1169608 Russell James Gibson JONES, 35 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve: 09/03/1942

Remembering Today

Casualty
Sergeant JONES, RUSSELL JAMES GIBSON
Service Number 1169608
Died 09/03/1942
Aged 20
35 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Charles Arthur and Elizabeth Emily Jones, of Reading, Berkshire.
Commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Number of casualties: 20287
Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 87.

Runnymede panel attached from my photo collection

 

Russell James Gibson Jones
1922–1942
BIRTH ABT 1922 • Newport Wales
DEATH 9 MAR 1942 • at sea off Cromer, aeroplane came down on the way back from Germany.

RAF WWll: Russ was a rear gunner and radio operator in WWll, his plane came down off Cromer on the north coast of Norwich. We do not know if it was shot down or if it crashed because it was damaged after a bombing raid in Germany.
The story was that the last message he sent said that they were coming in over Cromer but this has not been verified to date.


England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005
Name: Russell J G Jones
Mother's Maiden Surname: Pollock
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1921
Registration district: Newport M
Inferred County: Glamorganshire
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 482

TD

Accident Handley Page Halifax Mk II R9450, 09 Mar 1942

 

9 March 1942

35 Squadron
Halifax II R9450 TL-K
Op. Essen

Took off from Linton-on-Ouse at 1916 hours. Crashed 2300 hours in the sea some 30 miles off Mablethorpe, Liconshire.
All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Crew.

F/S. C C W. Ganly +
P/O. P V. Barthal +
Sgt. A T. Bennett +
Sgt. C E. Johnson +
Sgt. G. Cartwright +
Sgt. R J G. Jones +
Sgt. R M. Mules +

Source - RAF Bomber Command losses Vol.3 - W R. Chorley.

During the course of 1942, RAF Bomber Command visited Essen on 37 occasions, 3724 aircraft were dispatched with 2674 attacking the target (Industry, Transport, Oil) 2214 tons of HE were dropped along with 2381 of Incendiaries. 191 aircraft were missing or lost.