In Memoriam - Those Air Force Pilots/Crews who died on this day in WW2.

http://www.462squadron.com/pages/crash/aircraft_loss_file.html

Hi Geoff,

One of those rare cases where the NAA didn't weed out the telegram.

Sgt Brookes married Irene Brasenell in Birmingham in the June 1944 Qtr.

Regards,

Dave

 

Hi Geoff,

One of those rare cases where the NAA didn't weed out the telegram.

Sgt Brookes married Irene Brasenell in Birmingham in the June 1944 Qtr.

Regards,

Dave



Thanks Dave,

I have been researching many of these RAF lads' NOK's myself through Ancestry and Free BMD as I was being a bit frustrated at not being able to include their details.

Great to have the full detail with these two.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Flying Officer Edward Lancelot Musgrave (DFC) RAAF - 137sq RAF - PIHEN-LES GUINES WAR CEMETERY, Pas-de-Calais, France

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
403528 Flying Officer MUSGRAVE, Edward Lancelot, DFC
Source :
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, (Digitised)
Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Whirlwind
Serial number: P 7063
Radio call sign:
Unit: ATTD 137 SQN RAF
Summary:
Whirlwind P7063 flown by FO Musgrave (DFC) took off from RAF Manston at 0110am hours on the 18th May 1943, to attack shipping off Graveslines, France. He was vectored under ‘Swingate Control’ until shipping was sighted. He then attacked with bombs. At 0132 hours he reported by R/T that he was about to make a second attack. Nothing further was heard from the pilot neither was there any further plot of the operation.
Crew :
RAAF 403528 FO Musgrave, Edward Lancelot DFC (Pilot)
FO Musgrave lost his life on the above mission and he is buried in the Pihen-Les Guines War Cemetery, France. Pihen-Les Guines is a village 10kms south west of Calais and about 3kms east of the main road from Calais to Boulogne.
Citation :
The Citation for the DFC awarded to FO Musgrave is as follows
“This officer has taken part in a large number of operational missions. In attacks on the enemy’s communications in Northern France and Belgium he has damaged seven locomotives.
One night in February 1943, he took off to search for a particular merchant escorted by 5 armed ships reported to be in the Channel. Although the njight was very dark FO Musgrave sighted the vessel sailing close into the shore south of Boulogne. Skilfully approaching the merchant vessel he flew into attack but was frustrated by heavy fire from the coastal defences. Despite this he persisted and after diving through searchlights from the shore he attacked his objective, releasing bombs from a low level. Although his aircraft was damaged from the opposing fire from ships he flew in safely to his base.

FO Musgrave displayed great courage, skill and determination in the execution of his task.


Aged 25, Son of William and Nellie Musgrave; husband of Jessie Eileen Musgrave, of Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia.

View attachment 136677 View attachment 136678 View attachment 136679 View attachment 136680
Musgrave Photo courtesy of Australian War Memorial
Whirlwind photograph courtesy of backtonormandy.org

 

3rd June 1944, 466sqn RAAF, Tourville-la-Campagne Communal Cemetery, Eure, France.

Sgt Oshlack's inscription reads:


"Let all who pass this way remember we died for Victory"

I visited this cemetery to photograph the graves in 2011. These airmen are the only Commonwealth graves in this cemetery. I left flags for remembrance.

This crew had an average age of 27 which was quite high.

466 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death: 3 June 1944

Source:

AWM 64 1/360 Part 2 AWM 237 (63) NAA : A705, 166/8/491.

Aircraft Type: Halifax
Serial number: HX 242
Radio call sign: HD – L
Unit: 466 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Halifax HX242 took off from RAF Leconfield at 2220 hours on the night of 2/3rd June 1944 to bomb the railway yards at Trappes, France. Fifteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and two of these including HX242 failed to return.

