‘Gisela – Echoes of a Sacrifice’ – a short film

Header image: Top: Robert McClements has made a short film about the German night-intruder operation ‘Gisela’ in tribute to his father, Robert McClement senior (bottom left), who was a 10 Sqn Halifax mid-upper gunner, and his father’s friend Flt Lt John ‘Jack’ Lafolley RCAF (bottom centre), a 10 Sqn Halifax pilot who was killed on 4th March 1945, along with four of his crew, when they were shot down by one of the Luftwaffe night intruders within sight of the airfield they were attempting to land at.

On the night of 4th March 1945, the Luftwaffe conducted a last-ditch effort to thwart RAF Bomber Command’s activities with a mass night intruder operation targeting the bombers close to their airfields as they returned from a bombing raid over Germany. That night 12 Halifax, five Lancasters, a Mosquito and an RAF B-17 were shot down by the German night intruders with 70 Allied airmen killed and 21 injured.

Robert McClements, the son of a 10 Squadron Halifax mid-upper gunner, has made a short documentary film exploring the story of one of the Allied airmen who died that night, Canadian Flight Lieutenant John ‘Jack’ Laffoley, a 10 Squadron Halifax pilot, and his lasting impact. The documentary sheds light on one of the Luftwaffe’s final night operations over Britain in 1945, uncovering a legacy of bravery, sacrifice, and reconciliation. Jack Lafolley died aged 22 along with four of his crew. They were close to completing their tour of operations and it should have been their last sortie.

The 28-minute documentary can be found on YouTube here.