Royal Artillery observers attached to aircrews

a chap here

Lieutenant ARTHUR DONALD BURNESS

129290, Royal Artillery
attd. 661 A.O.P. Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 24
on 06 December 1943
Son of James Frederick William Burness and of Winifred Elizabeth Burness, of East Lavant, Sussex. His brother, Michael Frederick, also died on service.
Remembered with honour
DENHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: BUTTERWORTH, HAROLD MACRAE
Initials: H M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 11/04/1942
Service No: 179138
Additional information: Son of Harold McAvoy Butterworth and Margaret E. Macrae Butterworth, of Inverness.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 19. F. 3.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY


10-11 Apr 1942

214 Sqn Wellington IC HF856 BU- Op: Essen

P/O J W Murray +
F/S H A Neal RCAF +
Sgt C W Penny +
Sgt F Bonser +
Sgt D Smith +
Capt H M Butterworth RA +

T/o 2250 Stradishall. Crashed at Gelsenkirchen-Hullen, where the crew were buried on 15 April. Since 1945, their remains have been taken to the Reichwald Forest War Cemetery.
BCL 1942 Volume 3 W R Chorley

I Found Harry

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: FENWICK, THOMAS EDWARD
Initials: T E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 154 H.A.A. Regt.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 07/07/1943
Service No: 261757
Additional information: Son of Thomas Surtees Fenwick and Elizabeth Ann Fenwick, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; husband of Catherine Irving Fenwick, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot G. New portion. Grave 18.
Cemetery: STAFFORD CEMETERY

6-7 Jul 1943

30 OTU Wellington X HE238 -U Training

F/O A Beare +
Sgt G D Barker +
Sgt J I Middleton +
Sgt J E Ratcliffe +
Sgt V C Cummins RCAF +
2Lt T E Fenwick RA +

T/o 2340 Hixon tasked for a bullseye. Emerged from cloud, in a steep dive and failed to pull out nefore hitting the ground, 0344, at Hanging Wicket, some 1 to 2 miles E of the airfield and in the area of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire. Three , the pilot, Sgt Middleton (whose parents address is given as Calcutta, Begal) and 2Lt Fenwick of 154 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regimant, Royal Artillery, attached, were buried in Stafford Cemetery, while Sgt Cummins RCAF rests in Chester (Blacon) Cemetery. The others were claimed by there next of kin.
BCL OTU's 1940-1947 Volume 7 W R Chorley

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: MURRAY, LOUIS BINGHAM
Initials: L B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 120 H.A.A. Regt.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 26/02/1942
Service No: 194495
Additional information: Son of George Bingham Murray and Rachel Margaret Murray, of Whitefield. B.A. (Oxon.).
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. S. Grave 11.
Cemetery: STRETFORD CEMETERY

BCL 1942 Volume 3 W R Chorley[/QUOTE]

 

A bit earlier than the dates here but it may be a pointer: AIR 14/1224

Or this one: AIR 14/1223

There is the recent but rare anti-aircraft volume of the RA history by Routledge - I wonder if that mentions anything?

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: NOEL, JOHN CECIL
Initials: J C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 15 Sqdn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 13/04/1942
Service No: 97866
Additional information: Son of Gerard Cecil and Madeleine Edith Noel; husband of Nancy Margaret Noel, of Victoria, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2. Column 2.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

13-14 Apr 1942

15 Sqn Stirling I W7519 LS-O Op: Gardening

P/O R V N McKay RNZAF +
F/S R H Higgins RNZAF +
Sgt N Grimoldby +
Sgt P L N Trehearn +
F/L H N Ross +
Sgt K H Sutton +
Sgt K O'Connelley +

T/o 2130 Wyton to lay mines off Wangerooge, shot down over the North Sea by a night-fighter from II./NG2. The airmen are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, while Capt Noel's name appears on Panel 2, Column 2, of the Brookwood Memorial.

BCL 1942 Volume 3 W R Chorley

 

Remembered Bushey,Herts
Captain ROWLAND HENRY CORN WOODMAN

200485, Royal Artillery
attd. 654 A.O.P. Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died age 25
on 07 May 1946
Son of George Robert and Edith Mary Woodman, of Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire.
Remembered with honour
UDINE WAR CEMETERY

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: ROBERTS, PHILIP ANDREW
Initials: P A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 80 Searchlight Regt.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 15/05/1943
Service No: 158707
Additional information: Son of James Bowden Roberts and Louisa Roberts; husband of Olga Mary Roberts, of Ashford, Middlesex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: North of church.
Cemetery: PENSAX (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD


15 May 1943

30 OTU Wellington X HE468 Training

F/O J H G Watson
Sgt G A Cure
P/O E G Farrow
Sgt T J Campbell
F/S D P Boyle RAAF
Sgt J Hedge
Lt P A Roberts

T/o Hixon similarly tasked. Returned to base only to dive and crash 0357 out of control at Mountford Farm, Salt Heath. F/O Watson rests in Kimblesworth (SS Philip and James) Churchyard, Sgt Cure was taken to Birmingham (Hansworth) Cemetery, P/O George rests at Foulsham (Holly Innocents) Churchyard, Sgt Campbell is buried in Kensal Green (St. Mary's) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hammersmith, F/S Boyle's funeral was likely arranged by relatives his grave is in St. Helens Cemetery, Sgt Hedge lies in Edingthorpe (All Saints) Churchyard, Bacton, while their army passenger, Lt Roberts of 80 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery, is interred at Pensax (St. James) Churchyard.