Crew:

RAAF 418810 Flt Sgt Kenneth George Coleman, Captain (Pilot) +
RAAF 424928 Flt Sgt Owen Leslie Tyte, (Navigator) +
RAAF 425752 Flt Sgt John Thomas Ridgway, (Bomb Aimer) +
RAAF 419165 Flt Sgt Bryan James Dowling, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) +
RAAF 411336 Flt Sgt John Ernest Thomas Ridgeway Kingham, (Rear Gunner) +
RAAF 410560 Flt Sgt Joe Oshlack, (Mid Upper Gunner) +
RAF 1869090 Sgt John Joseph George, (Flight Engineer) +

Post war enquiries by a Missing Research and Enquiry Team established that the aircraft was seen approaching the village of St Armand des Hautes, Terres, province Eure, France, at approx 0200 hours on 3 June 1944. The aircraft suddenly exploded in mid air presumably due to enemy action and wreckage fell in a field 3 miles west of the village.

All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Communal Cemetery at Tourville-la-Campagne, which is a village and commune 10kms south west of Elbeuf a town 18kms south of Rouel. Locality Eure, France.

RAAF 418810 Flt Sgt Kenneth George Coleman, (CaptainPilot) Aged 23, Son of William Joseph and Cicely Mary Coleman, of North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 424928 Flt Sgt Owen Leslie Tyte, (Navigator)
Aged 25, Son of Charles and Matilda F. Tyte, of Granville, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 425752 Flt Sgt John Thomas Ridgway, (Bomb Aimer)
Aged 25, Son of Gilbert Mark and Rachel Ridgway; husband of Florence Margaret Ridgway, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

RAAF 419165 Flt Sgt Bryan James Dowling, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Aged 29, Son of James and Nellie Dowling; husband of Katherine Dorcas Dowling, of Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 411336 Flt Sgt John Ernest Thomas Ridgeway Kingham, (Rear Gunner)
Aged 32, Son of William John and Caroline Gertrude Kingham; husband of Dorothy Elizabeth Kingham, of Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 410560 Flt Sgt Joe Oshlack, (Mid Upper Gunner)
Aged 27, Son of Samuel and Ceila Oshlack, of Elwood, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 1869090 Sgt John Joseph George, (Flight Engineer)
Aged 29, Son of John and Henrietta George, of Peckham, London; husband of Esther George, of Peckham.

 

6/7th June 1944, 512sqn, Hermanville War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

Source:

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A 705, 166/8/497 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Dakota
Serial number: KG 307
Radio call sign:
Unit: 512 Sqn RAF

Summary:

On the night of 6/7th June 1944, Dakota KG307 took off from RAF Station Broadwell, near Shilton, at 2235 hours, detailed to carry out a pannier dropping operation over Caen, France.

The aircraft was carrying 16 panniers on the mission. No contact was made with the aircraft after take-off, W/T silence being observed.
The formation of aircraft was intact until five minutes off the French coast.
An aircraft captained by Flt Lt Gough on return stated that he had seen an aircraft burning on the beach at about 2359 hours, on the 6th June. The specialist equipment carried was Gee and Rebecca.

Crew:

RAAF 411427 FO William Stanley Brennan, Captain (Pilot) +
RAAF 416829 Flt Sgt Keith Anzac Coombe, (Nav/Co Pilot) +
RAF 1800403 Sgt Ivan Charles Seager, (Navigator) +
RAAF 425075 PO William Henry Stacey Toyne, (Wireless Air Gunner) +

A Missing Research & Enquiry team later reported that the aircraft had crashed at the mouth of the Orne river, and all the crew were killed.

They are buried in the Hermanville Beach Cemetery, France. Hemanville-sur-Mer lies 13kms north of Caen, on the road to Lion-sur-Mer (the D60).

RAAF 411427 FO William Stanley Brennan, Captain (Pilot)
Aged 32, Son of Alfred Ernest and Mary Brennan, of Merewether, New South Wales, Australia. B.A. (Sydney)
(School Teacher)

RAAF 416829 Flt Sgt Keith Anzac Coombe, (Nav/Co Pilot)
Aged 24, Son of Herbert Stanley Coombe and Elsie Ada Coombe; husband of Dorothy Elsie Coombe, of Glenunga, South Australia.

RAF 1800403 Sgt Ivan Charles Seager, (Navigator)
Aged 21, Son of Charles William Seager, and of Violet Seager, of Weston Park, Bath, Somerset.

