Unknown Airman 1940

[Rich Payne]

Hello Hervé, In researching any actions prior to the fall of France, we are inevitably dealing with a confused picture and a lack of surviving records. Many diaries etc. were destroyed or abandoned.

The 11th May was the day after the Germans attacked Belgium and the RAF were using both Fighters and Bombers extensively from 10th May. I have a reference here that on 10th May, thirty-two bombers, all Fairey Battles were in action and thirteen were lost.

The RAF fighters had to protect the bombers and also to hold German aircraft away from the advancing British forces. There would also have been reconnaisance flights.

On the evening of 11th May, the British Army took up its allotted positions along the River Dyle, with 2nd Division being located as far south as Waver. Bearing in mind that the RAF airfields were in Northern France, it does not seem unreasonable to suppose that aircraft would have been continually overflying Gembloux.

None of this really helps pin anything down of course.

By the way, are there any visible reminders around Gembloux of the tank battle of 14th / 15th may 1940 ? Do the local museums include anything on May 1940 ?

Rich.

[HervéL]

Dear Rich,

Yes of course there are local museums in, i.e. in Wavres, Gembloux (Cortil Noirmont) that shows the event of the battle of Gembloux, 14th-15th May 1940 between the XVI Pz Corps (3rd and 4th Pz. Div.) and the 1st Marocan Division as well as with the elements of the Cavalery Corp of Gen. Prioux.

There are also plates and names of many roads that remind the battle.

By the way, I checked the site Lost Bombers - World War II Lost Bombers. and none of the bombers seems to have been lost in the area of Gembloux and if it was from a bomber we will had more than one dead or if there was survivors it will have been lsited. So I will rather go for a fighter. But the only record I found on 11th may in Rumdale Memorial was 1 man, but seems to be lost over the channel. I have a list from Rumdale 10-12 May 1940. No missing on the 10th, 1 on the 11th and about 10 on the 12th...

Hervé

[HervéL]

Dear Peter,

I also check this web site : Lost Bombers - World War II Lost Bombers. and seems that no lost occured arround the Gembloux area. On top of that, if it was a bomber lost, we had more than one dead... or if there were survivers it should have been recorded in the lost bombers. So I think it will be best to search on the fighters corner. I got a list from Rumdale Memorial for the missing airmen from 10-12 may 1940. No one on the 10th., 1 on the 11th and about 10 on the 12th May. I can post it if you want...

Thanks for helping Hetvé

[Rich Payne]

Hervé, thanks for that information. I've just looked it up and Gembloux is only 100 km away.

Would it be possible for you to post links for those two museums for me ?

I've been thinking about your airman again and I can't believe that there was only one missing fighter pilot over that period of 10th - 12th May 1940.

There are also perhaps other possibilities such as him being the only fatality from a bomber. Gembloux was not in the British area and the link may not have been made by the Belgian authorities and within a few days, the area was under German occupation.

Although the commune have no current records, it is likely that the body was given a proper burial at the time. Have you checked church records or the archives for 1940 ? It is quite likely that if a grave-digger had to be paid, there is a record of it somewhere.

[Peter Clare]

Looking through 'Fighter Command Losses' - Franks. I find that during the period 10 - 12 May 1940 the Command lost 13 aircrew, 12 can be accounted for, the only one given as having no known grave is S/L. J M. Wells, shot down attacking an airfield at Waalhaven, Holland in Blenheim II L6616 R/600 Squadron on 10th May.

Just looked at the CWGC web site and come up with the following for S/L. Wells.

Name:WELLS, JAMES MICHAEL Initials:J M Nationality:United KingdomRank: Squadron Leader Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)Unit Text:600 Sqdn.Age:31Date of Death:10/05/1940 Service No:90081 Additional information:Son of Sir Sydney Richard Wells, Bt., D.L., M.P., and Mary Dorothy Wells, of Felmersham, Bedfordshire. B.A.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Plot LL. Row 1. Grave 3.Cemetery:ROTTERDAM (CROOSWIJK) GENERAL CEMETERY

Seems S/L Wells has a resting place after all.

[HervéL]

Dear All,

Again thanks a lot for your support....

Here below is the list I have obtained from CWGC

Missing Commonwealth Airmen of the 10th to 12th May 1940

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey, United Kingdom

BURGESS, Leading Aircraftman, ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER, 544110, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 22. Son of Louis John Burgess, and of Rosalie Burgess, of Kenton, Middlesex. Panel 22.

CHILD, Leading Aircraftman, CHARLES COLBY, 541344, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 20. Son of Daniel Child, and of Lillian Nora Child, of Stanford Bridge, Worcestershire. Panel 22.

DAVIS, Sergeant, THOMAS WILLIAM, 580509, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 22. Son of William Charles and Florence Maud Davis, of Cardiff. Panel 13.

GILL, Aircraftman 1st Class, BENJAMIN, 621946, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 25.

GRAY, Pilot Officer, IAN LOWRIE, 36188, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 21. Son of John and Ethel D. Gray, of Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand. Panel 8.

