Heroes at Rest

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by Verrieres, Dec 18, 2008.

  1. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Went looking for someone today and stumbled upon this fellow in Harton Cemetery in South Shields.(Photograph taken 17/12/08 by myself please feel free to use if you have an interest in the subject matter)
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    F/Lt Sidney Godfrey Falconer DFC DFM (129233), RAFVR, aged 23. He is buried in South Shields (Harton) Cemetery, Durham. Son of William and Annie Falconer (nee Jackson), of South Shields. His DFM was for service with 218 Squadron. DFM citation reads (from Tavender’s DFM register):
    “Temporary Sgt S G Falconer was Captain of a Stirling aircraft which set out to raid Bremen on the night of 27/28th June 1942. About two miles over the Dutch coast, in the light of a full moon, the aircraft was attacked by a JU88, which climbed suddenly from about 3000 feet below on the port bow, passed underneath hand then came in on the port quarter. At the same time Sgt Falconer saw a second JU88 coming in from the starboard bow and, immediately afterwards, the rear gunner reported an ME110 approaching from dead astern. The ME110 and the rear gunner opened fire simultaneously at about 350 yards, the Stirling’s rear turret being rendered useless at once. The mid upper gunner took over fire control but a burst from the Messerschmitt , which was now coming in from the starboard and above, put that turret out of action. In the mean time the first JU88 had shot away the British bombers rear turret pipe lines and the second JU88 had been pumping her with tracer. The first JU88 attacked from dead ahead and, although the front gunner returned fire, his turret was rendered unserviceable after the first burst. During the whole of the combat, Sgt Falconer had been taking violent evasive action. Just when it seemed like he had shaken off his three attackers, a single engined unidentified enemy fighter appeared and raked the Stirling from nose to tail. The complete battle lasted for nearly 20 minutes and was fought from 15 000 feet down to sea level (the Stirling’s trailing aerial was actually whipped off over the Zuider Zee). With two of his crew wounded, his front mid upper turrets useless, his astrodome, blind flying panel and oxygen system shot away, flying controls and control stick damaged, brake system, intercom and TR9 out of action, Sgt Falconer set course for home and weaved his way through strong concentrations of light flak over the Dutch coast. Sgt Falconer showed daring and adroitness of a very high order. His cool courage and command of the situation were remarkable. His expert and stout hearted captaincy undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew. He has now taken part in 20 operational sorties embracing 101 operational hours. His loyalty, fearlessness and sense of duty are outstanding. He is very strongly recommended for the immediate award of the DFM.”
    Commissioned P/O 20th June 1942. His DFC was announced in the London Gazette on 15th October 1943 for actions with 214 Squadron. Citation reads
    FALCONER, Sidney Godfrey, A/F/L (129233, RAFVR*) - No.214 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 October 1943. Citation in Air Ministry Bulletin 11720.
    "A first class operational pilot and captain of aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Falconer has successfully completed many operational sortie of a varied nature. He has set a high example of keenness and courage in his squadron and been unfailing in his devotion to duty."
    Falconer died on the 8th May 1944. “When Horsa LA496 crashed on approach to the aerodrome and all four on board were killed The Glider was coming in to land on No. 1 runway when it crashed three hundred yards short of the runway. The two glider pilots were killed along with F/Lt Austin and F/O Falconer (both RAF Pilots), who were passengers at the time.<O:p
    4924917 Staff Sgt John Charles Dyer 2nd Glider Pilot Regiment, aged 22. is buried in Whitchurch Cemetery, Shropshire he was the son of Charles and Dilys Dyer, of King's Norton, Birmingham..
    6898359 Sgt Gordon Dennis Coe , 2nd Wing Glider Pilot Regiment, aged 23. Commemorated at the Golders Green Crematorium, London. The son of William and Ivy Mabel Coe, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex..
    Recently,rather sadly a selection of Falconers personal effects came up on an internet auction site these included ,dog tags,letters,bankbooks etc and were sold as autographs relating to an ace!
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
    James S and Paul Reed like this.
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks Jim - a model of exactly the way this information should be posted and a fascinating character.
     