RAAF 425075 PO William Henry Stacey Toyne, (Wireless Air Gunner)
Aged 27, Son of Arthur and Emily Jane Toyne, of Red Hills, Queensland, Australia.

View attachment 137297 View attachment 137298 View attachment 137299 View attachment 137300 View attachment 137301 View attachment 137302 View attachment 137303 View attachment 137304 View attachment 137305

 

8th June 1944, 224sqn RAF, Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, UK

RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT
UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Source:

NAA: Service record A9300, Barcode 5376306. Nil casualty file held by Archives.
Aircraft Type: Liberator
Serial number: BZ 915
Radio call sign:
Unit: 224 Sqn RAF

Summary:

Liberator BZ 915 of 224 Sqn RAF took off from RAF Station St.Eval, Cornwall, in the
early hours of 7 June 1944. The aircraft was detailed to patrol the coast of Ushant, France
but failed to return to base. The last signal received from the aircraft at 0207 hours stated
that they were attacking the enemy, the position of the aircraft then was off the French
coast near Ushant. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft.

Crew:

RAAF 414988 FO Buchan-Hepburn, Ronald Henry, Captain, (Pilot) +
RAF 657007 Flt Sgt Fairs, Geoffrey John Harry (2nd Pilot) +
RAAF 420386 PO Hogan, Phillip William (Navigator Bombaimer) +
RAAF 422822 Flt Sgt Whitby, John Downton (Navigator) +
RAAF 422512 Flt Sgt Hands, Bruce Alfred (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 408388 Flt Sgt Dickenson, Max Elwin (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 422464 Flt Sgt Earl, Harold John (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAAF 418506 Flt Sgt Kennedy, Albert Alexander (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) +
RAF 1390853 Flt Sgt Barnes, Leonard James (Wireless Operator Mechanic/Air Gunner) +
RAF 626539 Sgt Collins, Arthur (Flight Engineer) +

In a 1949 report it was stated that all efforts to find any trace of the aircraft or crew were
unsuccessful and the crew had been recorded as missing lost at sea.

RAAF 414988 FO Buchan-Hepburn, Ronald Henry, Captain, (Pilot)
Aged 21, Son of Walter Scot Buchan-Hepburn and Julia Amy Buchan-Hepburn, of Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

RAF Flt Sgt Fairs, Geoffrey John Harry (2nd Pilot)
Aged 25, Son of Sidney Chester Fairs and Mildred Elizabeth Fairs, of Walberswick, Suffolk; husband of Doris Letitia Fairs.

RAAF 420386 PO Hogan, Phillip William (Navigator Bombaimer)
Aged 27, Son of John Alphonsus Hogan and Mary Hogan; husband of Margaret Jane Rudkin Hogan, of Bronte, New South Wales, Australia. B.A., Dip.Ed.

RAAF 422822 Flt Sgt Whitby, John Downton (Navigator)
Aged 22, Son of John Webidale Whitby and Ivy Whitby, of Barmedman, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 422512 Flt Sgt Hands, Bruce Alfred (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of Alfred and Helen Webster Hands, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 408388 Flt Sgt Dickenson, Max Elwin (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 32, Son of Douglas and Jessie Agness Dickenson, of Granton, Tasmania, Australia.

RAAF 422464 Flt Sgt Earl, Harold John (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 23, Son of Harold Arthur and Constance Winifred Earl; husband of Sheila Earl, of Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 418506 Flt Sgt Kennedy, Albert Alexander (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Aged 23, Son of Parry Alexander and Minnie Josephine Kennedy, of Ararat, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 1390853 Flt Sgt Barnes, Leonard James (Wireless Operator Mechanic/Air Gunner) 24
Aged 24, Son of James George and Ellen Barnes, of Bedford.

