18 squadron Boston V BZ590 Crew remains found Now looking for family members

Hello, my friends of the "Archeologi dell'aria" identified the remains of the 18 Squadron Boston BZ950 in the countryside near Copparo. The plane was missing from the night of 21 April 1945, after a mission over Taglio di Po.

Fabio, member of Archeologi, was able to find documents about the gunner, W/O J.P. Hunt, Australian. Does anyone have documents about the other three british crewmembers?
Sgt. D.K. Raikes (Pilot)
F/Sgt. D.M. Perkins (Nav)
F/Sgt A.T. Bostock (W/Air.)

To see some pics, take a look here: http://archeologidellaria.tuttovola.org/index.php?topic=1109.135

 

Well, the excavation was successful: some human remains has been recovered and now are keep by the Carabinieri waiting for an official response. About a ton of plane parts has been also recovered, and now is under restoring and conservation process.

Also some personal items of the crew has been found, the wristwatch of Hunt and a ring belonging to the Sgt. Perkins. We need your help to find the relatives of these men, someone can help? Many thanks in advance

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Thank you Owen, we've sent messages to British and Australian embassy, hope they will contact the CWGC because we have not a direct contact... The Carabinieri (Italian Military Police) gave us full support, hope they will be able to help us with RAF, RAAF and CWGC

 

Micky

You may have the file for Hunt that has been digitised on the Austrailian Archives site already, if not follow the link and enter his service number 433038.

Search & Retrieve - Session timed out

There are 70 pages in all, including correspondance to a solicitor as late as 1966, which may help.

Regards,

Nick

 

Thank you Nick, Fabio identified the plane with the Australian archives, we have all the documents! God bless the Aussies! If all the archives will be as the australian, our work would be a lot easy!

 

I've just found the following for David K Raikes on Ancestry.

Parents address in 1945.

Wilfred & Gentle Raikes
The Copyhold
Redhill

He was their second son, so there may be decendants from the first son. I'm of out soon so I will have a look later and post any findings.

 

The initials on the watch are strange as the airman is JP, his father is BJ, his mother JE and wife is JA. Wonder who the HJ is?

 

Without dwelling on the need for tact, there appear to be siblings for all 3 RAF crew:-

Name: Alexander T Bostock. Mother's Maiden Surname: Hogg.
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1924. Registration district: Basford.
Inferred County: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire. Volume Number: 7b. Page Number: 338

Name: Jean Bostock. Mother's Maiden Surname: Hogg.
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1930. Registration district: Basford.
Inferred County: Derbyshire. Volume Number: 7b. Page Number: 292

Name: David M Perkins. Mother's Maiden Surname: Harverson.
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1924. Registration district: Lewisham.
Inferred County: Greater London. Volume Number: 1d. Page Number: 1725

Name: Helen Perkins. Mother's Maiden Surname: Harverson.
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1921. Registration district: Lewisham.
Inferred County: Greater London. Volume Number: 1d. Page Number: 1930
Appears to be youngest of 4, Gordon L. (b 1915) and Mary (b 1911))

Name: David K Raikes. Mother's Maiden Surname: Kennedy.
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1924. Registration district: Godstone.
Inferred County: Surrey,Kent. Volume Number: 2a. Page Number: 375

Name: Roger M T Raikes. Mother's Maiden Surname: Kennedy.
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1927. Registration district: Godstone.
Inferred County: Surrey,Kent. Volume Number: 2a. Page Number: 399

Hope that enables relatives to be contacted.

 

Thank Nick, did you know where is Redhill?

For Spidge, we made the same question about the initials!!

 

Thank Nick, did you know where is Redhill?

For Spidge, we made the same question about the initials!!

Apparently the widow married a H J Hunt (Brother)????

 

Just in case they were unaware, I have sent a link to this thread the the 18(B)Sqn Association; they may be able to provide some information.

Roxy

 

Thank you Roxy, i wrote to the 18 Sqn association almost 15 days ago without reply, hope you'll be more lucky than me

 

Micky, if not, I'll try from work; I'm sure that I must know someone on 18.

Roxy

 

Redhill, Surrey is my old part of the world and The Copyhold Works is the old 'fuller's earth' works nearby suggesting family connections with the quarry.

A quick 'Google' show reference to the Raikes family papers so I'd imagine that they were at one time important in the business.

Surrey History : Exploring Surrey's Past - Archive Record

 

Thank you guys! Two other pictures of the items recovered: one of the two Browning recovered and what look like a Warrant Officer rank badge, may be belonging to Hunt
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From today's Daily Mirror 25 July 2011

 

Thank you Peter, yesterday the news was also on the Telegraph, here is the link:

Remains of RAF poet found in Italy - Telegraph

 

Like Owen my best wishes in finding relatives of the crew, good to see that they will get a decent burial with their comrades.