Rédigé par Alan dans la rubrique Lieu de mémoire, Les Alliés
Le 6 avril 1944 sergent Donald Hoddinott était à bord d'un avion « Halifax » en provenance d'Angleterre, au cours d'une mission au profit de la Résistance. Touché par les tirs ennemis vers 3h du matin, le Halifax perdait de l'altitude et l'équipage comprenait six hommes sauterent à l'hauteur de « chez-Guignard » et furent recueillis par les maquisards avant de regagner le sud de la France. Mais le parachute du sergent-aviateur Hoddinott ne s'ouvre pas et il s'écrasa sur le piton rocheux surplombant la vallée de « Fontaury ».
A lieu-dit « Fontaury », en bordure de la D84 (Châteauneuf - N10 au nord de Barbezieux) il y a une stèle érigé honorant la mémoire du Sergent Hoddinott.
Le 6 avril 1944 sergent Donald Hoddinott était à bord d'un avion « Halifax » en provenance d'Angleterre, au cours d'une mission au profit de la Résistance. Touché par les tirs ennemis vers 3h du matin, le Halifax perdait de l'altitude et l'équipage comprenait six hommes sauterent à l'hauteur de « chez-Guignard » et furent recueillis par les maquisards avant de regagner le sud de la France. Mais le parachute du sergent-aviateur Hoddinott ne s'ouvre pas et il s'écrasa sur le piton rocheux surplombant la vallée de « Fontaury ».
Le monument est composé de deux plaques. En avril 2010, pendant la cérémonie franco-britannique du 66e anniversaire, une photo du sergent Donald Hoddinott en porcelaine a été ajoutée.
Members of the RAF Association Sud-Ouest France Branch once again, in the early spring on 15 April 2017, joined with about 60 local French people to attend a ceremony amongst the Cognac vineyards to remember the tragic death of FS Donald Hoddinnot a member of 644 Squadron. On 5/6 April 1944, his Halifax left Tarrant Rushton in Dorset to complete a drop of arms to the Maquis under SOE control in South West France. Unfortunately the Halifax was hit by flak and Donald, being the rear gunner, was forced to parachute out of the stricken aircraft. Sadly, the Halifax was too low to enable his parachute to open successfully. Thus he died at the roadside in the commune of Fontaury near Châteauneuf in the Charente Region of France. The rest of the crew survived. (Their story : link)
Photos below show the Sud-Ouest France Branch Chairman, Beryl Dennett Stannard saying a few words to the assembled dignitaries and people in front of Donald’s memorial and all the wreaths that were laid on the day.
FS Hoddinnot will not be forgotten by French and British alike.
Members of the RAF Association Sud-Ouest France Branch once again, in the early spring on 15 April 2017, joined with about 60 local French people to attend a ceremony amongst the Cognac vineyards to remember the tragic death of FS Donald Hoddinnot a member of 644 Squadron. On 5/6 April 1944, his Halifax left Tarrant Rushton in Dorset to complete a drop of arms to the Maquis under SOE control in South West France. Unfortunately the Halifax was hit by flak and Donald, being the rear gunner, was forced to parachute out of the stricken aircraft. Sadly, the Halifax was too low to enable his parachute to open successfully. Thus he died at the roadside in the commune of Fontaury near Châteauneuf in the Charente Region of France. The rest of the crew survived. (Their story : link)
Photos below show the Sud-Ouest France Branch Chairman, Beryl Dennett Stannard saying a few words to the assembled dignitaries and people in front of Donald’s memorial and all the wreaths that were laid on the day.
FS Hoddinnot will not be forgotten by French and British alike.
We are very grateful to Terry and Beryl from the RAF Association for sharing these photos with us.