RAF 626539 Sgt Collins, Arthur (Flight Engineer)
NO NOK LISTED

View attachment 137323 View attachment 137324 View attachment 137325 View attachment 137326 View attachment 137327 View attachment 137328 View attachment 137329 View attachment 137330 View attachment 137331

 

15th/16th June 1944 - 7sqdn RAF - Arras Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

420185 Pilot Officer GRANT, Alan Charles William

Source:

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/118/552 Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 282,
Volume 1944.
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: ND 744
Radio call sign: MG – F
Unit: ATTS 7 SQN RAF

Summary:

Lancaster ND744 took-off from RAF Oakington at 2319 hours on the night of 15/16th June
1944 to bomb the railway yards at Valenciennes, France. Nothing was heard from the
aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base.

Crew:

RAAF 420185 PO Grant, A C W Captain (Pilot) †
RAF Flt Sgt R A Neils, (Flight Engineer) (POW)
RAF Flt Sgt S C Masters, (Navigator) (POW)
RCAF PO Martin, R C (Bomb Aimer) †
RAF Flt Sgt S Nathanson, (Wireless Operator) (POW)
RAF Sgt T Barratt (Mid Upper Gunner) †
RAF Sgt W A E Newton (Rear Gunner) †

Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed near Arras (Pas-de-Calais) France and
four of the crew were killed.

PO Grant, PO Martin, Sgt Barratt and Sgt Newton are buried in the Arras Communal
Cemetery, France. Arras is in the Department Pas-de-Calais and the communal cemetery
is in the suburb of St Sauveur on the east side of Arras.

The remaining three members of the crew survived the crash and were POW’s.

In Memory of
Pilot Officer
Alan Charles William Grant
420185, Royal Australian Air Force
who died on 16 June 1944 Age 24
Son of William Allison Grant and Winifred Eleanor Grant, of Pymble, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Arras Communal Cemetery

In Memory of
Pilot Officer Air Bomber
Richard Charles Martin
J/89735, 7 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force
who died on 16 June 1944 Age 29
Son of Charles Evan and Florence Adelaide Martin, of Vineland, Ontario. Canada.
Remembered with Honour
Arras Communal Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Gnr.
Thomas Barratt
1684379, 7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on 16 June 1944 Age 22
Son of Thomas and Margarat Barratt, of Stockport, Cheshire; husband of Winifred Beatrice Barratt, of
Cheadle Heath, Stockport.
Remembered with Honour
Arras Communal Cemetery

In Memory of
Sergeant Air Gnr.
William Albert Edward (Bill) Newton
1292158, 7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on 16 June 1944 Age 20
Son of Francis Henry James Newton and Kathleen Patricia Newton.
Remembered with Honour
Arras Communal Cemetery

 

5th/6th June 1944 - 149sqn RAF - St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

Source :

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/28/321 Micro Film No 463 OAFH
Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of
the Second World War, Page 256, Volume 1944.
Aircraft Type: Stirling
Serial number: LK 385
Radio call sign: OJ – C
Unit: ATTD 149 SQN RAF
Op: Special Duties

Summary:

Stirling LK385 took off from RAF Methwold at 2209 hours on the night of 5/6th June
1944, detailed to carry out a special duties patrol as a D Day support. Nothing was heard
from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base.

Crew :

RAF 175703 PO Wilfred Haydn Mayo Captain (Pilot)
RAF 1892084 Sgt Henry James Mather, (Flight Engineer)
RAF 1550897 Flt Sgt James MacFarlane (Navigator)
RAAF 418864 PO Harvey Francis Munday (Navigator)
RAF 1466283 Flt Sgt Raymond Parker (Navigator)
RAF Sgt F C Heal, (Air Bomber) (POW)
RAF 1281476 WO Geoffrey Charles Christie Holmes, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RCAF Sgt John Arthur William Nind, (Air Gunner) (EVADED)
RAF Sgt B Wynne-Cole, (Air Gunner) (POW)

The aircraft crashed at Marcelett (Calvados). Six of the crew were killed and Sgt’s Heal
and Wynne-Cole were POW’s, while Sgt Nind evaded capture.

Those killed are buried in the St-Manvieu War Cemetery at Cheux, France. Cheux is a
village 10kms west of Caen, France.

RAF 175703 PO Wilfred Haydn Mayo Captain (Pilot)
Aged 23, Son of Edwin and Violet Mayo, of Dowlais, Glamorgan.