  3. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Tom (Verrieres)
    Recently,rather sadly a selection of Falconers personal effects came up on an internet auction site these included ,dog tags,letters,bankbooks etc and were sold as autographs relating to an ace!

    This I find particularly sad , the mans effects sold on like so much tat , such indifference is deeply disappointing.

    Thank you Tom , there are many like him but each is unique.

    I would ask that you forgive my adding another young man to your thread , his story is quite similar , Flying Officer Frank Paige from Ontario.

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    [​IMG]

    Frankie Paige was awarded his DFC for pressing on with an attack although badly wounded and for bringing his aircraft and crew safely back to his base.
    He transferred to Flyingboats and came to serve with 422 RCAF at Bowmore - returning to Bowmore in bad weather he was diverted to land at Castle Archdale , sadly his aircraft crashed into the waters of Clew Bay near Clare Island.

    His citation for his DFC reads:
    "Frank Paige had previously served with 407 RCAF in the Channel and was awarded the DFC :
    "H.M. the King, on the recommendation of the A.O.C. Coastal Command, has graciously been pleased to make an award of the distinguisher Service cross to P/O. Franklyn Ernest paige for the fortitude he displayed , although severly wunded , in bringing his aircraft and crew back safely to his base after successfully attacking an enemy merchant vessel"
    "One the morning in May 1942 , this officer was the pilot of an aircraft which participated in an attack on a convoy off the enemy coast. regardless of a fierce defensive barrage, which in the full light of the morning was extremely accurate, Piot officer Paige pressed home his attack. Although seriously wounded by a splinter from a shell which smashed through his instrumenet panel , this officer courageously flew his aircraft back to base"
    Frank's younger brother "Bill" was lost in May 1944 when his lancaster collied with another aircraft as they waited in the circuit to land at Coningsby, he was an air gunner.

    Men like these I feel represented the very best of their generation , a quite unique body of men - remembering them is the very least we can do.

    "And the soldier cries Oh Canada , we died to keep you free"
     
  4. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    These fellows rest in Hylton Cemetery in Sunderland, Sgt S Karubin
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Stanislaw Karubin was a Battle of Britain ace. He was born on 19th October 1915 in Warsaw and trained at the Szkoola Podoficerow dla Maloletnich in Bydgoszcz. In 1939 he was posted to the 111 Eskadra. He is credited with destroying a Bf110 in September 1939 with this Unit. He escaped from Poland and served in ECD I/55 in France in May 1940 flying a range of fighter aircraft. After the fall of France he joined 303 Sqdn at Northolt on its formation on 2nd August 1940 and shot down a number of enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain. In early September he was himself shot down by a He111 , Hurricane V7290 crashed at Pembury; he sustained injuries and was admitted to Farnborough Hospital, after a short stay in the hospital he returned to duty .On the 30th September 1940 he was credited with a BF109 flown by Karl Vogl shot down off Beachy head. Earlier in September flying as one of Squadron Leader Ronald Kellett`s wingmen he broke off from Kellett and fastened onto the tail of an Me-109 from slightly above. Blazing away with his machine guns, Karubin forced the Messerschmitt lower and lower. When he ran out of bullets, he kept after his quarry at treetop level, charging in an apparent attempt to ram the 109. missing by only a few feet on one pass, and the German dropped even lower , the German Pilot obviously unnerved by this unexpected manoevre lost control and crashed. He attempted the same manoevre a few weeks later, but this time he struck the German aircraft (deliberately of Accidentally?) and was himself forced to to bail out.He was credited with 7 confirmed kills. He was posted on to No 58 O.T.U. and then on to 55 O.T.U at Usworth near Sunderland . Sgt.Stanislaw KARUBIN, ex-303 Squadron, VM,KW,DFM was killed in a flying accident on 12 August 1941 when he was working as a Flying Instructor in 55 O.T.U. Usworth. Sgt. Karubin was killed in Hurricane no V7742 when his aircraft struck a mountainside near Cumberland. A second Pole who was killed in this same accident was named as P/O Zygmunt Hohne.
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    The Whitehaven Air Cadet Sqdn dedicated this plaque near to the crash site in memory of the two brave Polish pilots
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    P/O Zygmunt Hohne.(Photograph by Allenby)
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    [​IMG]
    Regards
    Verrieres

