I have been asked by a friend if I can find out any more information about 1317878 Sergeant Pilot Robert Arnold Cole 76 Squadron who died 31 July 1943 buried Rheinberg War Cemetery 1393993 Sergeant Air Bomber John Edward Barrington 76 Squadron who died 20 December 1943 buried Hanover War Cemetery 1255945 Sergeant Walter George Tate 104 Squadron who died 15 January 1942 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial They were all members of Bognor Regis Cycling Club before the war. Thanks Mandy
Mandy, Extracted from RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1943 v. 4: Amazon.co.uk: W.R. Chorley: Books Sgt Cole was the pilot of a Halifax V, serial DK202, coded MP-Q, lost with all crew on ops to Remscheid. Crashed at 0100 near Leverkusen. Sgt Cole's father, William Cole, was a Captain in the army and had once served in the RAF. Sgt Barrington was the air bomber on a Halifax V, serial LK911, coded MP-Y, lost on ops to Frankfurt. Pilot and rear gunner also killed when this aircraft was shot down by Hauptman Hubert Rauh, NJG 3, at 1926 hrs near Trais Horlof. Hopefully, someone else can assist with Sgt Tate. Regards, Dave
15-16 Jan 1942 104 Sqn Wellington II W5417 EP-F Op: Emden Sgt B A Adams + Sgt C K German + P/O R G Lindsay RNZAF + Sgt R P H Sperring + Sgt W G Tate + Sgt R Cooke + T/o 1838 Driffield. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Bomber Command Losses 1942 Vol 3 W R Chorley Regards, Nick
Thank you Dave and Nick for your replies, your information has given me plenty to google this evening. I am assuming Nick that when you say lost without a trace for Sgt W G Tate and the rest of the crew they crashed into the sea. Thanks again Mandy Mandy
Hello Mandy re Runnymede info below The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force. The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott. The Memorial was unveiled by The Queen on 17 October 1953. panel from Runnymede attached for TATE, WALTER GEORGE Rank: Sergeant Service No: 1255945 Date of Death: 15/01/1942 Age: 20 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 104 Sqdn. Panel Reference Panel 94. Memorial RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Thomas Walter and Dorothy Rose Tate, of Bognor Regis, Sussex. regards Clive
I am assuming Nick that when you say lost without a trace for Sgt W G Tate and the rest of the crew they crashed into the sea. Indeed.
Thanks Pieter and CL1 I might even get to Runnymede week after next as it is only a couple of hours from me.
Mandy, If you want any information on previous ops for the two 76sqdn boys, let me know. As for the 104sqdn aircraft being lost without trace, this does not automatically mean that they crashed into the sea. Alan.
Mandy, Let me have your email address via a pm in my profile, and i'll get back to you when i've found anything. Alan.
Thanks Pieter and CL1 I might even get to Runnymede week after next as it is only a couple of hours from me. I have been there four weeks ago. I think you will find it very impressive.
Mandy, R.A. Cole was posted in to 76sqdn from 1663 CU on 4th June 43, then........ 21st June, Krefeld. 22nd June, Mulheim. 24th June, Wuppertal. 25th June, Gelsenkirchen. 3rd July, Cologne. 9th July, Gelsenkirchen. 15th July, Mt Beliard. 29th July, Hamburg. 31st July, Missing. J.E. Barrington, posted in from 1663 CU on 20th Sept 43, then.... 4th October, Frankfurt. 8th October, Hanover. 22nd November, Berlin. 25th November, Frankfurt. 26th November, Stuttgart. 3rd December, Leipzig. 20th December, Missing. I'll get the pages together and send via email if still wanted. Alan.
Hi Mandy My Gt Uncle Denis Shaw R142181 was the rear gunner on Halifax DK202. All the crew including the pilot Robert Cole lost their lives on the night of 31/07/1943. I have Denis Shaw's complete RCAF file including German witness reports of the plane being shot down etc if you are interested.