WW2 Casualties of the RAF, any further information?

GILBERT, ROBERT CECIL. Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr. ). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; 49 Sqdn. Age at Death; 22. Date of Death: 07-03-1945. Service No: 1900007.


7-8 March 1945.

49 Squadron.
Lancaster III PB537 EA-X
Op. Harburg.

Crew.
F/O. R W G. Stark +
Sgt. J F. Brennan. pow.
W/O. J C. Yeoman RAAF. pow.
W/O. R. McP Bairnsfather RAAF +
F/S. A T J. Lovett RAAF. +
Sgt. R C. Gilbert +
Sgt. J P. Dixon pow.

Took off 1745 hrs Fulbeck to bomb oil facilities. Believed down 2215 hrs at Sandbostel, 9 km SSW from the centre of Bremervorde. Those who died now rest in Becklingen War Cemetery, having been brought here from Sandbostel. Sgt. Gilbert came from Arklow, Co. Wicklow in the Irish Republic.

Bomber Command Losses. Vol.6. W R. Chorley.

Just a note to this one - F/O Stark (Pilot) was an Australian in the RAAF.

Cheers

Geoff

 

A Picture of the crew Roll of Honour It Was their 17th bombing raid. I have the navigation records. The pilot Stark was the only person named but i suspect all pictured above flew together from their first raid on 16 nov 1944. My father was John Yeoman. He died in 1983. Craig

 

A Picture of the crew Roll of Honour It Was their 17th bombing raid. I have the navigation records. The pilot Stark was the only person named but i suspect all pictured above flew together from their first raid on 16 nov 1944. My father was John Yeoman. He died in 1983. Craig

Hi Craig,

Did your father return to Australia?

I will note that when I am doing my bio's on the crew.


Cheers

Geoff (from Melbourne)

 

Yes he returned to Melbourne, lived in Nth Balwyn, worked for the Melbourne City Council as a Traffic Engineer. He Died in 1983 of a heart attack at age 61. Married with two children. A late photo can be found on this site Victorian Stunt just follow the links to aerobatics/Yeoman Trophy. Put a few pounds on since the war. He always used to tell us of the night he was shot down and wandering around Germany for 3 days before coming across a bridge at night and thinking he could sneek across without the Germans noticing. He told us he had taken his boots off to be quiet. He only got halfway across. He was taken POW and released by the US third army on 29th April 1945. Returned to UK by RAF transport 12 May. Regards Craig

 

Thanks for that Craig. I lived in Ivanhoe until I was married but have moved out further north.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Sgt GILVARY is mentioned several times in Kevin Wilson book Bomber Boys -The RAF Offensive of 1943 . He makes use of his diary !

Mark

 

Not what you wanted but I am looking for information on F/O J.S.Bunbury, his service and any relatives.

 

[FONT=&quot] Hi[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
re [/FONT][FONT=&quot]MICHAEL AIDAN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] McGilliga[/FONT][FONT=&quot]n[/FONT][FONT=&quot].
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I have photos of Mike if you are interested[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cheers Motherbird[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[FONT=&quot] Hi[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
re [/FONT][FONT=&quot]MICHAEL AIDAN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] McGilliga[/FONT][FONT=&quot]n[/FONT][FONT=&quot].
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I have photos of Mike if you are interested[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Cheers Motherbird[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

Hi Motherbird,

Welcome to the forum.

Photos would be fantastic.

Tom may get the notification.


Cheers

Geoff

 

I know this is an old thread but saw my fathers name mentioned....
Quote:
BOWYER, CLIFFORD CHARLES JOHN. Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot).
Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; 15 Sqdn. Age at Death; 21. Date of Death: 14-05-1943. Service No: 118812.


13-14 May 1943

15 Squadron.
Stirling III BK704 LS-Z.
Op. Bochum.

Crew.
S/L. C C J. Bowyer +
P/O. D C. Smith. pow.
Sgt. H C. Cooper. pow.
F/O. W G M. Olivier. RCAF. pow.
Sgt. J B. Craggs. pow.
Sgt. T P. Hanrahn. pow.
Sgt. E E. Warner. RCAF. pow.
Sgt. C E. Keik. pow.


Took off 0014 hrs Mildenhall. Coned at 11,000 feet and hit by flak. Exploded and crashed 0130 hrs at Burlo 6 km NNE of Bocholt, where S/L. Bower was buried on 17 May. his grave is now in the Reichwald Forest Cemetery. At 21 he was one of the youngest Squadron Leader pilots killed on bomber operations in 1943.