    Grave Photograph taken 16/12/08 by myself please feel free to use this image if the subject matter is of interest to you.


    Portrait photographs courtesy of Dr David Loddenowski.(Deceased)
     
  5. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Heres a little information in relation to another `Hero at Rest` he too rests in The Hylton(Castletown) Cemetery at Sunderland.
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    JAMES D'ARCY LEES GRAHAM, Royal Canadian Air Force
    Was born on the 27th December 1917 he was killed on the 10th February 1942 he was servinf with 55OTU and is buried in Sunderland
    On the 10th February 1942, 24 years old Sergeant Pilot James D’Arcy Lees Graham R77959 son of James C. Graham and Florence E. Graham, of Carstairs, Alberta, Canada a member of the Royal Canadian Airforce based at RAF Usworth, was tragically killed in a flying accident, crash landing into what was once an orchard opposite the High Marley Hill Radio Mast.
    The Air Ministry Crash Card records that on the 10th February 1942 a single seater fighter aircraft Hawker Hurricane MK1 serial number P3664 flew into high ground in a squall, the weather deteriorated and the aircraft dived out of low cloud into a snow squall and failed to pull out of the dive.

    For anyone wishing to find out a little more about this person then please follow the link below
    Sunniside Local History Society
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    [​IMG]
    Death Certificate showing cause of Death

    A memorial to the Hurricane pilot, killed in the crash was unveiled by Phil Smith of the Air Crash Investigation & Archaeology group near to the crash site at High Marley Hill in 2007. The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of Gateshead in the presence of RCAF representatives, veterans and local residents.
    Text of Plaque Reads;-
    IN MEMORY OF
    SERGEANT PILOT
    JAMES D'ARCY LEES GRAHAM
    R77959 R.C.A.F.
    KILLED WHEN HIS
    HAWKER HURRICANE MKI P3664 FROM
    No. 55 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT
    R.A.F. USWORTH CRASHED IN A FLYING
    ACCIDENT ON 10th FEBRUARY 1942
    NEAR HERE AT HIGH MARLEY HILL

    AGED 24 HE IS BURIED AT
    CASTLETOWN CEMETERY, SUNDERLAND
    SGT. J.D.L. GRAHAM OF
    CARSTAIRS, ALBERTA, CANADA
    27.12.1917 - 10.2.1942

    HE IS NOT FORGOTTEN

    "WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

    PLAQUE PRESENTED BY PHILIP SMITH OF THE
    AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION & ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP

    PLAQUE UNVEILED BY
    THE MAYOR OF GATESHEAD COUNCILLOR MAUREEN GOLDSWORTH
    & DEDICATED BY THE REVEREND BOB HOPPER
    ON MONDAY 22nd. JANUARY 2007
    IN MEMORY OF ALL RANKS
    WHO SERVED WITH No. 55 O.T.U. AT R.A.F. USWORTH
    FROM FEB, 1941 TO APR. 1942

    Regards
    Verrieres
     
  6. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi, Whilst collecting an image for one of the forum members I came across this fellow.FLT LT Edward Alderson RAF


    Name:EDWARD ALDERSON,

    Initials: E Nationality: United Kingdom

    Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Nav.)

    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

    Age: 28 Date of Death: 21/04/1944 Service No: 109107

    Additional information: Son of James and Hannah Alderson, of Hetton-le-Hole. B.Sc.

