Halifax Bomber 419 SUGAR

I noticed there was a post Halifax Bomber.

My Late Uncle F/O G.T Graham made 23 Bombing runs from ENGLAND to the European Continent in "HALIFAX BOMBER, SUGAR" and was shot down on his 23 RUN. Total weight weight on the last run 113,660 lbs.

On the night of September 16/17,1943 the Bombers run was to remove the RAILWAY STATION AND MARSHALLING YARDS at MODANE France. This was the entrance to the Mont Cenis Tunnel.....France > Italy.
As "HALIFAX BOMBER, SUGAR" neared the French Coast on the home stretch for England, two JU-88's attacked "HALIFAX BOMBER, SUGAR". Both port Engines were ablaze and all he_l broke out. Suddenly both Port Engines started to tear themselves apart. All Engines had been at full throttle +++++ as the crew was trying to get to England!
Orders were given to BAIL OUT.

As my Uncle F/0 G.T. Graham was satisfied all had exited the Bomber he realised the forward escape hatch was stuck. As my uncle JUMPED on the cover the cover plunged into the night as did my Uncle.
One of the Pilots had caught his parachute on the Throttles and became tangled. Eventually the Pilot through his Chute into the night and escaped the wreckage.
As my "Uncle F/0 G.T. Graham" approached French citizens on September 19,1943 he was concealed in a house as the Nazis were every were.

F/0 G.T. Graham was given a new FRENCH PASSPORT, a FRENCH NAME, and trained as a Deaf and Dump printer. Once he was seen as a capable printer his test was to enter a Tavern were German Officers drank. As F/0 G.T. Graham passed his test he was accompanied to Paris France, then to Toulouse France, and on to Foix. They then walked across the Mtns. to Andorra. Then a Bus ride to the British Embassy in Spain.
A trip across to Gibraltar, then a Cargo Plane back to England.
My Late Uncle F/0 G.T. Graham was back in England 41 days after being shot down!

At the end of WWII my late uncle F/0 G.T. Graham paid for passage and had the family whom had kept him secure in a farm house in FRANCE shipped to CANADA.

My late Uncle G.T.Graham was born and raised in Alberta Canada. Was awarded several Military metals, one from the late King George VI.
Farming was in his blood so he spent the rest of life farming and married a lady (my mothers sister )who was in the RCAF.

Bob ...Retired...Freedom comes with a price:

That French family risked their lives to save your uncle. Your uncle was a good man!

What a great story! What a great man!
Ben

And his Uncle risked his life to save France. Hero's all.

Great story, and great documentation. So much of this sort of thing has been lost over time in many families- If you haven't done so already, please make up a set of pictures and narrative just like you did here, for each of your kids and grandkids, so that the family history will not be lost.

My understanding was flight crew that made it back to England after being shot down were not allowed to fly over occupied France again until the Normandy invasion. If captured they were afraid the Germans would torture them into exposing the people that helped them escape the first time.


Thank you for your uncle's service to Canada and the allied war effort.

Yes, my Uncle never flew In Europe ever again.....

After he was awarded a Distinguished service metal by the late King George VI, and 23 Bombing Runs, my late Uncle was given a chance to retire from the Air Force on September 20,1945.

When my late Uncle and his Traveling Chaperon left Paris France for Toulouse France, they always had in their baggage a brief case that looked like a Printers case......it was a case filled with Dynamite! Under no circumstances were they ever to be taken prisoner!

Great story - my late uncle was ground crew for a Halifax squadron (624) that flew secret missions - agents into occupied Europe etc - he had a great fund of stories from North Africa & Italy...

re the Ju 88's :- that truly great Australian cricketer Keith Miller had been a Mosquito pilot in WW2 & was once asked by a journalist how he'd handled the pressure of playing international sport. He replied " Pressure?? It's a bloody GAME! I'll tell you what pressure is: it's a Messerschmitt up your arse!"

Put it nicely into perspective - it's a pity so many of today's prima donna millionnaire sports stars don't realise how lucky they are...

Thanks for the story.