Bomber Command Losses. Vol.4 W R. Chorley.
__________________

My father Sgt. Charles Edward Keik was the rear gunner in this Stirling. LS-Z, serial BK704. He was the last one to get out of the plane - S/L Cliff Bowyer told all the crew to bale out and sadly went down with the plane. All surviving crew members were POW's. My father retired from the RAF in 1973 and retired to New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. A Dutch family (Peter & Wim Rhebergen) from towns on the German border (Winterswjk & Aalten) have researched and catalogued information on many WW2 aircraft that came down nearby and published a book with a Chapter covering each incident. The amount of detail in each chapter varies for each crashed aircraft, after contacting as many surviving crew as possible. They had traced and contacted my father in NZ who gave them some additional details. In May 1984 when he came back to UK on a family visit we visited the Dutch family who took us to the crash site, the farm (1Km away) where my father was captured and the war grave of Cliff Bowyer. They told me that they had contacted several of the crew and Cliff Bowyer's two sisters in Ireland, during research for their book. I was born in September 1943, 4 months after the plane was shot down. But for the heroism of Cliff Bowyer in staying with the aircraft until all the crew had safely baled out, I may never have known my father ! Peter Keik

 

Peter welcome to the forum

please post any further info/photographs you have if you can
forum members will be most interested
regards
Clive

 

Great to know that their efforts are very much appreciated 70 years later.

Cheers

Geoff

 

BEHAN, WILLIAM JOHN THOMAS was I believe my Uncle. He was the son of William and Evelyn of Greystones, Co. Wicklow. His father (my Grandfather) also William Behan, served in various military units - was born on July 13th 1893 in Balydonagh, Co. Wicklow and died in Dublin on Nov 30th 1963.

The William J T Behan you are asking about was one of six children - I have heard his name mentioned many times over the years within the family, and fragmented parts of his service on the HMS Illustrious, gone but has never been forgotten RIP Uncle Billy

 

I am trying to find out information on how my uncle died in Singapore in 1945 . I am sadly no longer able to ask my late father what knowledge he had about his death, but I have recently become interested in finding out what I can about the circumstances of his death and what role he or his regiment performed at the time of his capture by the Japanese.
I would be grateful for any help or suggestions where I can research this.
His name was John Richard Southwell ? He was an aircraft man 1st class.
His regiment was the royal air force volunteer reserve
His service number was 1292960 and died on 3/5/1945 and is buried in Kanji cemetery in Singapore.

Thanks in advance of any help

Richard

 

Hello Richard, welcome to the forum. I can't help with the circumstances of your uncles death but can offer the following details......

John Richard Southwell 1292960 - 151 MU - Held Java, Singapore, Borneo (Jesselton, Sandakan) Died probably Sandakan 3 May 1945.

Source - ' Unsung Heroes of the Royal Air Force' - L & P Stubbs

 

Peter, many thanks for taking the time to reply. I will look at the source you have mentioned.

Kind regards

Richard

 

I am researching the following men who have links to County Wicklow. Would anyone have information on how they died or what aircraft they were flying please? I have the data from the CWGC and would love to add a little bit more to these brave men.
Any help with this project would be most appreciated.

BEHAN, WILLIAM JOHN THOMAS, Rank: Corporal. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit; (serving in H. M. S. Illustrious). Age at Death; 25. Date of Death: 10-01-1941. Service No: 534795.

BOWYER, CLIFFORD CHARLES JOHN. Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot).
Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; 15 Sqdn. Age at Death; 21. Date of Death: 14-05-1943. Service No: 118812.

CLARKE, CIARAN ANTHONY. Rank: Leading Aircraftman. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age at Death; 33. Date of Death: 18-11-1941
.
COCHRANE, WILLIAM LINDLEY BLOOMER. Rank: Pilot Officer. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age at Death; 21. Date of Death: 02-11-1940. Service No: 74596.

DOYLE, DOUGLAS ROBERT. Rank: Pilot Officer (Nav. ). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Date of Death: 19-04-1944. Service No: 154086.

GALLAGHER, MAURICE PATRICK. Rank: Sergeant. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit; 50 Sqdn. Age at Death; 20. Date of Death: 17-08-1942. Service No: 574930.