    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. H. Grave 408. Cemetery: HETTON CEMETERY

    [​IMG]
    I`m reliably informed that the crash of this aircraft was covered in After the Battle issue 51 so I`m not going to go into any great depth its about the men not the machine.

    Deteriorating weather conditions were again to prove fatal for the crew of Wellington BK347 on what should have been a routine Cross-country Navigational exercise which started with the aircraft taking off from No. 30 Operational Training Unit's base at RAF Hixon in Staffordshire on the afternoon of Friday 21st April 1944. With dense cloud prevalent throughout the flight, the inexperienced navigator struggled to establish the exact position of the aircraft and keep them on course. Eventually it was decided to descend below the cloud-base in order to obtain a fix on their position, but unknown to the crew, they were by now some 150 miles off-course and over the high ground of Yorkshire. At 1615 hours, whilst descending through cloud, the aircraft struck the moorland on the Eastern Face of Whernside, killing all but one member of the crew – the tail gunner. Crew on this day were

    F/O E.M. Barrett Pilot Killed. Flt. Lt. E. Alderson Co-pilot Killed. Sgt. P.E. Lomas Navigator Killed. P/O R.G.C. Brodie Bomb aimer Killed. Sgt. R.C. Holmwood Wireless operator Killed. Sgt. N. Skirrow Wireless operator/Air gunner Killed. Sgt. J. Marks Air gunner Injured Sgt Joseph Marks was killed on 14th October 1944 flying with 626 squadron.

    Sgt Skirrows Grave is in Ripon Cemetery[​IMG]
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
  7. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Resting also at Hylton (Castletown)Sunderland Cemetery are GARTH WELLS FULLER CAREY,DFC son of William Reynolds Carey and Alma Lucy Blanche Carey, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.220 Sqdn Royal Air Force,Date of Death 14/07/1940 Lockheed Hudson Mk 1 N7231 The aircraft collided with a barrage balloon cable and spun into the ground near Boldon Colliery 36169 P/O Garth Wells Fuller Carey RAF, DFC (Awarded DFC 17th January 1940)pilot from New Zealand (killed)Carey featured as Personality of the week in The Illustrated London News 1940
    41632 P/O Phillip Knox Vartan RAF pilot from New Zealand joined the RAF in 1938 son of Robert Bruce and Louisa Hettie Vartan, Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand .
    The other crew member who died was 538451 Sgt George Alexander Matthews RAF air gunner son of William and Elizabeth Lyons Matthews, of Rowlands Gill.He is commemorated on Screen Wall. Line 11. Grave 3.WINLATON (ST. PATRICK) CHURCHYARD AND HOOKERGATE CEMETERY
    The circumstances of Careys DFC were reported as such;-
    On 1 January 1940 P/O Carey, whilst on patrol over the North Sea in a Hudson of No. 220 Squadron, encountered two Heinkels. He immediately attacked one of them. The first shots registered hits and the enemy aircraft crashed into the sea. Carey then turned his attention to the second Heinkel and, after exhausting his front-gun ammunition, manoeuvred so as to enable his rear gunner to fire on the enemy, but before the results of this engagement could be observed the German machine entered cloud and was lost. Unfortunately, Carey and his navigator, P/O Vartan were lost when their aircraft flew into the Newcastle balloon barrage while they were returning from patrol in thick weather.
    [​IMG]
    P/O Garth Wells Fuller Carey RAF, DFC
    [​IMG]
    41632 P/O Phillip Knox Vartan RAF
    Regards
    Verrieres
     