GRAY, Sergeant, PHILLIP COLE, 580511, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 14.

KEEGAN, Sergeant, JOSEPH BELK, 580581, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 16.

LEE, Flight Lieutenant, ANDREW WYNYARD, 37323, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Son of Herbert and Norah Kathleen Lee, of Kingston, Kent. Panel 4.

McKENZIE, Pilot Officer, JOHN DOUGLAS BRUORTON, 40726, 54 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 11 May 1940. Age 26. Son of Thomas and Ada Ann McKenzie, of Riccarton, Canterbury, New Zealand. Panel 9.

SLOAN, Leading Aircraftman, REGINALD JAMES, 517038, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 24.

TAYLOR, Sergeant, CYRIL, 530913, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 23. Son of William Henry and Sebrin Lily Taylor, of Birmingham. Panel 20.

WATSON, Flight Lieutenant, ARTHUR DAVID, 39249, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 25. Son of Arthur Bingham Watson and Agatha Brodribb Watson, of Petersham, Surrey; husband of Anne Watson. Panel 5.

WEBB, Sergeant, ALAN LAWRENCE FORTESCUE, 564469, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 25. Son of George Fortescue Webb, and of Winifred Ida Webb, of Selsey, Sussex. Panel 20.


I try to interpretate this listing and find infos on the mission of thoses guys in order to see what could be possible....

As you can see, only one missing airman on the 11th May. I have also oredered a book about the missing RAF member of fighter coomnd 1939-1940...let see....

Again, I checked Crowley et al for missing aircrew bombers but nothing comming out...

Hervé

[HervéL]

I am sorry, but it is in french..... if you need translation....

MUSEE FRANCAIS

Hervé

[Peter Clare]

BURGESS, Leading Aircraftman, ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER, 544110, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 22. Son of Louis John Burgess, and of Rosalie Burgess, of Kenton, Middlesex. Panel 22.


Blenheim IV L8739 Crashed in vicinity of Tongeren, Belgium
.

CHILD, Leading Aircraftman, CHARLES COLBY, 541344, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 20. Son of Daniel Child, and of Lillian Nora Child, of Stanford Bridge, Worcestershire. Panel 22.

Blenheim IV P4826 Op to Maastricht, Lost without trace.

DAVIS, Sergeant, THOMAS WILLIAM, 580509, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 22. Son of William Charles and Florence Maud Davis, of Cardiff. Panel 13.

Blenheim IV N6216 Op to Maastricht. Shot down near Rekem on the west bank of the Maas 25km east of Hasselt, Belgium.

GILL, Aircraftman 1st Class, BENJAMIN, 621946, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 25.


Hudson I N7353. Shot down north of Baltrum off the coast of Germay.


GRAY, Pilot Officer, IAN LOWRIE, 36188, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 21. Son of John and Ethel D. Gray, of Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand. Panel 8.

Hudson I N7353. Shot down north of Baltrum off the coast of Germany.


GRAY, Sergeant, PHILLIP COLE, 580511, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 14.

Blenheim IV N6219. Op to Maastricht. Shot down by Me109. The body of Sgt Grey along with one other crew member was not identified and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


KEEGAN, Sergeant, JOSEPH BELK, 580581, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 16.

Blenheim IV P4826. Op to Maastricht. Lost without trace.


LEE, Flight Lieutenant, ANDREW WYNYARD, 37323, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Son of Herbert and Norah Kathleen Lee, of Kingston, Kent. Panel 4.


Blenheim IV P4826. Op to Maastricht. Lost without trace.

SLOAN, Leading Aircraftman, REGINALD JAMES, 517038, 206 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Panel 24.

Hudson I N7353. Shot down north of Baltrum off the coast of Germany.

TAYLOR, Sergeant, CYRIL, 530913, 139 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 23. Son of William Henry and Sebrin Lily Taylor, of Birmingham. Panel 20.


Blenheim IV N6219. Op to Maastricht. Shot down by Me109 The body of Sgt Taylor along with one other crew member was not identified and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


WATSON, Flight Lieutenant, ARTHUR DAVID, 39249, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 25. Son of Arthur Bingham Watson and Agatha Brodribb Watson, of Petersham, Surrey; husband of Anne Watson. Panel 5.

Blenheim IV L8739. Op to Tongeren. Crashed in the vicinity of Tongeren, Belgium.

WEBB, Sergeant, ALAN LAWRENCE FORTESCUE, 564469, 21 Sqdn., Royal Air Force. 12 May 1940. Age 25. Son of George Fortescue Webb, and of Winifred Ida Webb, of Selsey, Sussex. Panel 20.


Blenheim IV L8739. Op to Tongeren. Crashed in the vicinity of Tongeren, Belgium.

Hervél,
It might be worth looking at Sgt Grey and Sgt Taylor of 139 Squadron. It seems their bodies were found but could not be idenified. They were probably buried in unnamed graves.

Good luck

Regards
Peter.