Fortress Lorient 1944-1945

[puffin]

I am a new member and have joined with a specific topic of research where :

We have a Spitfire Crash site at Kercaves, between Larmor Plage and Ploemeur, near Lorient, Southern Brittany, which is now recently officially recognized ( March 2009) as the site where Spitfire AR343 piloted by my uncle crashed after being shot down by the flak battery at Quatre Chemins at around 19.54 hrs. on the evening of 27th July 1944.

The pilot , F/O E.R.Lyon, was first reported as Missing in Action, and then later Presumed Dead.

Supporting the papers submitted to get this official recognition of the crash site itself were two german records:
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1/ From the National Archives in Washington DC

Datum 28.7.44,
19.10 hrs
LSEB
Frank

++SSD LLOR NR 115 27.7.2300
AN AUSWERTESTELLE WEST, OBERURSEL.=BETR: ABSCHUSZMELDUNG

Am 27.7.44 Gegen 19.54 hrs. abschusz einer Spitfire be Ploemeur (Lorient).Beide durch flak. Kennzeiche und Schicksal der besatzung noch nicht bekannt. Wird nachgemeldet.

FL.H.KDTR.LORIENT ,ROEM.EINS C ++

NO. SSD LLOR 115TH OF 27/7/2300
IN WEST AUSWERTESTELLE, OBERURSEL. = REFERENCE: nABSCHUSZMELDUNG
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2/from the Bundesarchiv at Freiburg

Translated from german original:

German Military Report for 27.7.1944

28 July 1944
06.00hrs

AOK7 High Command of the Army
By Gefr. (Corp) Burzer
Receiver: Ufffz.(Sgt) Schaaf

(two other items on this morning report are not in connection with this incident)

The relevant item is:

……….”Jaboan attack against airbase Lorient by 6 Spitfire.Casualties None. 1 shot down near La Roche Bernard, 1 Shot down near Larmor-Plage” ( on the Ploemeur-Kernevel road)………..

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In the register of the nearby Guidel Cemetery we have the grave of an " Anglais Inconnu" where a burial took place on 29th July 1944.
The CWGC headstone records "An Airman of the 1939-45 War, Royal Air Force, Known unto God."

The 234 Squadron Record Book records that Red 3 ( Spitfire AR343 piloted by F/O E.R.Lyon), was hit at 6000ft by flak and was seen to dive away out of control and crash in flames, no parachute seen.

We also have the eye witness account ( dated 2004 and supplemented in 2007-8) of the farmer on whose land the crash took place and who was first on the scene, and who saw the pilot's body on the ground 6 or 7 metres away from the cockpit. He was soon told to leave the area of the crash by the german soldiers who were also quickly on the scene. His witness account continues to say that on enquiry about what happened to the pilot he was told two or three days after the crash by a german soldier who was clearing the site that "the pilot was taken to Guidel".

In trying to achieve official recognition for this "inconnu" grave at Guidel the authorities seek some written record of the body being taken from Kercaves to Guidel as they are reluctant if not unable to rely upon a witness statement made so long after the event.

The mission on which the Spitfire and seven others had embarked on 27th July 1944 was a Rhubarb mission against the Kerlin Bastard Airfield, and over Lorient.

The purpose of this posting is to see if anyone with knowledge of the activities of the german forces in the week or so before the closure of the Lorient pocket, and of the history of the following period until the surrender in May 1945 can guide me to where else I might find that crucial record of the transfer and burial of the remains of the pilot.

1/Where else may we find records regarding this event where more information might be found?
2/In what form and where might we find a record of the burial of the RAF pilot by german servicemen?
3/Where locally would the remains be taken after the evening of 27th July 1944 and burial on 29th July 1944.
4/Whose responsibility would it have been to undertake the task of clearing the site wreckage and removal of the human remains?
5/From which unit would the burial party be formed?

I will look forward to seeing if anyone on this forum is able to help.

Many thanks in advance

Puffin

[panzercommander]

sure i will help you mate

[puffin]

Thanks Panzercommander

We are looking for a "needle in a haystack".

But if you can help that will be most appreciated.

Puffin