    James S likes this.
  8. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Another candidate for this Heroes at rest thread;-
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    RUDD, J.C. Sergeant DFM, RAAF. Pilot. 78 Sqn RAF. Died 1st May 1943. Aged 20
    Handley-Page Halifax II, serial W7929 (EY-S), took-off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 23.52hrs on a bombing raid to Essen. The aircraft was then damaged by flak and crashed at 04.47hrs the following morning whilst attempting an emergency landing at RAF Docking. Five of the crew were killed and 2 were injured. Sgt.J C Rudd was buried on 6 May 1943 in GREAT BIRCHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, the other 4 crew member who perished were Sgt E Wilson, Sgt R.Pike, Sgt H.Mason, and Sgt W. Oldroyd all were taken to their home towns for burial.
    Sgt James Rudd was awarded the DFM in April 1943, on his first operational flight, but died less than a month later. His DFM was presented to his mother on the10th August 1944 by the Lieutenant-governor of Australia His citation reads as follows;

    “One night in April 1943, this Airman captained an aircraft detailed to attack Stettin. On the outward flight, some 200 miles from the target, 1 engine of his aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and became unserviceable, In spite of this, Sergeant Rudd flew on to the objective, bombed it successfully and flew the aircraft back to base. On this, his first operational flight over enemy territory, Sergeant Rudd displayed skill, tenacity and devotion to duty worthy of great praise”.
    The London Gazette dated 14 May 1943.
    Sgt James Rudd was born in Otley Yorkshire in 1922 and his parents emigrated with him to Australia the following year. He was living in Burnside, South Australia and was a university student studying Industrial Chemistry, before he joined the Royal Australian Air Force. He was the son of Clement Hugh Chadd Rudd and Constance Irene Rudd, of Burnside, South Australia


    Regards
    Verrieres
     
  9. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Out in Durham City today and found this lad in a local Churchyard in `Gilesgate`


    CORPORAL (Pilot)ARTHUR STANLEY TELFORD,
    Nationality:United Kingdom
    Royal Air Force
    Age:24
    Date of Death:09/03/1940
    Service No:517356
    Additional information:Son of Albert Robert and Hilda Dagmar Telford. of Durham.
    Grave/Memorial Reference:Grave 3.
    CemeteryDURHAM (ST. CUTHBERT) CHURCHYARD
    [​IMG]
    It is quite possible that Cpl Arthur Stanley Telford was killed when Anson I - N5099 - 6 FTS - crashed on approach at Elsfield, Oxfordshire .The young mans death was registered in the district of Ploughley, Oxfordshire.
    (Elsfield was in the district of Ploughley which was abolished sometime in the 1970`s) Cpl A S Telfords death was reported in `Flight Magazine` dated 4th April 1940

    Verrieres
     
  10. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    SERGEANT (Pilot)GEORGE JOHN HOPKINS, :
    Nationality:United Kingdom
    Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Date of Death:15/11/1943
    Service No:942342
    Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference:Row 1. West wall. Grave 3.
    CemeteryDURHAM (ST. CUTHBERT) CHURCHYARD

    [​IMG]
    On the night of 14/15th November 1943 Beaufighter R2461 of 63 OTU struck the ground at night after a reported instrument failure at Astwood Bank,Redditch, Worcestershire. Pilot Sgt George John Hopkins and observer Sgt A G Bestel were both killed.63 OTU were based I believe At Honiley,Warwickshire at this time.


