Stourbridge war hero remembered in new book (From Stourbridge News)

Stourbridge war hero remembered in new book

9:48am Friday 8th June 2007 in Local By Martyn Smith

A STOURBRIDGE pilot killed in the Normandy campaign of 1944 has been remembered in a new book dedicated to the few'.

Pilot officer George Boucher died when his Typhoon aircraft was shot down over northern France while he was serving with 174 Squadron.

The Faithful Few, by Andrew Long, tells the stories of aircrew from Worcestershire who fought in World War Two, during his research the author worked closely with members of the Boucher family who still live in the Stourbridge area.

Andrew said: "I was lucky the family were so supportive of my work, it is sad most of the guys that did survive the war are no longer with us.

"I got to know some of the airmen in the book through the legacy they left behind, it was almost like working with ghosts."

Born in December 1922 in Enville, George Boucher was educated at King Edward VI Grammer School, Stourbridge where he was a popular pupil who excelled at sports.

He joined the RAF in February 1941 and flew Hurricane aircraft for his first operational missions in August 1942, before transferring to the Typhoon in April 1943.

The book takes extracts from Boucher's incredible account of his journey home to England after crashing behind enemy lines during October 1943.

His plane caught fire following impact by debris from an explosion, forcing Boucher crash land and hide from German troops as they searched the area.

With help from resistance groups the pilot made his way on foot through snow covered hills to the Spanish border before being arrested by local police.

After repatriation George returned home on leave before rejoining his unit to continue operations in the build up to D-Day.

He was killed on August 5 after his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire at an altitude of 11,500 feet over a region called Mont de Cerise.

Despite being badly wounded he managed to bail out but was too low for his parachute to open and fell dead close to the wreckage of his plane.

His body was recovered by Claude Pailleux, a witness to the crash, whose family arranged a dignified burial and, together with other residents, continue to tend the grave to this day.

In 2002 members of the Boucher family and former comrades attended the unveiling of a tribute to George and other pilots killed in Normandy at a chapel in the region.

The Faithful Few is published by Victory Books International, for more information visit www.victorybooks.co.uk