I am trying to find any additional information about my Uncle - George Robert Bruce. According to CWGC he was a Pilot in 115 Squadron and died on 24/11/1941, but otherwise we know very little about his War Service. His brother, (my Father, who was only 4 when George died) knows he flew a Wellington, predominantly with a crew of Canadians, but apart from that we have very little other information. We believe the day he died he was on a training flight, although the details are sketchy. We aren't sure where he was based, although its thought to be somewhere in East Anglia. Any further information that helps me find out more about Uncle George would be greatly appreciated. Regards Gareth Bruce
24 November 1941. 115 Squadron Wellington IC Z8863 KO-G Op: Training. Crew. Sgt. G R. Bruce + Sgt. P M. Taylor + Sgt. H N. O'Shea + Sgt. P G. Crosbie + Sgt. W M. Evans + Sgt. E A. Lawrence + Sgt. J. Dix + Cpl. J C. Fox + AC2. G S. Wakefield + Crashed 2 miles NW of March, Cambridgeshire, following a low-flying accident during which the Wellington collided with a line of railway trucks on the March to Spalding line. In addition to the normal crew, three members of the ground staff had joined the flight for air experience flying. Bomber Command Losses Volume 2. W R. Chorley. 115 Squadron were reformed on 15 June 1939 from 'B' Flight of No.38 Squadron and at the time of the above incident were based at Marham. Regads Peter.
Royal Air Force Personnel Management Agency (PMA) Obtaining service records for those who served in the Royal Air Force during world war 2 is more or less straightforward, but Innsworth will only divulge service information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain permission from the person about whom they are enquiring or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. In some cases the PMA make a charge of £30.00 for any information they provide. Except to the person to which it refers, or the widow or widower of that person. To obtain service records you will need to write to: PMA(Sec)1b(RAF) Room 5, Building 248A, RAF Personnel Management Agency Raf Innsworth Gloucester GL3 1EZ The PMA do not have a website or contact telephone number and all correspondence must be forwarded by letter. TIPS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR RECORDS: 1. If you know the service number of the person then quote it in your correspondence. 2. Give the Full name of the person, with the dates served in the RAF if known. 3. Give your relationship to the person in regard to the records you are applying for (you may have to send proof of your relationship). 4. Send a copy of the death certificate of the person (if you have one, along with copies of any relevant papers such as release certificate etc. Do not send the actual documents. A photocopy is sufficient. 5. If applying on behalf of the widow or widower of that person then send copies as above plus a copy of the marriage certificate. Be patient as it can take up to 6 weeks or more to receive personnel records. __________________
The accident report for this crash has now been transferred to The National Archives under ref AIR 81/10481 Sergeant G R Bruce, Sergeant P M Taylor, Sergeant H N O'Shea, Sergeant W M Evans,... | The National Archives The AM1180, Aircraft Accident Card, is available from the RAF Air Historical Branch.
Sgt G. Bruce, posted to 115sqdn on 30th July 41, flew as 2nd pilot to a Sgt Thompson for 4 ops to..... Essen, 12th Aug. Osnabruck, 14th Aug. Brest, 3rd Sept. Berlin, 7th Sept. Then took over Thompson's crew as captain and flew following ops........ Le Havre, 16th Sept. Calais docks, 29th Sept. Nuremburg, could not find primary target so bombed Mannheim, 14th Oct. Duisburg, 16th Oct. Kiel, 23rd Oct. Ostend, 7th Nov. Kiel, 15th Nov. No mention of the accident recorded anywhere in 115sqdn ORB.
Is this not a 115 Squadron website? https://115squadron-raf.be/crews/Wellington Mk IC - Z8863 - KO-G.html Friends of the Royal Air Force 115 Squadron Hmm, seems to be your site, so just going round in a circle.... sorry
Gareth, The fact that the accident is not mentioned is'nt new to me, i have noticed in several ORB's in my collection that during the early years of the war, even aircraft/crew losses during ops have not been mentioned, the compiler of the record books must have had their own reasons for omitting them, who knows ?
I think the reason may be to do with the reason for the crash as given in the AM1180: "“Flew into railway embankment at estimated speed of 160-200mph and hit goods truck on line. Unauthorised low flying and disobedience of orders. Passengers (grnd crew) carried but not authorised”. The RAF also had to pay compensation for the rail trucks which were destroyed or damaged. Ref The National Archives AN 2/413 Privately owned requisitioned wagons; destruction of wagons at Whitemoor Hump on 24... | The National Archives
