AOP (Air Observation Post) Squadron Casualties

BENSON, JOHN PATRICK GORDON

Rank:

Captain

Trade:

A.O.P. Pilot

Service No:

204003

Date of Death:

14/05/1943

Age:

24

Regiment/Service:

Royal Artillery



56 Heavy Regt. attd. 655 A.O.P. Sqdn. (Air Observation Post) Royal Air Force

Grave Reference:

Plot O. Grave 400.

Cemetery:

NEWMARKET CEMETERY



Additional Information:

Son of Sybil Marjorie Benson and stepson of Martin Henry Benson, of Cheveley, Cambridgeshire.




http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=59971789&PIpi=47059350

 

Took my own photo


BENSON, JOHN PATRICK GORDON Rank: Captain Trade: A.O.P. Pilot Service No: 204003 Date of Death: 14/05/1943 Age: 24 Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 56 Heavy Regt. attd. 655 A.O.P. Sqdn. (Air Observation Post) Royal Air Force Grave Reference: Plot O. Grave 400. Cemetery: NEWMARKET CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Sybil Marjorie Benson and stepson of Martin Henry Benson, of Cheveley, Cambridgeshire.

 

I do hope this is in the correct place to pop. My late father’s friend was with 652 aop and I’m still in regular contact with him and he has a spotter Aircraft on his farm. I took David to his friends grave in Ranville where he laid a wreath. I believe the day before Atkinson was killed both himself David had collected some eggs which they were going to have for breakfast but early the next morning Atkinson went up as spotter but they didn’t fly far enough, they returned and it was David’s turn to go up. Atkinson said no I’ll go again because we turned back to soon. I believe Atkinson was killed by a single shot. This troubles David to this day.

 

From the war diary of 652 AOP Squadron:-

"Capt Vann & LAC Atkinson as rear observer hit by long range small arms fire (discovered on later examination of air craft) Both Pilot & Observer killed"

 

Sergeant Barnett wasn’t just a photographer, but a cine cameraman who had made filming from the air a specialty since Normandy. See Canadian Army Newsreel 64.1 “Xanten-Wesel Bulge Deflated” at 2:06 for footage of this AOP being attacked.

 

Still looking for Barnett’s records - there is a possibility that he did not start in the Canadian Army and was seconded.

 

Evening all,

I’m trying to find out more details about my Great Uncle Capt Charles Carmichael’s service with 651 AOP Squadron. I’ve had a look at his CWGC page so know the date of his death but not anything further about his service.

Thanks for the posts earlier in the threat which have confirmed that he was a pilot and awarded the CDG.

Does anyone have any more info about 651 AOP or could point me in the right direction?

Cheers

 

first port of call the official route Get a copy of military service records
apply for his service records

regards
Clive

 

CaptainCARMICHAEL, CHARLES
Service Number 65792

Died 01/09/1944

Aged 28

85 Field Regt.
Royal Artillery

attd. 651 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Royal Air Force

Mentioned in Despatches

Son of Donald Hector and Catherine Carmichael; husband of Rita Miriam Carmichael.


INSCRIPTION
IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF CHARLES WE WILL NOT FORGET
Buried at BARI WAR CEMETERY

Location: Italy
Number of casualties: 2054

Cemetery/memorial reference: X. E. 19.

Capt Charles Carmichael (Unknown-1944) - Find A...

 

That’s great Clive, thanks for uploading the details and picture.

Will be applying for service records shortly and hoping to visit Kew in the near future to dig through the records for 651 AOP. Hoping to find a war diary along the lines of the ones already posted for other AOP squadrons. Would be very interesting to read about their campaign in North Africa and Italy.

 

Picture of Charlie Carmichael, date unknown.

 

I suspect that he was wounded the build up to Op OLIVE - the Eighth Army battle to break the Gothic Line 31 Aug-25 Sep 44 and then moved south to recover. There were General Hospitals in Bari.

No fighting going on in Bari on 1 Sep 44.

Being an Offr, his injury is bound to be mentioned in the Sqn WD.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks Frank,

The story told by my granny was that he was shot down, survived the crash, taken to hospital and given penicillin. Turned out he was allergic to it and it killed him.

Would like to find out if that’s a true story or family exaggeration so I’ll try and hunt down the WD

 

WOODMAN, ROWLAND HENRY CORN
Captain
Service Number 200485
Died 07/05/1946
Aged 25
Royal Artillery
attd. 654 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Royal Air Force
Son of George Robert and Edith Mary Woodman, of Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire.
Buried at UDINE WAR CEMETERY
Cemetery/memorial reference: I. B. 8.

(From Findagrave)

 

Photo from my collection
Remembered on the Bushey War Memorial

 

Hi, my name is Bill now living in Italy. I volunteer with a local group called wartime friends, we have been contacted by the relatives of the below officer who is buried in the war cemetery in Ravenna.

Name: LE BRETON, FRANK Rank: Captain Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force Secondary Unit Text: attd. 654 A.O.P. Sqdn. Age: 34 Date of Death: 18/04/1945 Service No: 217264 Awards: A F C
They would like to know anything around the circumstances of him being KIA and any other info around his exploits during his time here.
Capt Le Breton was in fact Canadian, his descendants are based there.
I see from this forum he qualified as a pilot with course 28.
I went along to the cemetery this morning to get a photo of his headstone
Have you got any info around him being KIA or any other info around him.
.
Thanks
Bill

 

I managed to download the squadrons war diaries for the time period that covers Capt Le Bretons death (see attached)

 

Re Capt. F Le Breton (Above) how can I find out how he won his AFC, I've searched lots of indices on the web but to no avail. ?

 

I found an entry recording the death of Capt. P.R. NEWMAN, R.A. in the war diary of 654 A.O.P Squadron, R.A.F. (WO169/13662) and thought it might be of interest:



Regards

Tom

 

In Honoured Memory of the Six Men of this Parish who died during the Second World War
Newman, Peter Rawdon Born circa 1920 Son of Charles H A and Mrs Gertrude Newman of The Court House, Litton Cheney Captain, Royal Artillery, Air OP Service No. 95160 Died 16th September 1943 at Salerno, Italy Buried in Salerno War Cemetery It. 5

St Marys Church 3