GILBERT, ROBERT CECIL. Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr. ). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; 49 Sqdn. Age at Death; 22. Date of Death: 07-03-1945. Service No: 1900007.

GILVARY, JOHN KEVIN. Rank: Sergeant. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; Sqdn. 419 (R. C. A. F. ). Age at Death; 20. Date of Death: 18-08-1943. Service No: 1512418.

GRIFFIN, ROBERT GRATTAN GURNEY. Rank: Sergeant (W. Op. -Air Gnr. ). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit; 103 Sqdn. Age at Death; 21. Date of Death: 05-08-1941.

GRIFFITH, WALTER BERRY BARCLAY HARRY. Rank: Flight Lieutenant. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Date of Death: 24-09-1942.

JACKSON, WALTER THOMAS. Rank: Warrant Officer. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Age at Death: 28 Date of Death: 19-07-1947 Service No: 545756.

KAVANAGH, ANNESLEY RICHARD. Rank: Aircraftman 2nd Class. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age at Death, 29. Date of Death: 25-01-1944. Service No: 1795814.

McGILLIGAN, MICHAEL AIDAN. Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit; 16 Sqdn. Age at Death; 25. Date of Death: 08-06-1944.

MOLE, NIGEL BROOK. Rank: Flight Lieutenant. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit; 269 Sqdn. Age at Death; 24. Date of Death: 24-10-1940. Service No: 37779.

MORRISON, DONALD DEREK. Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Age at Death; 22. Date of Death: 25-01-1946. Service No: 153364.

MURPHY, COLMAN O'SHAUGHNESSY. Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit; 24 Sqdn. Age at Death; 27. Date of Death: 17-06-1940. Service No: 39892.

O'ROURKE, PATRICK JERRY. Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class Regiment-Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age at Death, 30. Date of Death: 05-11-1945 Service No: 1254281.

PETERS, GEORGE CHARLES BOYCE. Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force. Unit: 79 Sqdn. Age at Death: 27. Date of Death: 29-09-1940.

PHILP, RICHARD THOMAS. Rank: Sergeant (W. Op. -Air Gnr. ). Regiment-Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit: 102 Sqdn. Age at Death, 20. Date of Death: 15-08-1941.

SCOTT, HENRY DONALD. Rank: Warrant Officer (Pilot). Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit: 19 Sqdn. Age at Death, 23. Date of Death: 18-08-1944.

STIVEN, ROBERT. Rank: Squadron Leader. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age at Death, 46. Date of Death: 01-12-1944. Service No: 17151

WELDON, FABER ERNEST FREDERICK. Rank: Pilot Officer. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Unit: 57 Sqdn. date of Death, 05-04-1943.

WHISTON, JAMES CHRISTOPHER. Rank: Aircraftman 2nd Class. Regiment or Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age at Death, 28. Date of Death: 24-02-1943.

Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer me.
regards.
Tom.
Dear Tom;

Jerry O'Rourke was my grandfather. Do you still need more information on him or have you managed to find it already?

Tara

O'ROURKE, PATRICK JERRY. Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class Regiment-Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age at Death, 30. Date of Death: 05-11-1945 Service No: 1254281.

 

Hello all.
I found this forum whilst researching the Greystones Scout Pipe Band 1928-1940. Two of the Greystones scouts are on your list: Clifford Bowyer and Harry Scott so they would have known each other. Harry was a medical student at Trinity College Dublin and the son of Greystones Chemist Ernest Scott. A third Greystones scout Geoffrey Ronald(Ronnie) Gethings also lost his life when his whitley bomber crashed at St. Eval in Cornwall on 30th July 1942. He had also been a medical student at Trinity. Ronnie's two brothers Victor and Sidney also served in ground roles in the RAF and survived the war. They had both been bagpipers in the scout band.
They were all so young I hope the book I am writing about the Greystones scouts will help to keep their memory alive.

 

Hi all,

Long time since this thread was started, but I happen to have in my possession a scanned copy of a portrait of Douglas Robert Doyle drawn by my late Grandfather. I also have 14 others if these would be of interest to anyone.



List of names for those I have can be found here. Definitely interested in reuniting people with these portraits.

Georgia

 

Hi Georgia,

Would love to see the rest posted here if you have the time. The forum is very strong in the Air Force area and would surely create some interest mixed up with a bit of research. I did look at the photos on the link at RootsWeb and they are marvellous.

The crew photos are also very good quality.

Cheers

Geoff