Saturday midday 3rd July.

 

The following demonstrates the feeling that still pervades the foothills of the Nistos. I quote from a recent e-mail from the “unofficial CWGC representative” who is acting as a go-between;

 

“I can tell you this much about the Résistance Fighters "they are tickled pink at the idea of having the RAF over" their attitude is the following "The RAF was essential in our battles without their supplies we'd have gone to the death camps it is that simple" “.

 

 

The RAF is 624