RAF 1892084 Sgt Henry James Mather, (Flight Engineer)
Aged 29, Son of Henry James Mather and Florence Mather; husband of Kathleen Doris Mather, of Tooting, Surrey.

RAF 1550897 Flt Sgt James MacFarlane (Navigator)
Aged 23, Son of Andrew and Helen Macfarlane, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

RAAF 418864 PO Harvey Francis Munday (Navigator)
Aged 24, Son of William Henry and Mary Ellen Munday, of Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 1466283 Flt Sgt Raymond Parker (Navigator)
Aged 22, Son of Thomas Henry and Ethel E. Parker, of Moseley, Birmingham.

RAF 1281476 WO Geoffrey Charles Christie Holmes, (Wireless Air Gunner)
Aged 22, Son of George Christie Holmes and of Esther Margaret Hutcheon Holmes (nee Henderson), of Leatherhead, Surrey.

 

Hi Geoff,

The evader was Sgt John Arthur William Nind of Montreal.

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks Dave - added. I checked that he survived the war on CWGC and forgot to look him up on your .ca site. I just wish the UK had a separate user friendly Nominal Roll as I really dislike just leaving initials.

Cheers

Geoff

 

A little more information, Geoff. Heal's first initial was incorrect.

1608600 Sgt. Brian Wynne-Cole, arrived Stalag Luft VII, Bankau, Trupp 29, 3 September 1944
1604298 Sgt. Peter Caleb Heal, arrived Stalag 221, Rennes prison hospital 19 June 1944 with broken tibia and fibula, freed by US army 4 August, 1944. Deceased 21 February 1998.


From Hugh Halliday's Honours and Awards database:

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks Dave - Great info.

Alterations completed.

Cheers

Geoff

 

23rd June 1944 - 460sq RAAF - POIX-DE-PICARDIE CHURCHYARD

460 SQUADRON RAAF, WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death : 23 June 1944.
Source:
AWM 64 (1/295) AWM 64 (1/294) Appendix C54 AWM 237 (63) (64)
NAA : A705, 166/3/235
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: LM 547
Radio call sign: AR – F2
Unit: 460 Sqn RAAF
Summary:
Lancaster LM547 took off From RAF Binbrook at 2228 hours on 22 June 1944 to bomb railway facilities at Rheims, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Sixteen aircraft from the squadron took part in the raid and two of these including LM547 failed to return.
Crew:
RAAF 400388 FO Lamble, Francis Stephen Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 409298 WO English, William Newth (Navigator)
RAAF 419017 Flt Sgt Tomkins, Kenneth James (Bomb Aimer)
RAAF 424224 Flt Sgt Shelton, Douglas Mayall (Wireless Operator Air)
RAF 1322156 Sgt Foddering, Eric John (Flight Engineer)
RAF 1818722 Sgt Spiers, Keith Herbert (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAAF 423033 FO Allsep, Sydney James (Rear Gunner)

Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed at Frettemolle (Somme), 9kms SW of a small town of Poix-de-la-Somme, France. All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Poix (Somme) Churchyard, Frettemolle, France.

RAAF 400388 FO Lamble, Francis Stephen Captain (Pilot)
Aged 30, Son of the Venerable George Edwin Lamble, and Louisa Lamble, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 409298 WO English, William Newth (Navigator)
Aged 29, Son of William Edwin and Mabel English, of Glenhuntly, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 419017 Flt Sgt Tomkins, Kenneth James (Bomb Aimer)
Aged 20, Son of Leslie Hayward Tomkins and Ellen Tomkins, of East Malvern, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 424224 Flt Sgt Shelton, Douglas Mayall (Wireless Operator Air)
Aged 20, Son of William Henry and Edith Mary Shelton, of Auburn, New South Wales, Australia.

RAF 1322156 Sgt Foddering, Eric John (Flight Engineer)
Aged 22, Husband of Mrs Elsie Cogley (formerly Foddering) of Solihull, West Midlands.

RAF 1818722 Sgt Spiers, Keith Herbert (Mid Upper Gunner)
Aged 19, Son of George Alfred and Jessie Edith Spiers, of Naunton, Worcestershire.

