W/O Frank Balloch, 165 Sqnd RAF

Hi All,

This thread is being opened to bring forward research on Warrant Officer Frank Balloch of No. 165 Squadron, RAF.

W/O Balloch was shot down on the 7th June while on the Squadron's second patrol of the day, five miles SW of Carhaix, in Brittany. Having survived the crash landing of his Spitfire IXb (MK855 - 'SK-E'), he was captured by the Germans and held at various PoW camps including Rennes Military Hospital and Stalag XIIA at Limburg, Germany.

The intention here is to learn more of W/O Balloch and in particular his service in the RAF as it pertains to the Normandy Invasion. In keeping with this Forum's policy, we will not be disclosing the exact location of the crash site to readers, with the exception of W/O Balloch's family - that's of course if we can find it! This policy is in place to protect crash sites from unauthorised excavation.

Below is this pilot's record in the Forces War Records database:

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Last night I went onto TNA site and purchased copies of three documents which make up the Squadron Operations Record Book (ORB) of No. 165 Squadron for the month of June 1944. These are:

• Form 540 (Summary of Events)
• Form 541 (Record of Events)
• Appendices to ORB (1st June 1942 - 30th April 1945)

I'll have these three uploaded to the 'Green Room' Library later in the day for use of members with 'Researcher' status. This is the first ORB I have purchased from TNA which is accompanied by the Appendices document - a very interesting read in itself; full of 'OpReps' and combat reports by individual pilots. It's a large 52MB pdf which I have not yet fully gone through. However, as far as I can see, it does not shed any more light on W/O Balloch's crash beyond that contained in the extract below from the Form 541 (Record of Events):

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The 'Rodeo' patrol on which W/O Balloch was shot down, consisted of eight Mk IXb Spitfires and was 'up' at 0930hrs. Seven aircraft returned to base at RAF Predannack at 1120 hrs.

No. 165 Squadron was one of the nine squadrons which made up No. 10 Group, which in turn was one of three Groups which made up RAF Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). Despite its name, ADGB played both a defensive and an offensive role during the Normandy Invasion. On the great day, ADGB fighter squadrons were tasked with suppressing both enemy air and sea activity in the areas from Brittany to the Pas de Calais.

More follows...

Regards,

Pat

 

Hi All,

I am trying to get this sentence translated from the Gourin Wiki page here which I take to be written in the Breton language:

Online translators and even a language identifier site have failed to even confirm that it is indeed Breton :s

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Hi Lyn,

Just been onto the Forces War Records site and done a search on Albert. Don't know if you can see his page here without being logged in as a member - let me know if you cannot and I'll post a screenshot. You are correct; he was on Lancasters, flying with No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron when he was killed.

Regards,

Pat

 

Lyn,

The ASN record here appears to have the details pertaining to the loss of Lancaster 'KM-X'.

I'll keep digging on both brothers.

Regards,

Pat

 

Hi Lyn,

Here is a screenshot of Albert's record on Forces War Records:

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I am limited in the width of image which I can insert into posts here, so you may not be able to read the text very well. I have therefore uploaded a full size jpg file of the screenshot here. I have to watermark these images, but I lowered the opacity enough such that the underlying text is discernible.

One other point; I note this site is commercial in nature - which is fine in itself but please be aware that I am not associated with it in any way. I am not sure that I like the 'Buy Medals' option. Just a personal thing - I don't believe medals should be traded or replicates sold, as appears to be the case here.

Regards,

Pat