THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
The SOE Westland Lysander of 161 Squadron that got stuck in the mud. Perigne, Deux-Sèvres November 1943. by Tony Barrett
Following my article in The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly (November 2011) that looked at ‘Operation Scenery’ in 1943. This now remembered at the Museum, RAF Tangmere, West Sussex which highlights this incident. The forward base at RAF Tangmere was almost 100 miles south of RAF Tempsford (161 Squadron’s main base), which enabled the Lysanders to fly deeper into France. The pilots were billeted at Tangmere Cottage, opposite the main gates of the RAF station and partially hidden by tall hedges. A painting commissioned by Gavin Hooper, the son of the Lysander pilot Robin Hooper, and painted by the well known artist and poet Douglas Littlejohn depicting the scene showing Adolphe Fournier’s attempt to free Robin Hooper’s Lysander from the mud at ‘La Prairie’ with his bullocks ‘Julot’ and ‘Fridolin’.
Unable to extricate the stricken aircraft the pilot was forced to destroy the instruments and set fire to the plane to stop it falling into the hands of the Germans. After the war Robin Hooper, a career diplomat, was knighted. Sir Robin Hooper KCMG, DSO, DFC former Ambassador to Athens died at the age of 74. Lewis Hodges the Lysander pilot, who brought Robin Hooper back from France, was also knighted and became an Air Chief Marshal. The picture only came to my attention following my researches into all of the Lysander operations in the Poitou-‐Charentes and seemed particularly appropriate to follow up my previous article. The artist Doug Littlejohn has been of invaluable assistance in putting me in touch with Gavin Hooper and he has presented a limited edition print of ‘Operation Scenery’ to Madame Monique Trillaud in memory of her father and his gallant efforts to retrieve the well-‐ and-‐truly stuck Lysander in the landing zone of ‘La Prairie’ just south of Perigne. A sign by the roadside can be found at the landing zone today, a little the worse for wear, but remembering the incident for future generations. An original photograph, dated post war, depicts the two bullocks ‘Julot’ and ‘Fridolin’ -‐ the latter renamed ‘Papillon’ to avoid complications and embarrassment with the Germans as the name was a putdown term for the ‘boche’ and in common use during the German occupation.
Right: The painting ‘Operation Scenery’ by Douglas Littlejohn
Above: ‘Julot’ and ‘Fridolin’
Above: Robin Hooper
Douglas Littlejohn has painted a number of pictures highlighting the Westland Lysander in missions over France. With thanks to Douglas Littlejohn for permission to use his painting and to the assistance of Monique Trillaud, Adolphe Fourniers daughter of Perigne, and the RAF Museum at Tangmere.
Above: Doug Littlejohn, the Above: The sign at the landing artist & Robin Hooper’s son, zone as it can be viewed today at Perigne Gavin.
Main image below: Painting ‘Operation Battering Ram’ by Douglas Littlejohn
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