RAAF 423033 FO Allsep, Sydney James (Rear Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of Ernest James Allsep and Annie May Allsep, of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.

Location Information
Poix is a small town 28 kilometres south-west of Amiens. The 16th century church of St. Denis with its surrounding churchyard is on the Amiens-Rouen road, about 200 metres north of the centre of the town. The Commonwealth War Graves Plot is opposite the west door of the church.
Historical Information
Poix, or Poix-de-la-Somme as it was known prior to 1965, suffered considerable damage during the war. A main operational aerodrome of Air Component was at Poix until on May 18th, 1940, it was moved to Abbeville. On May 19th enemy action necessitated the evacuating of this aerodrome also. The Officer Commanding Air Component then moved his headquarters to England, maintaining an advance landing ground at Merville (Nord), between Abbeville and the coast, until May 22nd. All the burials in the British plot in this churchyard are of airmen who crashed, or were shot down, in the country around Poix during the war years.

There are now nearly 150, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Three British airmen and one Canadian whose graves could not be precisely located are commemorated by special memorials inscribed "Buried near this spot".

 

(Not on this Day) Researched this one and thought I would post it!

3rd August 1943 - 10sq RAAF - Biguglia War Cemetery, Italy

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR
IN NUMBER 10 SQUADRON RAAF BASED
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
410210 Flight Sergeant BIRD, Hugh Alexander
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/5/244 Commonwealth War Graves Records
Aircraft Type: Sunderland
Serial number: DD 852
Radio call sign:
Unit: 10 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

On the 3rd August 1943, Sunderland DD852 (J/10) was detailed to carry out an antisubmarine patrol Musketry 10-2 at 3,000 feet. It took off at 1500 hours from RAF Mount Batten and was down at 2215 hours. At 1816 hours flying at 3,000feet on course 194T, J/10 sighted 3 unidentified aircraft about 8 miles away. J/10 altered course to 076T and turned into cloud, thus losing contact, and continued the patrol. At 1837 hours when on course 198T, 3 aircraft were sighted through binoculars 12 miles away dead flying at a height of 6,000 feet. J/10 turned on to a course of 006T for cloud but the enemy aircraft followed and came up to 20deg on the starboard quarter., then split, one remaining while the other two passed on to the port quarter.

Simultaneously another formation of three aircraft were sighted 500-1000 feet higher than the first formation, but 2-3 miles further away. At the same time a seventh aircraft appeared which came from the starboard bow and made a head on attack breaking off about 100 yards and passing over the top of J/10.
In this attack J/10 used fixed front guns and nose turret, estimating hits on the enemy aircraft. The nose gunner of J/10 was probably killed in this attack. Then one aircraft from the first formation attacked from the starboard quarter hitting J with cannon and so breaking the nose and midship turret oil pipe lines and putting the inter-com out of action.
This was followed by an attack from the port quarter by the remaining two aircraft of the first formation. From then on throughout the action which lasted approx one hour, attacks were carried out continually by these aircraft from all directions. During these attacks the DC’s were jettisoned, and instructions were passed to the Captain from the navigator by hand, but this method was not found to be particularly effective.

The gunners fired independently as targets presented themselves. During one attack from the beam, the mid-upper gunner fired a long burst into the enemy aircraft as it broke away over the top of J/10. Shortly after the navigator saw an aircraft on fire in the air and subsequently the 2nd pilot saw burning wreckage on the water. The aircraft was not actually seen to crash.

During another attack the tail gunner saw fragments breaking away from time to time but there was no evidence of damage. J attempted to make for cloud cover but owing to evasive tactics of continuous diving turns towards attackers, this proved rather difficult. Eventually J gained thin cloud cover at 3,500 feet but was continually attacked until entering a large cumulus cloud. I circled in this cloud emerging to find four enemy aircraft waiting. After waiting in this cloud for 30 minutes, J emerged to find no aircraft in sight and set course for base. The following signal was then sent to base : “Returning to Base, need ambulance and Doctor on arrival.” The aircraft finally became waterborne at 2215 hours at Mount Batten, and was immediately brought up on deck.