    Verrieres
     
  11. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Last year I took a photograph of the grave of a young Canadian Airman who lies at rest in Hylton (Castletown) Cemetery at the time I could find nothing about him.Last week I visited (By chance) a small cemetery in Brandon Co Durham here lies another young flier little did I know at the time but these two lads were killed in the same mid-air collison and I have found a newspaper article from 2000 where an eye witness to the crash re-counts the tale,thought I`d share it with you.
    The Northern Echo: Friday 15 September 2000
    NEARLY 60 years after a shocked schoolboy witnessed one of the saddest accidents of Britain's war in the air, he has won the right for two brave pilots to be commemorated. Harry Spence was just 13 when he looked on in grim fascination as two RAF Hurricanes collided in mid-air on Valentine's Day, 1942, hurtling to the ground near his home in Tudhoe Colliery, near Spennymoor, County Durham. Like others who watched the tragic spectacle, Harry believes that the pilots saved their community from disaster by sacrificing their lives to fly their planes clear of Tudhoe's pit cottages and shops.
    At 22, one of the pilots, John Porter, was already a sergeant at RAF Usworth, near Sunderland, and taking part in a mock dog fight in the skies near his home village of Brandon, County Durham. As he flew into one of the most complex manoeuvres of the exercise, coming towards him was a second Hurricane from Usworth, in the hands of 26-year-old Sergeant Clifford Scott, married with a young daughter, and a member of the Canadian RAF.
    Now the courage of both men will be recorded on a plaque to be placed by Spennymoor Town Council in Tudhoe Cemetery. Harry, 72, a keen amateur historian, came up with the idea as a tribute to the heroes of the skies. He still remembers vividly the Saturday morning of the crash. Despite their sense 0of horror, he and his friend Harold Kirkup ran to where one of the aircraft fell and burst into flames, yards away from their homes.
    Harry said: "We ran towards the pilot, but, of course, we could do nothing. We heard him say his prayers and then he died. I found one of his flying boots in a nearby gully, full of water." Villagers found an old door and used it as a makeshift stretcher to carry the pilot's body away. Harry added: "The pilot stayed in his plane until the last possible moment after avoiding the houses. They were both flying away from the village."
    Three years ago, one of Harry's colleagues in the Spennymoor and District Local History Society, former fighter pilot Bill Fleming, laid a wreath at Tudhoe's war memorial in memory of the lost fliers ...end quote.
    [​IMG]

    Name:JOHN PORTER,
    Nationality:United Kingdom
    Rank:Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Age:22
    Date of Death:14/02/1942
    Service No:656765
    Additional information:Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Porter. of Brandon Colliery.
    Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference:Grave S/N 8.Cemetery:BRANDON (ST. JOHN) CHURCH CEMETERY


    [​IMG]
    Name:CLIFFORD JAMES SCOTT,
    Initials:C J
    Nationality:Canadian
    Rank:Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service:Royal Canadian Air Force
    Age:26
    Date of Death:14/02/1942
    Service No:R/88662
    Additional information:Son of Robert D. Scott and Elsie M. Scott, of Toronto. Ontario, Canada, husband of Eva L. Scott, of Weston Ontario.
    Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference:Sec. D. Row 1. Grave 706.
    Cemetery:HYLTON (CASTLETOWN) CEMETERY


    Just to add I took a total of just three photographs at Brandon (other two WW1 Tyneside Irish if anyone wants a copy) before I noticed the warning signs not to enter the area because of mining subsidence,very soon these graves may disappear for ever...sad

    Verrieres
     
  12. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    [​IMG]
    Out and about this week found this lad.

    Name:NEWTON, THOMAS RAINE
    Initials:T R
    Nationality:United Kingdom
    Rank:Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
    Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text:61 Sqdn.
    Age:21
    Date of Death:18/02/1943Service No:1119116
    Additional information:Son of Herbert and Gertrude Newton, of Durham.
    Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference:Grave 46.
    Cemetery:BRANDON AND BYSHOTTLES (USHAW MOOR) CEMETERY
    [​IMG]


    1199116 SERGEANT Thomas Raine Newton was only four miles from the end of a seven-hour training flight when his Lancaster bomber crashed into the Nottinghamshire countryside, killing him and six comrades, shortly before 11pm, on February 18, 1943.
    Sgt Newton and the W4270 crew had been on a cross-country exercise and were due to land at RAF Syerston when their bomber developed engine problems, burst into flames and crashlanded, killing all on board. It had been in the air for almost seven hours when a con rod broke causing a fire which the crew could not put out. The fire spread towards the cockpit and probably the fuel tanks. They lost control and the aircraft crashed killing all seven crew instantly.

