Louis Max Lavallee

liverpool annie · Nov 23, 2008

In Memory of
Pilot Officer LOUIS MAX LAVALLEE

J/18759, 161 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force
who died age 23
on 23 July 1943
Son of F. O. Lavallee and of Leonie Lavallee (nee Duvernois), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Remembered with honour
CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY

Honoring a WWII Pilot

TEMPSFORD, RAF Personnel Losses - Roll of Honour

1943 138 Squadron 161 Squadron

22/23 July 1943 - 161 Squadron - Halifax DK119 - MA-U
Crashed near St Sauvier (Allier). Operation PRINCESS, France.

LAVALLEE Louis Max
Pilot Officer (Flight Sergeant) J/18759, Royal Canadian Air Force. Air Gnr. Died Friday 23rd July 1943. Age 23. Son of F. O. Lavallee and of Leonie Lavallee (nee Duvernois), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried in CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. Grave 3. F. 15.

DK119 Halifax crash MA-U 161 Sqn on 23 July 1943.
Deceased: F / S LMLavallée RCAF.
Escapees: Sgt DACrome, Sgt ROHunter, Sgt DGPatterson, Sgt RWPaulin, Sgt TJKanakos RCAF.
Prisoners: Sgt SFHathaway, Sgt EAAllen

France (Louis Lavallee)

My father, Warrant Officer Robert William "Bob" Paulin served in 161 Squadron at RAF Tempsford in Halifax DK119 "V" for Victor. He crashed in Europe on 22nd July 1943 which claimed the life of Rear Gunner "Lew" Lavallee.
My father was one of the five crew members who were relatively unhurt in the crash and were picked up by the French Resistance for whom the provisions had just been dropped. Thanks to them he managed to avoid capture and through a series of Safe Houses and the great efforts of the French Resistance, was ferried back across country to a point where they were all picked up by Lysander and returned to England in mid November 1943. During this time, they were actually located by the Germans whilst staying in a farm and chased through a village, during which time, my father related, they ran over an old ladies dog, but were, of course, unable to stop.He also told me how on another occasion, whilst hiding up in woodlands, they could hear the screams of collaborators that were being beaten up and tortured by the resistance men - they showed no mercy to those people.
Just after the crash, he and another crew member actually returned to St Sevier to attend Lew Lavallee's funeral dressed, of course, as Frenchmen and I have a (rather ragged) photograph of the funeral. I also have another picture of a French friend and also of, presumably, him and the crew of V for Victor. During his time in France he made many friends and one man in particular who he swapped passport photos with. This must have happened just before he returned to England, as he would have needed his photo for the forged passport which he used to travel by train accross country. It was obviously a good copy as it was checked by the Gestapo on the train. I actually have the forged passport in my possesion together with the photo of fathers French friend (Father told me that the Frenchman cried when they said goodbye).
Interestingly, Fathers story of what caused the crash differs slightly from the story related by the grandson of Sgt Stanley Hathaway, Stephen Hathaway. Stan's account seems to suggest that V for Victor crashed due to bad weather and an engine stall. My father's account was that they were hit by either flak or an ME109 on the way to the target zone. When making a drop, they flew at very low level and low speed so as to prevent too much scattering of the provisions. During the drop, the engines were run at high revs but with the props feathered. Immediately upon making the drop, the pitch was increased to ensure a safe and speedy climb out. Unknown to the crew, the fuel pressure was low due to damage sustained by enemy fire and this caused the engines to be starved of fuel and lose power when the pitch was added. This caused the plane to stall and crash. The rest of it ties in with Stephen's story
I have photos of the crew mounted in a picture frame: Don Crome; Pilot - English, "May"; Navigator - Canadian (replaced by Stan Hathaway due to illness), Bob Paulin; Wireless Operator - English, Red Hunter; Engineer - Canadian, Joe Kanakas; Air Gunner (Dispatcher)- Canadian, Pat Patterson; Bomb Aimer, British, Lew Lavallee; Rear Gunner - Canadian.
On his return to England father saw no further action and was placed on training duties, teaching other Radio Operators. After the war he became a builder. Sadly, my father died after a long illness on 9th January 2003 aged 80. He was 21 years old at the time of the crash.
I am in the process of trying to piece together Father's career in the RAF during wartime, but there are lots of loose ends to tie up. Unfortunately, he didn't really like to talk too much about his experiences, but I am slowly piecing it all together with the help of sites such as yours. Also, whilst going through his possesions I have come across some diaries and logs of his flights during training etc. but no information of his missions as this was, of course, top secret.
Keith Paulin
Click to expand...

The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Tempsford

spidge · Nov 24, 2008

The stories abound don't they.

I should send my list of the Australians who were killed with 138 & 161sq.

26 were killed with 138sq and 7 with 161sq.

I do have a wonderful but very sad story of six Australians, a Scot and an Englishman.

The son of the Scot who now lives in Canada, made a pilgrimage back to England and France to see the graves in France on the 60th anniversary of their death in 2004. They went to a remembrance at Runnymede, Tempsford, St Clements Dane Church and finally to the village in France where the villagers have held a memorial on the 1st Sunday in September every year since 1944 and spread some of the ashes of his mother on his fathers grave.

This brought more than one tear to my eye I can assure you.

View attachment 2337

Original crash photo taken by the Marquis. The young lad in the photo was one of the men at the memorial.

View attachment 2338

The group burial.

View attachment 2339

The surviving members of the Marquis and the resistance are holding the flags.

This aircraft was dropping supplies when it crashed.

liverpool annie · Nov 24, 2008

spidge said: ↑

The stories abound don't they.

I should send my list of the Australians who were killed with 138 & 161sq.

26 were killed with 138sq and 7 with 161sq.

I do have a wonderful but very sad story of six Australians, a Scot and an Englishman.

The son of the Scot who now lives in Canada, made a pilgrimage back to England and France to see the graves in France on the 60th anniversary of their death in 2004. They went to a remembrance at Runnymede, Tempsford, St Clements Dane Church and finally to the village in France where the villagers have held a memorial on the 1st Sunday in September every year since 1944 and spread some of the ashes of his mother on his fathers grave.

This brought more than one tear to my eye I can assure you.

View attachment 2337

Original crash photo taken by the Marquis. The young lad in the photo was one of the men at the memorial.

View attachment 2338

The group burial.

View attachment 2339

The surviving members of the Marquis and the resistance are holding the flags.

This aircraft was dropping supplies when it crashed.
Click to expand...

Hi Spidge !

I always flood my keyboard I'm afraid ... I suppose you have this already

Roll of Honour - Bedfordshire - Tempsford - Air Crew Losses

Annie

spidge · Nov 25, 2008

liverpool annie said: ↑

Hi Spidge !

I always flood my keyboard I'm afraid ... I suppose you have this already

Roll of Honour - Bedfordshire - Tempsford - Air Crew Losses

Annie
Click to expand...

No RAAF lads on the list. Those from the story above are not listed either.

The Australian (Ireland) from the RAFVR is listed though.

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