In Memory of
Frederick Alfred BUDDEN
Flight Sergeant
655615
Pilot
139 (Jamaica) Squadron
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Who died on
Thursday 18 February 1943. Age 25
Additional information
Son of Frederick Carles and Mabel Budden, of Saltford, Somerset.
In Memory of
Frank MORRIS
Sergeant
1245949
Navigator
139 (Jamaica) Squadron
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Who died on
Thursday 18 February 1943. Age 22
Additional information
Son of Francis William and Jane Morris, of Malvern Link, Malvern, Worcestershire. His brother Thomas Victor, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, also died on service on 23 May 1940, age 21, and is buried in Zutkerque Churchyard, Pas-de-Calais Department, France.
Cemetery
VENGEONS CHURCHYARD, Manche, France.
No. of Identified Casualties
2
Grave/Memorial Reference
Joint grave.
Locations information
Vengeons is a village and commune 10 kilometres south of Vire, a town on the Paris-Argentan-Granville railway line. Vire is the nearest station to Vengeons and taxis are available.
The village is about 1 kilometre west of the main road from Vire to Mortain-Bocage (D577). In the churchyard, near the north-western corner, is the joint grave of two airmen of the Royal Air Force.
Circumstances
Extract from Mosquito Thunder by Stuart R. Scott:
“Unfortunately, one aircraft from 139 (Jamaica) Squadron in Flight Lieutenant Blessing’s section of 105 Squadron failed to return. Flight Sergeant Frederik Alfred BUDDEN with Sergeant Frank MORRIS in Mosquito IV DZ420, XD-‘F’, crashed north-west of Tours at Vengeons, about 8 km south-south-west of Vire in France. Both airmen lie in Vengeons churchyard. Bill Humphrey of 105 Squadron conclued: For the price of that aircraft and its crew. Tours, for the time being at any rate, was put out of action as an important railway depot.”
Thanks to Dan.
Note from the webmaster:
Mosquito DZ420 crashed in a field at the place called “L’Anfresne” at Vengeons.
According to witnesses at the time, there was no German anti-aircraft gun in the area.
No claim was found from the Luftwaffe (German Air Force).
Was DZ420 damaged during the attack on the marshalling yards at Tours and then tried to come back home?
© The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
© The National Archives
© RAF WWII 38 Group Squadrons Reunited