Lysander on secret operation, B&W version

Approaching by moonlight, an RAF Westland Lysander IIIA, V9498, piloted by Flying Officer HJ “Frankie” Franklin, about to land secret agents on “Spitfire” field in the Vaucluse region of the South of France on 11 July 1944. The Lysander, from 148 (Special Duties) Squadron’s ‘C’ flight, was operating from a forward base in Corsica.

This operation, codenamed Tamise, involved taking in three agents and picking up three - one of whom was Neil Marten, later the MP for Banbury, who worked with the Resistance in France and in Norway. Their contact on the ground was the Service d'Atterrissages and Parachutages (SAP) officer “Archiduc” - real name Camille Rayon but generally known as Jean-Pierre, or J-P.

My picture was commissioned by one of F/O Franklin’s nieces. One of his daughters provided photographs and a map compiled by a local historian, who had helped her to pinpoint the site on a recent visit. The grass landing strip, marked these days by a small information board, was approached over a field of lavender.

The quirky-looking but rugged Lysander, with its automatic wing slats and solid undercarriage, and a fixed ladder for rapid access by passengers, was perfect for these clandestine operations on short, makeshift strips in occupied territory.