(Similary tasked as Wellington III BK139 of 30 OTU which was also lost the same night on a night navigation sortie.)

BCL OTU's 1940-1947 Volume 7 W R Chorley

Accident report held at National Archives of Australia attached below.

 

There's a 1934 artillery training manual on sale at an auction site here in New Zealand. Given that it is an RAF manual, it might give some insight.

If you are interested, take a look at
Artillery Training 1934 for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand

 

Name: WYN GRIFFITH, JOHN FRIMSTON
Initials: J F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 7 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 28/03/1942
Service No: 170143
Additional information: Son of Llewelyn Wyn Griffith and Winifred Elizabeth Wyn Griffith, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 4A. G. 4-7.
Cemetery: HAMBURG CEMETERY

28-29 Mar 1942

7 Sqn Stirling I W7466 MG-B Op: Lubeck

P/O M R R Green RAAF +
Sgt C W Starrett RCAF +
Sgt J F Grimmett +
P/O J MacL Murdock RCAF +
Sgt E G Tapner +
Sgt D I Dunn +
Capt J F Wyn Griffith RA +

T/o 1940 Oakington. Crashed at Gnutz, 12 km NW of Neumunster, where all were initially buried. Since the ending of hostilities, their remains have been taken to Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf. Capt Wyn Griffith was a Royal Artillery officer attached to 7 Sqn.
BCL 1942 Volume 3 W R Chorley

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: NOEL, JOHN CECIL
Initials: J C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 15 Sqdn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 13/04/1942
Service No: 97866
Additional information: Son of Gerard Cecil and Madeleine Edith Noel; husband of Nancy Margaret Noel, of Victoria, London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 2. Column 2.
Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL

BCL 1942 Volume 3 W R Chorley

 

Thanks for posting this info Rob!

 

Remembered Harpenden Herts

Captain ALBERT WHITE CHESHIRE

222097, Royal Artillery
attd. 656 A.O.P. Sqdn, Royal Air Force
who died age 24
on 29 November 1944
Son of Francis Moreton Cheshire and Fanny Margaret Cheshire, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Remembered with honour
KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY

 

Remembered Harpenden Herts
Captain RUPERT FREDERICK CANTON

226479, 655 Air Observation Post Sqn., Royal Artillery
who died age 35
on 17 July 1945
Son of Sydney and Janet Canton; husband of Olive Canton, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Remembered with honour
ROME WAR CEMETERY

 

Apologies if it's been said, but the RA AOP casualties weren't just observers, they were the aircrew. AOP sqns were maintained by the RAF but the planes were piloted by Gunner officers.

 

I was thinking that as well,

I'll open a seperate thread for AOP casualties. Would it be possible if one of the Mods could move the relevant AOP guys from here to that when I've done it.

Many thanks in advance.

 

Me too. Might be a large number..

 

Me too. Might be a large number..

76.

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: ROBERTS, PHILIP ANDREW
Initials: P A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 80 Searchlight Regt.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 15/05/1943
Service No: 158707
Additional information: Son of James Bowden Roberts and Louisa Roberts; husband of Olga Mary Roberts, of Ashford, Middlesex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: North of church.
Cemetery: PENSAX (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD


(Similary tasked as Wellington III BK139 of 30 OTU which was also lost the same night on a night navigation sortie.)

Lieutenant PHILIP ANDREW ROBERTS

158707, 80 Searchlight Regt., Royal Artillery

BCL OTU's 1940-1947 Volume 7 W R Chorley

Accident report held at National Archives of Australia attached below.

Lieutenant PHILIP ANDREW ROBERTS

158707, 80 Searchlight Regt., Royal Artillery

 

CWGC :: Casualty Details

Name: WHITE, DONALD RODERICK
Initials: D R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 327 Bty., 31 (6th Bn. City of London Regt.) Searchlight Regt.
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 109 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 24/05/1942
Service No: 89769
Additional information: Son of John C. White and Phyllis C. White, of Purley, Surrey.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. K. 6.
Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY

24 May 1942 1483 Flt Wellington IC T2802 Training

F/O M A Coote MID +
Sgt R S Holden +
F/S J G Y Boyle MID +
F/S A Adderly DFM +
LAC A W Hughes +
AC1 W G Boyce +
AC1 J Capp +
F/S B V Long ATC +
Capt D R White RA +

T/o Newmarket for fighter affiliation training using cine camera gun, the crew comprising of pilot, wireless operator (attached from 138 Squadron), wireless operator air gunner, an air gunner, three ground staff, an Air Training Corps cadet and an army artillery expert who was attached to 109 Squadron. At around 1600, the Wellington's main spar assembly failed outboard of the starboard engine. With a large portion of its wing missing, the bomber spun in near Stanton some 6 miles NE of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Three were buried in Newmarket Cemetery, while Capt White was taken to Brookwood Military Cemetery. The others were claimed by their next of kin. F/S Adderly had flown a tour of operations with 115 Squadron; his DFM had been published on 2 September 1941. It is also noted that F/S Boyle's third Christian name was Ypres.
BCL Volume 8 Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units 1939-1947 W R Chorley