During the action J/10 sustained numerous bullet and cannon holes many on the hull, wings and main spar. Casualties were one killed, one badly wounded and three received superficial wounds.

Crew:
RAAF 416406 FO Behrndt, Raymond Carl Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 416164 FO Williams, Basil Alfred DFC (Pilot)
RAAF 413880 FO Murray, Alan James (Pilot)
RAAF 205785 FO Gross, Reginald William Stuart (Navigator)
RAAF 14611 Sgt Moser, W C (Armourer/Air Gunner)
RAAF 406298 Sgt Fry, George Leake (Fitter 11E/Air Gunner)
RAAF 26885 Sgt Simon, Bartholomew William (Wireless Maintenance Mechanic)
RAAF 402705 Sgt Guy, James Walter Vincent (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner)
RAAF 23629 Sgt McVinish, Angus Alfred (
RAAF 62956 Sgt Owen, Rhys Frederick (Flight Engineer)
RAAF 410210 Flt Sgt Bird, Hugh Alexander (Air Gunner) Killed
RAAF 416991 Sgt Pengilly, Hugh Percival (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF ?????? Flt Lt Dorney, PAX

Flt Sgt Bird is buried in the Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery, UK.

Flt Sgt Bird was born in Paddington New South Wales and is listed on the Bellevue Hill Roll of Honour.

The remainder of the crew of DD852 less FO Behrndt, survived the war. (Note below)

RAAF 416164 FO Williams, Basil Alfred DFC (Pilot)
Born Adelaide, South Australia. Discharged a Flt Lt 21/06/1945
RAAF 413880 FO Murray, Alan James (Pilot)
Born Wahroonga, New South Wales. Discharged Flt Lt 10/09/1945
RAAF 205785 FO Gross, Reginald William Stuart DFC (Navigator)
Born Adelaide, South Australia. Discharged Flt Lt 6/06/1947
RAAF 14611 Sgt Moser, William Cheseldon Hendon DFM (Armourer/Air Gunner)
Born in Liverpool, England in 1912, Discharged Corporal, 27/03/1946
RAAF 406298 Sgt Fry, George Leake (Fitter 11E/Air Gunner)
Born Donnybrook, Western Australia. Discharged Warrant Officer 21/03/1946
RAAF 26885 Sgt Simon, Bartholomew William (Wireless Maintenance Mechanic)
Born Mile End, South Australia. Discharged as Sgt, 2/05/1946
RAAF 402705 Sgt Guy, James Walter Vincent (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner)
Born North Sydney, New South Wales. Discharged as Flt Lt, 28/02/1946
RAAF 23629 Sgt McVinish, Angus Alfred (
Born Gympie, Queensland. Discharged as Sgt, 19/02/1946
RAAF 62956 Sgt Owen, Rhys Frederick DFM (Flight Engineer)
Born Granville, New South Wales. Discharged as Leading Aircraftman 3/05/1945
RAAF 416991 Sgt Pengilly, Hugh Percival (Wireless Air Gunner)
Born Helsten England. Discharged as Pilot Officer 7/11/1945
RAF ?????? Flt Lt Dorney, PAX Survived the war.

(If anybody can assist with the service number of Flt Lt. Dorney, I would be most appreciative)




RAAF 416406 FO Behrndt, Raymond Carl Captain (Pilot)

Flt Lt Behrndt was killed when aboard another Sunderland aircraft DV993 on 17th November 1943 with a different crew who were all lost and are remembered on the Air Forces Memorial to the Missing at Runnymede.
He was born in Unley in South Australia and remembered on the Roll of Honour in Adelaide.

Summary

(On the 17th November 1943, Sunderland DV993 took off from RAF Mount Batten at 1101 hours, on patrol Percussion A-2, but failed to return from its mission. The aircraft’s last W/T signal at 1430 hours indicated that the aircraft had sighted some aircraft which was assumed to be enemy, and the patrol was over the sea.
German radio News Service claimed that” its long range fighters on 17/11 had shot down a British flying boat over the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft caught fire and the tail unit was shot away. The aircraft crashed in flames and there were no survivors.”.
As there were no other flying boats missing on 17/11, it was assumed that the radio report referred to Behrndt’s aircraft.)