    The pilot, a Canadian, Warrant Officer Thomas Herbert Warne, known as Herb from Saskatchewan was the oldest at 23. He was the most experienced member of the crew but still had only 15 hours of night flying experience on this type of aircraft. He is buried in Newark Cemetery.

    The other crew members were Sergeants Robert John Preece (22) of Bridgwater, Somerset; John Coaker, (22) from Poundsgate, Devon; Edward John Loverock (21) of Matlock, Derbyshire; James Milton Whitehead (22) of Riddrie, Glasgow; Thomas Raine Newton (21) of Durham and George Arthur Hitchon (19) from Padiham, Lancashire
    Sgt Newton’s parents were Mr and Mrs Bert Newton, of Laurel Avenue, Sherburn Road, Durham, but he lived with his aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Aberdeen, in Broom Lane, Ushaw Moor, near Durham City.
    After attending Ushaw Moor Council School and being a member of the Ushaw Moor Church Lads’ Brigade, the young Thomas Newton worked as a painter and at Bearpark cokeworks.
    A keen sportsman, he won medals for his football achievements.
    He had served in the RAF for two and a half years and, shortly before his death, spent his 21st birthday taking part in an air raid over Berlin.
    His funeral was held at St Luke’s Church, Ushaw Moor, and he was buried at the village cemetery.

    Northern Echo Friday 13th August 2010

    More about the family here
    Last piece of the puzzle as sister discovers soldier’s past (From Durham Times)
     
  13. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=45237&d=1297282140
    428 Squadron was formed in 4 Group on 7th November 1942 but did not operate until after transferring to 6 Group. It flew Wellingtons, Halifaxes and Lancasters until the end of the war, being based at Dalton and Middleton St George (this is now Teeside International Airport).632357 W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Mossop R.A.F was part of the crew of Wellington HE173 (coded NA-S) The aircraft took off at 02.12 hrs from R.A.F. Dishforth on a training exercise and crashed a minute later about 1 mile North West of the airfield. The accident was the first accidental loss for 428 Squadron since its formation on 7th November 1942. The aircraft caught fire in the air, crashing very shortly afterwards
    Other Crew that fateful day were;-

    Pilot: F/O. Norman Gorick 124505 R.A.F.V.R. Age 21. Killed

    Nav: F/O. George Wood J/10688 R.C.A.F. Age 26. Killed

    W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Mossop 632357 R.A.F. Age 24. Killed

    Air/Gnr: Sgt. J. Welsh Injured ?
    The squadron was disbanded on the 5th September 1945.
    W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. William Mossop was Son of Joseph A. Mossop and Phyllis Mossop, of Meadowfield.He lies today at Brandon and Byshottles (Meadowfield) Cemetery Durham Sec. C. Grave 334 A Hero at Rest
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Hi,
    These fellows rest in Hylton Cemetery in Sunderland, Sgt S Karubin
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    Stanislaw Karubin was a Battle of Britain ace. He was born on 19th October 1915 in Warsaw and trained at the Szkoola Podoficerow dla Maloletnich in Bydgoszcz. In 1939 he was posted to the 111 Eskadra. He is credited with destroying a Bf110 in September 1939 with this Unit. He escaped from Poland and served in ECD I/55 in France in May 1940 flying a range of fighter aircraft. After the fall of France he joined 303 Sqdn at Northolt on its formation on 2nd August 1940 and shot down a number of enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain. In early September he was himself shot down by a He111 , Hurricane V7290 crashed at Pembury; he sustained injuries and was admitted to Farnborough Hospital, after a short stay in the hospital he returned to duty .On the 30th September 1940 he was credited with a BF109 flown by Karl Vogl shot down off Beachy head. Earlier in September flying as one of Squadron Leader Ronald Kellett`s wingmen he broke off from Kellett and fastened onto the tail of an Me-109 from slightly above. Blazing away with his machine guns, Karubin forced the Messerschmitt lower and lower. When he ran out of bullets, he kept after his quarry at treetop level, charging in an apparent attempt to ram the 109. missing by only a few feet on one pass, and the German dropped even lower , the German Pilot obviously unnerved by this unexpected manoevre lost control and crashed. He attempted the same manoevre a few weeks later, but this time he struck the German aircraft (deliberately of Accidentally?) and was himself forced to to bail out.He was credited with 7 confirmed kills. He was posted on to No 58 O.T.U. and then on to 55 O.T.U at Usworth near Sunderland . Sgt.Stanislaw KARUBIN, ex-303 Squadron, VM,KW,DFM was killed in a flying accident on 12 August 1941 when he was working as a Flying Instructor in 55 O.T.U. Usworth. Sgt. Karubin was killed in Hurricane no V7742 when his aircraft struck a mountainside near Cumberland. A second Pole who was killed in this same accident was named as P/O Zygmunt Hohne.
    [​IMG]
    The Whitehaven Air Cadet Sqdn dedicated this plaque near to the crash site in memory of the two brave Polish pilots
    [​IMG]
    P/O Zygmunt Hohne.(Photograph by Allenby)
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Regards
    Verrieres

