Unknown Airman 1940

[HervéL]

Dear All, I am new on this forum and I would like to get some information and help about an unknown airman.My name is Hervé Legros and I am currently doing some research in my town, Gembloux, Belgium. In fact in the Communal Cemetery, there are 4 graves of English Airmen. 3 of them are well identified as from crew members of a Hampden shot down in 1941. The fourth one, of my interest, is the grave of an unknown airman, killed on the 11th May 1940 or believed so because it is the date on his grave.I sent an e-mail to The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the only record that they found for this date, is 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.I would like to know if it would be possible to find somewhere information about the mission(s) that the 54 sqdn carried on during the 10-11 may 1940 period in order to check the possibility that it could have been some action in the area of Gembloux or somewhere else in Belgium. In fact, the plane could have been damaged and crashed somewhere else.I would thank you in advance for your help, Best regardsHervé Legroslegrosherve@sing.be

[Paul Reed]

I have the new Airwar 1940 book by After The Battle - I will have a look and see what it says.

[Peter Clare]

Hi Hervel,

Welcome to the forum.

All I could find out is that on 11 May 1940 P/O. J D B. Mckenzie of 54 Squadron flying Spitfire I N3187 was scrambled at 1825 hrs and was lost over the Channel. P/O. McKenzie has no known grave. At the time No.54 Squadron were flying out of Hornchurch.

Regards
Peter.

[HervéL]

Hi,

Thank you both for your quicke answer. I know it is not an easy job to sort that out... However I wonder if there is somewhere records of operations during 10-11 May 1940 that may be coul "light us" on this airman. I found it strange to get only one name/record from CWGC, althought if He was lost over the Channel. I also try to get infos from the Communal Authorities in Gembloux on the Grave, but it is very difficult...

Hervé

[Paul Reed]

Hi Hervé - I have had a look at the new ATB but I can't see any connection to Gembloux.

[HervéL]

Hi,

I don't know the ATB book, but may be the grave was in another place and moved after the end of the was in Gembloux; it might have been in a neighborought village...

Any infos on possible air battle or combat in the surrounding area on 10-12 May 1940?

Thanks for helping

Hervé

[HervéL]

Dear All,

I have been to the Administration of Gembloux, and they really don't know anything more tahn what is writen on the grave of the unknown airman, in the Communal Cemetery. They Just tell me that they copy what's on the grave in order to fullfil their files. So I am still at the same point.

May be could someone get information about the fate of the fighters as well as the bombers during early 1940. May be the man was found the 11th May, but shot down early. Could anyone find informations about airman taht where missing during this period, and more probaly when trying to stop german avance in early 1940?

Thanks for helping

Hervé

[Peter Clare]

Herve,

The following raids were made around 11 May 1940,

11 May 1940.
Maastricht.
23 Blenheim's to vital road bridges and German troop columns in the Maastricht area. 2 aircraft lost.

12 May 1940.
42 Blenheim's to Maastricht, Hasselt and Tongres to bomb bridges and buildings near the bridges in order to block roads. 11 Blenheim's lost.

Other raids were made by Bomber Command in the area around this date but with no loss of aircraft.

Regards
Peter

[HervéL]

Dear Peter,

Thanks for these informations. Where did you find them?

Regards

Hervé

[Peter Clare]

Herve

The information comes from 'The Bomber Command War Diaries' - Middlebrook / Everitt.

If you wish, I can list the airmen lost on Bomber Command operations for the two days in question, at the very least that could give you a starting point in discovering the name of your unknown airman.

Regards
Peter