RAFVR - 5OTU, died 16 Aug 1940

[dbf]

Hello,
I would appreciate some help please in respect of a relative of my husband's, John Draper Gwynne, who died in Aug 1940. I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me how I could find out more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.

A newspaper article mentions "engaged in tactical exercises/carrying out instructions" but I would like something a little more specific.

Any ideas where I could find more?

It was suggested to me by a man who lives local to the crash site [and who kindly provided me with a photo of John's headstone] that fog may have played a role in the crash.

Does anyone have any possible relevant info they could provide on the Defiant?

Would there be anywhere where I could try and get a photo of him?

Thanks to family research, I have ascertained that John was the last in his family, ie the only son and grandchild. [His 2 uncles John and William Gwynne, both RFA, died May 1915, 2nd Ypres.] There is no-one left in this particular branch of the family, his unmarried aunt having died in 1965. A chance remark by her, remembered recently by my husband's uncle, enabled us to piece together a sketch of the family's history. FYI, she said, "War wiped out my family." Her father lived until 1945 and died at the age of 99, in full knowledge that his 3 sons and only grandchild had died before him.

Here's what I do have:

From a book called Somerset at War:
16.8.40
Aircraft Type - Defiant L7010
Location - In sea, St Audries
Unit/Base - 5OTU, Aston Down
Crew State/Names - 2K (killed) - Sgts J.D.Gwynne and W.C.Munro

From West Somerset Free Press published Sat. 31 Aug 1940:
"DEATH OF AN AIRMAN
A coroner's inquiry into the death of Serg Pilot John Draper Gwynne, RAF (20), whose body strapped in the cockpit of an airplane was discovered on South West Coast of England, showed that while the deceased and another sergeant were engaged in tactical exercises their 'plane crashed on the edge of some rocks and disappeared beneath the incoming tide.
Multiple injuries had resulted in instantaneous death. The body of Gwynne's companion has not yet been recovered.
In recording a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, the Coroner pointed out that as Gwynne was carrying out instructions his death had taken place almost equally as a result of war service as if he had been engaged in other operations.
The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon in a churchyard situated only a short distance from the scene of the accident.
Six sergeants of the RAF acted as bearers and the full military honours accorded the deceased created a very impressive spectacle."

From his death certificate:
"When and where died: Dead body found Twenty-fifth August 1940, Kilve Beach, Shinstow, R.D.
Sex: Male
Age: 20 years
Occupation: Of Aston Down, Gloucester, Sergeant Pilot R.A.F.
Cause of death: Multiple injuries through his aeroplane crashing into the rocks: Misadventure. J.H.
Signature , description and residence of informant: Certificate received from Geoffrey Clarke Coroner for Western District of Somerset. Inquest held 26th August 1940.
When registered: Twenty-eighth August 1940"

From cwgc:
Name: GWYNNE, JOHN DRAPER
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 20
Date of Death: 16/08/1940
Service No: 742137
Additional information: Son of David and Evelyn Gwynne, of Denham, Buckinghamshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: WEST QUANTOXHEAD (ST. ETHELDREDA) CHURCHYARD
[Have photo of grave]

Name: MUNRO, WILLIAM CAMPBELL
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 26
Date of Death: 16/08/1940
Service No: 755916
Additional information: Son of James Munro, and of Sarah Ann Campbell Munro, of Cathcart, Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. S. 1931 Div. Grave 2953.
Cemetery: AYR CEMETERY, Ayrshire

Any help / suggestions greatly appreciated.

Diane

[Peter Clare]

Hi Diane,

Having looked through my reference books I found no info on this loss, but I asked for information on another forum and 'Amrit' from rafcommands has come up is the following info :-

Date: 16-AUG-1940
Type: Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I
Operator: RAF 5 OTU
Registration: L7010
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage: w/o
Location: 1 mile off Watchet, Somerset - United Kingdom
Narrative: Stalled & spun into sea, while on gunnery practice.


Hopefully more details will be found in due course, if so I'll post them here.

Regards
Peter

[dbf]

Hi Paul

I very much appreciate this.
Can I ask you - w/o, what does this mean in respect of airplane damage? Write off?

And, I take it that the narrative was from eye-witness reports. Would that be likely to be civilians on the ground, or could it have come from other airmen?

Thanks, really appreciate your ongoing efforts.
Regards, Diane

Please pass on my thanks to Amrit.