 

Just to tie up this previous post, I wonder if anyone could tell me the service number of Flt Lt Dorney RAF.

Cheers

Geoff

 

is this him Geoff

Commission relinquished. Flight Lieutenant J. IH. 'E. DORNEY (109318) (on account of medical unfitness -for Air Force service) retaining his rank, 19 Nov. 1946.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37942/supplement/1905/data.pdf

 

Hi Clive,

Cannot be certain however I feel he fits the bill.

I will log this number to his name with a question mark.

Thank you for tracking it down.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff,

I think the question mark has to stay.

109318 comes back to James Henry Esmond Dorney, an Australian who had an adventurous war but in the Pacific:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esmond_Dorney

http://www.builtheritage.com.au/dua_dorney.html

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks Dave,

I will never know how many Australians served with the RAF and survived and of those that did not.

The question mark will stay as I did not think it could be that easy. I will delete the initials and number at this stage.

He would have filled in a POW questionnaire wouldn't he?

I lived most of my early years less than a kilometer from the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. My dad convalesced there for three months after being in hospital in Alexandria for 3 months due to being blown up taking Tobruk in Jan 41.

Interesting story - Thanks again.

Cheers

Geoff

 

(Not on this day).
The loss of 75 (New Zealand) Sqn RAF Wellington 75 years ago today.
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE
SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH NO KNOWN GRAVE.
400277 Sergeant HIGGINS, Eric Vincent Keiran
Source:
NAA : A705, 163/122/62
Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: R 3171
Radio call sign:
Unit: 75 (New Zealand) Sqn RAF

Summary:
Wellington R 3171 of 75 (New Zealand) Sqn RAF, took off from RAF Feltwell, Norfolk, on an operational flight on 16 July 1941. At 0300 hours it’s port engine was set on fire as a result of enemy action, and the aircraft attempting to return to base got within 30 miles of the English coast, and force landed in the North Sea off the Dutch coast.

Crew:
RAAF 400277 Sgt Higgins, Eric Vincent Keiran (Pilot)
RNZAF 391833 Sgt Fotheringham, Robert Ewen Ernest (Pilot)
RCAF R/54910 Sgt Roberts, Joseph Harold Campbell (Air Observer)
RNZAF 40101 Sgt Dyer, Sydney Allen
RNZAF 401227 Sgt Hare, Phillip Edgar
RNZAF 40923 Sgt MacKinnon, Douglas Malcolm.

The bodies of both Sgt Fotheringham and Sgt Roberts were washed ashore on the Dutch coast. Sgt Roberts is buried in the Amsterdam New East Cemetery and Sgt Fotheringham in the Bergen-Op-Zoom Cemetery Holland. The remaining four missing crew members were recorded as having lost their lives at sea and are listed on the Air Forces Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.

RAAF 400277 Sgt Higgins, Eric Vincent Keiran (Pilot) Aged 27, Son of Joseph and Mary Higgins; husband of Loreen Higgins, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

RNZAF 391833 Sgt Fotheringham, Robert Ewen Ernest (Pilot) Aged 29, Son of John and May Fotheringham, of Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand.

RCAF R/54910 Sgt Roberts, Joseph Harold Campbell (Air Observer)
Aged 24, Son of Ernest James Roberts and Catherine M. Roberts, of Notre Dame de Grace, Province of Quebec, Canada.

RNZAF 40101 Sgt Dyer, Sydney Allen Aged 19, Son of Sydney Samuel Dyer and May Elizabeth Dyer, of Portobello, Otago, New Zealand.

RNZAF 401227 Sgt Hare, RNZAF 401227 Sgt Phillip Edgar Aged 19, Son of George Edgar and Margaret May Hare, of Hamilton, Auckland, New Zealand.

RNZAF 40923 Sgt MacKinnon, Douglas Malcolm Aged 20, Son of John Malcolm and Gertrude Caroline MacKinnon, of Rangiriri, Auckland, New Zealand.