After taking off from RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, Sergeant Ian C C Clenshaw, of 253 Squadron, crashed his Hurricane (P3359) whilst on dawn patrol on the 10th of July 1940 in bad weather. He was officially recognised as the first RAF pilot to die in the Battle Of Britain. Now the problem comes when trying to find out where his plane crashed. Some sources say he crashed near Irby-Upon-Humber 'near the coast' (I-u-H is nearly 6 miles inland) in Lincolnshire, others sources claim say he crashed off the coast. Can anyone clarify either way where the plane crashed, and if possible, either a description or co-ordinates of the crash site. These are his details below: CLENSHAW, IAN CHARLES COOPER Rank: Sergeant Trade: Pilot Service No: 745067 Date of Death: 10/07/1940 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 253 Sqdn. Grave Reference Grave 413. Cemetery KELVEDON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION Thanks Tony
Edit. Hurricane = fighter command. Sss Sorry! Work load / time pressure is a bit over the top lately... ! Previous goofus: "Wow. Its not often that one turns up that is not in Chorley, at this late date. Though I really suspect many amiss from the first year of the war... especially some of the minor and short lived bombers active in that period. FYI: The url for his updated entries not found in his books is: http://www.rafinfo.org.uk/BCWW2Losses/
An option is to apply for a copy of the pilots death certificate, as the place of death should be listed on it. I have used this option a couple of times, and it has given me locations to crash sites ( in my case, mainly the names of the farms where the aircraft came down) so it is worth you considering.
Fighter Command Losses volume 1.Norman L,R.Franks page 45 states Patrol.Crashed in bad weather at Irby -on-Humber,Lincs regards Clive
The Battle of Britain Then and Now page 320 253 Squadron,Kirton-In-Lindsey Hurricane P3359.Lost control flying in bad visibility on dawn patrol.Crashed near Humber coast. Sergeant I.C.C.Clenshaw killed.Aircraft a write-off. regards Clive
from findagrave Birth: 1917, England Death: Jul. 10, 1940 Lincolnshire, England Sergeant Pilot IAN CHARLES COOPER CLENSHAW Rank: Sergeant (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 253 Sqdn. Date of Death: 10/07/1940 Service No: 745067 Grave Reference: Grave 413. Cemetery: KELVEDON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION He joined the RAFVR in Feb 1939 as Airman u/t Pilot making his first flight in a Tiger Moth on Feb 19th at 34 E&RFTS Rochford July 10th 1940 was the first day of action in The Battle of Britain and Sgt Clenshaw was one of the 2 airman killed that day. 253 Squadron was formed in 1918 Equipped with Hurricane Fighters it was serving in France up to Dunquirk Posted to RAF Kirton in Lindsay Lincolnshire on May 24th it was engaged in protecting coastal shipping in the North Sea and Humber. Sgt Clenshaw was in Hurricane P3359 and lost control flying in bad visability on dawn patrol. Crashed near the Humber Coast, Aircraft a write off. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=clenshaw&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1940&GSdyrel=in&GScntry=5&GSob=n&GRid=13264092&df=all&
