Spitfire P7295
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Spitfire P7295, Wales
Free French Air Force pilot Sgt Pierre Louis Rene Degail had survived but was injured when his Spitfire crashed on Cadair Berwyn in North Wales on 14 December 1942. He also survived the first night on the snow covered mountain ridge.
The following day F/Lt Douglas Harvey Walker RAFVR in Lysander T1655 was searching for and found Sgt Degail and his wrecked Spitfire. They would probably have waved at each other, but Sgt Degail’s hopes of rescue were dashed when the Lysander appears to have been caught by a sudden downdraught as F/Lt Walker flew out over Cwm-llawenog, pulling the aircraft down and into the cwm and killing the pilot.
This drawing of Sgt Degail in his wrecked Spitfire, waving to the passing Lysander which had come to find him, is by Rob Evans of Borders Historical Aviation Archaeology
It is difficult to imagine the second night Sgt Degail had here. Alone and a long way from home on a freezing mountain top in winter, with both legs broken and knowing that the plane which came to find him had also crashed and was just metres away… He would probably have called out to the other pilot, but heard no reply. No-one knows exactly what happened or what he went through; by the time the rescue party arrived the day after, Sgt Degail had died of exposure.
Below; Overlooking Cwm-llawenog, poppy cross for Flt Lt Walker
NB the date of death I wrote on the cross in the lead photo is incorrect, the crash was on the 14th but the date of death should read 15 or 16 Dec. Also according to Rob Evans’ site, recent research reveals Pierre Degail held the rank of Sergeant not Pilot Officer.
UPDATE 05/05/2025
These three photos taken at Commune de Palluaud en Charente France are provided by Sgt Degail’s nephew Patrice, and are used here with his kind permission.
It’s a lovely image.Like the way the poppy jumps out under that grey sky and the slithers of ice too.Good stuff !
these just get better and better,ian..degail suffered a dreadful death and without these kinda true hero,s,we,d all be speaking german…
Terrific research and a great pic.
An absolute nightmare experience. What a horrible way to die.
Great work Ian , Sargeant Degail’ s first name has eluded my research efforts too. I cannot find a trace of him on any of the Free French Websites.
This is a beauty Ian!
simple and really poignant — gets the message across really well
and what a tragic story
brilliant photos ian, and the story
wow, what a strong and moving story, very evocative-
Superb pictures Ian and as always an in depth and moving story. Can’t decide between the two pictures though, both very good.
Such a excellent composed picture man!!!
Janwillem
Nice work!
Brilliant tribute, we owe so much to these men
Thanks everyone.
Nice angle to make the shot Ian – super set as useful.
Had a great time thanks, hope you did too.
Have a great 2011 (that still sounds odd!)
Dreadfully sad story. Well researched and presented as always though.
I can not improve on what others have said, great shot and better words.
We shall always remember them, and because of your efforts so will others in the future.
Best wishes
Bill
They were all so young.
Sgt Pierre Degail is commemorated in his home town of Mareuil-sur-Belle in the Dordogne by the naming of one of the main streets after him.
Thanks Mike, I never knew that. Google map link below.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/Pierre+Degail++Mareuil-sur-Belle/@45.4504676,0.4522165,19z
Pierre Degail is my oncle . Merci Merci Merci all, and still Thanks for the photo Ian D B and i hope go to this place .
Contact me woulb be pleased for me
Hi Patrice good to have contact with you. I will provide details of the location if you need them?
Salut Patrice , bon d’avoir un contact avec vous . Je vais donner des détails sur l’emplacement si vous en avez besoin ?
Hi Ian, do we know if Pierre Degail is buried in a church cemetery or at the site of his plane crash on the hill top in Wales? Our mum served with the WAFS and was a close friend to Pierre and we are doing researching. We can’t ask her now, as she is no longer with us. Thanks and kind regards Sara
Hi Sara,
Sgt Degail was buried at Oswestry Cemetery (section T, grave 205), 21 December 1942.
If you visit, please send me a photo of the headstone and I’ll add it to this page with a credit to you.
Thanks,
Ian
please give me the mail from Sara Hubert for answering her. TKS
Hi Patrice,
Sara should be able to see these comments and so may email you directly.
If not, I can email her and ask her if she would like to make contact.
Best wishes,
Ian
Thank you very much, yes I would be very happy to be able to speak to him. I have photos of young women during his pilot training. For me and my family to have information on him while he was in England would be truly exceptional. And of course information on his mother who knew Pierre Degail. Give him my email and ask him to contact me at the email I indicated (confirm that you have it). My family and I would really be delighted to speak to him. My sincere thanks
Ian, I’m AOL now until 5 May, if you haven’t received a photo by then please let me know as Oswestry is only 25 miles away.
That’s very kind, thank you Brian.
Thank you Ian,
Hoping to make a trip to Wales in the Autumn and will
definitely be visiting Pierre’s grave at Oswestry Cemetery.
So photo to follow later in the year.
Sara
Thank you Sara.
please send me your email also better for photos and news
Hello, very, very happy with your email. My uncle is buried in Dordogne, France, next to his mother. We went to his grave; we have photos of his stay in England. I’m thinking of a photo where there are 3 young women. Send your email so that we can talk more easily or even your phone number; What’s app is very practical. we would be honored by that.Mail :patrice.chabot@wanadoo.fr
please my mail: Patrice.chabot@wanadoo.fr
please my mail: Patrice.chabot@wanadoo.fr
My Oncle is buried in France Dordogne near to his mother ;we are going on his french cimetary .
We have photo from him in England , one of them is with 3 young girls ; Send me your email or phone . Very glad to your news ;
hello please give me your mail for contact or phone . My oncle is burried in France near his mother . WE are going to his cemetary ; I would like speak to you for a lot of things , Photo, details from your mother and my uncle my mail is : patrice.chabot@wanadoo.fr Best regards .
If anyone has details of the rescue party that found him, I’d be very grateful. We have detailed records of the ad-hoc RAF Llandwrog MRTs callouts but this one is not listed.
Dear Ian Dear Sara I would like to publish the photo of the tombstone of Pierre Degail my uncle returned to Dordogne; How to do it. No response from Sara, I don’t understand why. Sincerely .
Hi Patrice,
Thank you for the offer!
If you have a photo, please email it to me at IanDB@gmx.com and I will add it to this page with a credit to you.
Best wishes,
Ian