RAF casualties in Lincolnshire - anyone know them?

I certainly think that Binbrook connection needs to be looked at further.

P

The parish enjoyed a close relationship for fifty years with RAF Binbrook. The station closed in 1989 and a window dedicated to the close relationship between parish and the RAF was given in that year. It is an interesting stained glass window designed and made by the Lincoln artist Glenn Carter.
The church contains other memorials to the RAF and several military graves can be seen in the churchyard.

 

One of the first aircraft to be lost from Binbrook was Fairey Battle L5568. On July 31, 1940, it was one of six sent on what proved to be an abortive raid on German shipping targets. On its way back, the Battle was attacked by British fighters near Marblethorp. The crew of three were killed. These were dangerous days for Britain, days when to shoot first and ask questions later was the unfortunate consequence of constant enemy attacks. The crew of three were interred in Binbrook's churchyard, sadly the first of many.


SOURCE : BINBROOK

 

Here's the church.
Takes a second or two to load.


binbrook airfield - Google Maps

 

I cannot see St Mary's burials being connected with the loss of the Oxford.No 12 Squadron arrived with its Battles at Binbrook in the summer of 1940 on the fall of France.It then converted to Wellingtons by 1942 and would have Lancasters by 1943 and by then its operating base would be at RAF Wickenby.

Away at the moment but will have a further look when I can but we can exclude a No 12 Squadron connection with South Kelsey.Also,Binbrook was never used for flying training.

 

One of the first aircraft to be lost from Binbrook was Fairey Battle L5568. On July 31, 1940, it was one of six sent on what proved to be an abortive raid on German shipping targets. On its way back, the Battle was attacked by British fighters near Marblethorp. The crew of three were killed. These were dangerous days for Britain, days when to shoot first and ask questions later was the unfortunate consequence of constant enemy attacks. The crew of three were interred in Binbrook's churchyard, sadly the first of many.




31 July/1 August 1941

12 Squadron
Battle I L5568 OH-
Op. Invasion Ports

F/O. B E. Moss +
CWGC :: Casualty Results

Sgt. B C. Long +
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Sgt. T J. Radley
CWGC :: Casualty Details


Took off Binbrook but was intercepted and shot down by an Allied night-fighter, crashing into the sea off Skegness, Lincolnshire.

BCL Vol.1 - Chorley

 

12 Squadron Binbrook losses 26/27 January 1942


Wellington II W5585 PH-D
Op. Hannover.

Sgt. J McKnight inj
Sgt. A G. Walker +
F/S. J A. Fleming RNZAF +
Sgt. H E. Godson +
Sgt. H F. Scholes inj
Sgt. A H. Coupe +


Took off 1815 hrs Binbrook but as the Wellington gained speed, part of the bomb load fell out and exploded. Four aircraft in the immediate vicinity were damaged by the blast.

BCL Vol.3 - Chorley

 

A possible

Name: Alan B Goff
Death Registration Month/Year: 1942
Age at death (estimated): 22
Registration district: Caistor
Inferred County: Lincolnshire

Name: GOFF, ALAN FRANK
Initials: A F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 107 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 10/11/1942
Service No: 1176030
Additional information: Son of Frank and Eva Goff, of Earlham, Norwich.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 84.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

10 November 1942

107 Squadron
Boston III Z2164 OM-
Op. le Havre

Took off 1320 hrs Great Missingham. Collided with another Boston in the target area and both aircraft plunged into the sea

BCL Vol.3 - Chorley

 

The names provided are the only RAF personel to have their deaths registered in the caistor district in 1942. They're where three serving soldiers but I discounted them. Maybe a different sub district.

 

Just looked at Kirton Lindsay and it is in the Brigg registration district, so will look when I get a chance.

 

Name: Kenneth T J Adams
Death: North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England
Death: 1942

Name: ADAMS, KENNETH THOMAS JOHN
Initials: K T J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Nav./Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 9 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 08/11/1942
Service No: 657341
Additional information: Son of George and Elizabeth Adams; husband of Olive Adams, of Oakdale. Blackwood.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Row D. Grave 33.
Cemetery: PENMAEN (ST. DAVID'S) CHURCHYARD

Name: Peter Allen
Death: Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
Death: 1942

Name: ALLEN, PETER
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 20/08/1942
Service No: 1333614
Additional information: Son of Samuel Walter and Gertrude Louisa Allen, of Lowestoft.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. J. Grave 203.
Cemetery: LOWESTOFT (KIRKLEY) CEMETERY

 

Name: Kenneth T J Adams
Death: North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England
Death: 1942

Name: ADAMS, KENNETH THOMAS JOHN
Initials: K T J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Nav./Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 9 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 08/11/1942
Service No: 657341
Additional information: Son of George and Elizabeth Adams; husband of Olive Adams, of Oakdale. Blackwood.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Row D. Grave 33.
Cemetery: PENMAEN (ST. DAVID'S) CHURCHYARD

7-8 November 1942
9 Squadron
Lancaster I R5916 WS-R
Op. Genova

Took off 1746 hrs Waddington. On return to base and while preparing to land, collided with 9 Squadron Lancaster I, W4265 WS-L

BCL Vol.3 - Chorley

 

Peter, this must be the right aircraft. What are the chances of two identical incidents exactly a year apart? I wasn't aware of the crash at Howsham, but this hamlet is smaller than South Kelsey and 5 miles away, so not an obvious point of reference. Children from Howsham attend my son's school, so he will include this incident in the project.

