Flt.Sgt. Bernard Stroud
Royal Air Force 138 Squadron
from:Hereford
(d.19th July 1944)
Bernard Stroud was a Flight Sergeantin the RAF in 138 Squadron based at Tempsford. He was tragically killed aged just 20 on a World War 2 night SOE mission when his Halifax Mk.V plane LL364 NF-B was in collision with an American Liberator B24H aircraft of the 801st Bomber crew over a drop zone at Mazignien, Nievre, France at 01.00hrs on 19th July 1944.
A tragic twist of fate was that Bernard had in fact finished his tour of duty prior to this mission and was on leave at home when the MP`s turned up to call him back to RAF Tempsford to replace a crew member who had broken his leg in a motor cycle accident!!
All 15 persons on board both planes were killed. There were 8 American crew. The British crew of 7 are buried together at the Communal Cemetery Graveyard at Marigny L`Eglise, Nievre, France and are always remembered there by villagers each year and many official ceremonies have been held in remembrance of them. There is a plaque with Bernard`s name on in the Lady Chapel of Hereford Cathedral where he had been a chorister.