    Grave Photograph taken 16/12/08 by myself please feel free to use this image if the subject matter is of interest to you.


    Portrait photographs courtesy of Dr David Loddenowski.(Deceased)


    Jim,

    I see from the Memorial Plaque that the original Plaque and significent pieces of wreckage were located in RAF Millom Museum.

    I wonder what will happen to these exhibits. I may have missed it but could not see these items listed on the auction catalogue posted.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  15. jack russell

    jack russell Junior Member

    Hi there,

    Hope you don't mind me posting on this forum, but I noticed Thomas Newton is mentioned here, along with the link in the newspaper that helped track his sister. Sadly we found her a month after the rededication of the Memorial to Thomas and the rest of his crew, but by chance this short film had been made for the relatives who couldn't be there for whatever reason, it also gives a bit of the history and research behind this Memorial if anyone wants to know more, thankyou
    Per Purum Tonantes on Vimeo
     
  16. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi there,

    Hope you don't mind me posting on this forum, but I noticed Thomas Newton is mentioned here, along with the link in the newspaper that helped track his sister. Sadly we found her a month after the rededication of the Memorial to Thomas and the rest of his crew, but by chance this short film had been made for the relatives who couldn't be there for whatever reason, it also gives a bit of the history and research behind this Memorial if anyone wants to know more, thankyou
    Per Purum Tonantes on Vimeo


    Thanks Jack and welcome to the Forum.

    Jim
     
  17. jack russell

    jack russell Junior Member

    Thankyou Jim, I hope you have a chance to watch it, please bear in mind it was a no script, no retake, no budget film, really produced using interviews whilst waiting for the flypast from the BBMF Lancaster, but it seems a good way to spread the memory of this young crew, I'm not sure if I've posted it in the correct topic so please advise if I haven't,

    Jack
     
  18. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Thankyou Jim, I hope you have a chance to watch it, please bear in mind it was a no script, no retake, no budget film, really produced using interviews whilst waiting for the flypast from the BBMF Lancaster, but it seems a good way to spread the memory of this young crew, I'm not sure if I've posted it in the correct topic so please advise if I haven't,

    Jack

    Hi Jack,
    I would say it is in the right section but use the user introductions to introduce yourself mate and mention your video link again too its first class and a worthy memorial well done
    Best Wishes
    Jim
     
  19. jack russell

    jack russell Junior Member

    Thanks Jim, glad you liked it, I'll introduce myself now,
    and mention the link again
    Best wishes Jack
     
  20. jack russell

    jack russell Junior Member

    Hopefully here is a photo of the Memorial to the crew of Lancaster W4270 taken on the 68th Anniversay of the crash a few weeks ago

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Sorry just realised this is under the wrong section, should be in Memorials not War Graves, now trying to move/delete it. Apologies.
     

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