However, if our Home Guard friend got the year wrong, he may be correct about the date. A search for the 31st October 1943 shows 10 RAF casualties, only one of whom is buried in the UK - Aircraftman 2nd Class Vernon Cocker. This day was also a Sunday. The 30th was a Saturday, which matches the story we were told, and shows 6 RAF casualties buried in the UK. Two are aircraftmen, who I'm guessing did not normally fly, and one is a Flight Sergeant from 62 Squadron (based in the Far East at the time). The other three were:
Sergeant F E Carr
Flying Officer (Pilot) K J Nixon
Sergeant (Nav) S A Benito
Benito is buried in Merthyr Tydfil, which partially fits with the comment that 'they were Welsh'
The year must be correct, and I'm inclined to believe that the 30th was the correct date. Our friend matched the correct day of the week, and at the weekend would have been at home, which was less than a hundred yards from the crash site. He helped to recover the bodies, presumably before staff from the nearest RAF base arrived.
However, I'm wary taking for granted things which seem to fit so neatly. The Oxford could have a crew of three, but what if there was just a pilot and navigator that day? What if a member of the ground crew was taken up for the ride? I have found little online about 15 PAFU, except that it was based at Greenham Common until September 1943.
Later this year it will be the 65th anniversary of the crash, and it would be nice to commemorate the men who died in the village. There is a lot of interest in local history, so I'm sure this story deserves a wider audience. I'm new to this area of research, and would value opinions as to how conclusive the evidence is, and whether there is any way of confirming the names beyond reasonable doubt.
Thanks again for everyone's input. It has made me realise that in a few years time there will be no-one in this area who remembers the war, and without these eyewitness accounts some of the details will be lost forever.

Frank Emerson Carr was certainly killed in Lincs, but couldnot find anything on nixon or benito

Name: Frank E Carr
Death Registration Month/Year: 1943
Age at death (estimated): 34
Registration district: Newark
Inferred County: Lincolnshire

Two men killed in Lincs on the 31/10/42, bith with welsh links

Name: Donald Francis
Death Registration Month/Year: 1942
Age at death (estimated): 22
Registration district: Horncastle
Inferred County: Lincolnshire

Name: FRANCIS, DONALD
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 97 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 31/10/1942
Service No: 1315446
Additional information: Son of Jonas and Hilda Lilian Francis, of Ely, Cardiff.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. I. Grave 338.
Cemetery: CARDIFF WESTERN CEMETERY

Name: Ieuan H Williams
Death Registration Month/Year: 1942
Age at death (estimated): 21
Registration district: Caistor
Inferred County: Lincolnshire

Name: WILLIAMS, IENAN HEDDWYN
Initials: I H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 31/10/1942
Service No: 1317507
Additional information: Son of Ben and Harriet Ann Williams, of Godre'r Graig.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 314.
Cemetery: GODRE'R GRAIG INDEPENDENT CHAPEL CEMETERY

 

In Brigg Cemetery, there are casualties relating to two Oxford aircraft belonging to No 15 (Pilot) AFU which crashed on the same date of 13 October 1942.

Both crashed north of the Humber,one north of Selby and the other south of York.I would say that at this time the unit was using the Kirmington airfield before the arrival of a Bomber Command unit and hence Brigg Cemetery (very close to RAF Kirmington) was being used by No 15 (Pilot ) AFU.

Not a trace of the date/Oxford in question.

 

Hi, I've only just found this site, hence being so late ( 2years ) in replying to the earlier question on this thread.

The Hampden crash mentioned from Squadron 61, on March 1st 1941 was the plane in which my Uncle Henry (Harry) Windle was KIA. He was the observer and the crash followed a raid on Cologne. I knew that he had been KIA, but no other details, so belated thanks to those who dug out this information

 

HI

i am the nephew of Sgt K T J Adams who is mentioned in this quote. I have only just located the site and I am trying to find as much detail of the crash and how to obtain service records etc, can anyone help please

 

Hello Steve, welcome to the forum.


Although its quite easy to obtain RAF service records it might take some time, you need to follow the details below. As I say, it will take time but the result is very rewarding..


Applications for RAF personnel service records from family members and other authorized persons

RAF Disclosures Section
Room 221b
Trenchard Hall
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
LINCS
NG34 8HB

01400 261201
Ext 6711
Ext 8161/8159 (Officers)
Ext 8163/8168/8170 (Other ranks)

Obtaining service records for those who served in the Royal Air Force during world war 2 is more or less straightforward, but 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.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/23223-obtaining-raf-service-records-rules.html

 

HI

i am the nephew of Sgt K T J Adams who is mentioned in this quote. I have only just located the site and I am trying to find as much detail of the crash and how to obtain service records etc, can anyone help please

Here is the CWGC entry for Sgt Ken Adams

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4019455

His RAF Service Number 657341 indicates that he was serving in the Army pre war and transferred to the RAF. Do you know if he had a brother who was serving in the RAFR already.

655000 to 679899 660236 Jan 1939 Transfers from Army

 

Hi

Many thanks for the advice so far and my father did mention that Ken was in the army but had no details whatever.
In answer to the query about his brother, no all the remainder of the family were reserved occupation as coal miners.

Steve

 

If anyone wants details relating to a crashed plane eminating from 166 Squadron Bomber Command at Kirmington I would be happy to look it up in the definitive reference book "On Wings of War" by Jim Wright. The minimum info I will need is the date of the crash.

Ron

 

Just saw a reference in a previous post to RAF, Lincolnshire and a book by S.Finn.

By coincidence, the RAF airman I'm looking for was from an extensive Lincolnshire (later Yorkshire) family and my name is Finn too. Little things like this crop up in history all the time, don't they - isn't it great?





Just thought I'd mention it