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2556406 Sgt. Harry Barron R.A.F.V.R 51 Squadron R.A.F Snaith.

Following the beach landings on D-Day the allies encountered difficulty.
Thanks to the success of the airborne landings, the flanks of the beachhead
were firmly held, but efforts to break out of the centre were frustrated by
fierce German resistance and counterattacks, particularly around Caen in the
British-Canadian sector.

A British armoured thrust was defeated at Villers-Bocage on 12th June. A
large-scale infantry offensive west of Caen, called Operation "Epsom" was
also defeated on June 25-28.

There was gloom at S.H.A.E.F; it seemed a stalemate was descending. This
gloom was deepened by Montgomery's strategy. His plan was to draw German
armour toward the British front and win the battle of attrition between tank
forces. The successful German defence, however, led the Americans to doubt
the plans viability.

Much of the German armourments were said to be in the area of Villers-
Bocage and it became obvious that a bomber raid on the area was called for.
The 2nd and 9th German Panzer Divisions were about to carry out an attack on
the British and American armies.

Aircrews from R.A.F Snaith were briefed for the raid on the afternoon of
Friday 30th June 1944. Twenty-four Halifax bombers were to join with others
from bases throughout England, making a total of 240 aircraft scheduled for
the raid. Take off from Snaith was 18.00hrs, with target time 20.00hrs, just as
darkness fell, and their route took them over Reading and Selsey Bill before
crossing the channel.

The crew of Halifax Mk 3 (LV782) with the call sign MK-T was from 'C'
flight. The aircrew had also flown this aircraft on 'D' day, although this was
not their usual aircraft.
The crew comprised

Captain-Pilot. Sgt J.R.A. Cooke (Bobby)
Navigator. F/O T. Negrich (Tony, Canadian)
Wireless Op/Air Gunner. Sgt. H.Barron (Harry)
Flight Engineer. Sgt. H.Perkins (Perks)
Bomb Aimer. W/O W.C. Waye (Wendell)
Mid Upper Air Gunner. A.E. Jukes
Rear Air Gunner. C.M. Allen (Colin)

The Master Bomber was a Lancaster of 514 Squadron (3 Group) piloted by
D.C. Woods.

Four or five aircraft approached the target at 4,000 feet, as instructed if
the cloud cover was obstructing the bomb aimer's view. The other 235,
or so, aircraft were at 12,000 feet.

Halifax MH-S with Sqdn. Ldr. Simmons, the Squadron's Navigation
Leader, as crew was at 4,000ft. It was reported that Sqdn. Ldr.
Simmons had taken the rare step of calling to the other aircraft on the
radio to 'come down' in most urgent terms. Normally "Radio Silence"
rained.

Of the aircraft at 4,000ft, the Master bomber took a direct hit, and was
obliterated by the explosion. MH-S took a hit on the nose, and after a
heroic flight without a screen, at 200mph, made it to Ford emergency
landing strip. The Flight Engineer, and the pilot, Jim Feaver were
awarded the D.F.C.

A few seconds after the Master Bomber had been hit a Halifax (MH-T)
(Harry Barron's) was seen to be hit at the root of the starboard wing and
'spin in'.

It is thought, but not proven, that these aircraft were hit from above.

The crew of MH-U were originally buried at Cahagnes and re-buried at
Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery near Villers-Bocage 14th June 1945 and
at the Canadian War Cemetery at Bretteville sur Laize.

Harry Barron's grave is in Grave 5, Plot 11, Row G

The raid was officially classified as 'successful'.

The above was prepared by Lancelot Howard Barron from various sources,
including eyewitness reports.

Special thanks to Flt/Lieut. "Ricky" Pearce D.F.M.,
and James Seymour, nephew of Bobby Cooke pilot of MH-U

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