Date: 5th May 1942
Unit: No. 149 Squadron
Type: Stirling I
Serial: N6124
Coded: OJ-R
Location: Agnicourt, North east of Laon
Pilot: P/O Arnold Foster Cheetham 103550 R.A.F.V.R. Aged; 27, Killed
Fl/ Eng: Sgt. Basil Ernest Smith 569626 R.A.F. Aged; 21, Killed
Obs: F/O. Kenneth William Byron Moodie J/1211 R.C.A.F. Aged; 26, Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frederick Bertram Pomeroy 1152526 R.A.F.V.R. Aged; ?, Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Victor Carriline 630417 R.A.F. Aged; 26, Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Francis Derek Jago 742695 R.A.F.V.R. Aged; 27, Killed
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. James Arthur Shaw 968972 R.A.F.V.R. Aged; ?, Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Lakenheath for an operation on Stuttgart. The aircraft crashed at 04.00hrs at Agnicourt, north east of Laon. (Please note: these details are correct as some sources state Agincourt and others Aguilcourt.)
All the crew were killed and bodies taken to Laon St Just Cemetery for burial which does suggest that the Luftwaffe recovered the bodies as Laon at the time was a German night fighter base.
N6124 was part of a 121 aircraft raid and was shot down over Laon by Lt. Gustav Knoch, from 7./NJG4, a former Zerstőrer pilot with one victory to his credit. The Stirling did exchange fire and is understood to have also shot down Gustav Knoch who also perished during this exchange of fire.
Sgt. Basil Ernest Smith
Ann Mole pictured left visiting the graves - Ann is the niece of Basil Ernest Smith. With many thanks to David Mole for supplying these pictures and details of the loss.
Burial details:
P/O Arnold Foster Cheetham 103550 R.A.F.V.R. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Grave 14
Son of Eugene W. and Amy Agnes of Bridlington, Yorkshire
Sgt. Basil Ernest Smith 569626 R.A.F. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
Son of Ernest James and Sarah of Haverthwaite, Lancashire
F/O. Kenneth William Byron Moodie J/1211 R.C.A.F. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
Son of James Francis Melville and Lucy Catherine of Calgary, Alberta, Canada (B.Sc)
Sgt. Frederick Bertram Pomeroy 1152526 R.A.F.V.R. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
Son of Frederick W. and Patricia of Hove, Sussex
Fl/Sgt. Victor Carriline 630417 R.A.F. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
Son of Arthur William and Agnes of Newcastle-on-Tyne and husband of Norah Evelyn of Sandyford, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Fl/Sgt. Francis Derek Jago 742695 R.A.F.V.R. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
Son of Sidney Herbert and M.M of Hurstpierpoint, Sussex
Fl/Sgt. James Arthur Shaw 968972 R.A.F.V.R. Laon (St Just) Communal Cemetery Collective Grave 16-20
No further details available at this time.
