59 Squadron honour roll update

Here is a list of the personnel I have managed to source so far. The first two sections of names have been primarily researched online from books and other sources. The section of names starting with "Three Liberators Lost" are cross referenced names from the CWGC (RAF) list given by Geoffs search engine. I have sorted them into groups according to date of death. I have assumed that these groups were crews, although it may not be the case. If and where there is less names than a complete crew, I have further assumed that some men where not RAF or survived.

F/Lt Knowles – (pilot) Liberator ‘D’
W/C CMM Grece – (pilot) W/C in 1942
F/Lt Joseph Collins - radar officer RAAF
F/Lt Wes G Loney – (pilot) Liberator ‘L’ & ‘C’ sunk u-470
P/O WJ Thomas – (pilot) Liberator ‘S’
F/O N Barson – (pilot) RAAF Fort FL463 RAF/D – att on u-332
W/C Geoffrey CC Bartlett, AFC – also W/C 224 Sqdn
F/Sgt Harry Hunt -later F/O (pilot): Canadian (Vanc) MIA
P/O P Garrard – (pilot) 44191 died 25/03/1942
F/sgt AR Playford – (p) RAAF 420627 – Lib ‘L’ sunk u-990
P/O Hitch – (pilot) 18/5/40 plane was att by a hurricane.
P/O Dick Luckwell – (pilot) Hudson ‘H’ (1941)
Nav Roddy Wecker – RAAF (Luckwell crew)
Sgt WAG Grayson – RAAF (Luckwell crew)
Sgt WAG Tubby Gamble – (Luckwell crew)
F/Lt Collie – (pilot) possible P/O “Collier”
S/Ldr Phil Evans – (pilot) S/Ldr 1942
F/Lt HR Longmuir – Nav-Bomb RAAF
Reg Geary - groundcrew
Ron Godfrey – groundcrew
S/Ldr Fyfe – Sqdn Ldr in Oct 1939 – France.
W/C JAC Stratton – W/C in July 1941
P/O Sanders – (pilot)
P/O Alec McCurdy – (pilot)
Air/Mar Sir John Curtiss KBE– S/Ldr sept 1943 then C/O
W/C Gilchrist – W/C in 1945
F/Lt TS Heron – (pilot) KIA 17/05/42 - RAF 1261351
F/Lt E Allen DFC - RCAF
Sgt Don Mclean – Nav (Allen crew) RCAF
Sgt Lloyd Woods - WOP-AG (Allen crew) RCAF
Sgt Al Henry - WOP-AG (Allen crew) RCAF
Sgt George LaForme – Nav (Allen crew) RCAF
F/Lt Tommy Thomas DFC – (Allen crew)
Sgt George Fleiger – W.op.AG (Allen crew)
Sgt Bart Barton – (Allen crew)
P/O Roy Neilson – (pilot)
P/O Peter Wright – (pilot) RAAF
S/Ldr Dunkerley – S/Ldr 1942
W/C Robert H Niven DFC – (28yo) Calgary, new W/C 05/42
P/O Charlton - (pilot) RAAF

Names found in association with 59 but no further details thus far:

Rocky Livingston (P/O Pete Wrights crew)
Jack Osborne - (pilot)
Pat Peterson (Roy Neilson's crew)
WAS Hall - (pilot)
Bill Stills
Tom Cottew
F Scott Wills
Peter Masterman
John "Harry" Scarff
John Knight
Jimmy Winstanley
F/O L "Slim" Jones
P/O O'Connell


Crews KIA-MIA
W/O WJ Arnold – (pilot) RCAF (Prob all RCAF) Fort #209 MIA 23.03.43
P/O George Cojocar – RCAF MIA Fort #209 23.03.43
F/O Weatherhead - MIA Fort #209 23.03.43 NOT RAF
F/O Zapfe - MIA Fort #209 23.03.43 NOT RAF
Sgt Copping - MIA Fort #209 23.03.43 NOT RAF
Sgt Spino - MIA Fort #209 23.03.43 NOT RAF
Sgt Montgomery - MIA Fort #209 23.03.43 NOT RAF

P/O WF Lewis – (pilot) 84310 2.11.40 Blen failed to return
Sgt IC Greening – (obs. Lewis crew) MIA 2.11.40 RAF 742294
Sgt JS Peckham – (W.opAG Lewis crew) MIA 2.11.40 RAF 755635

P/O H.L.N Davis – (pilot) Blen MIA 09.08.40 RAF 72988
Sgt GH Coulton – RAF 619184 MIA 09.08.40
Sgt B.W Beaumont - MIA 09.08.40 RAF 744953

F/O G.T Palmer – (pilot) Blenheim TR-E KIA 6.5.41 RAF 39333
Sgt AD Whitson - (Palmer crew) KIA 6.5.41 RAF 746745
F/Sgt CEA DUNLOP DFM - (Palmer crew) KIA 6.5.41 RAF 746745

P/O RFW Johnson – (p) Blenheim L8793, KIA crash/l RAF 82699
Sgt Abell – (crew P/O Johnson) injured in crash/l
Sgt Andrews - (crew P/O Johnson) injured in crash/l

P/O AK Jackson – (p) Blen R3694 ShotD 17.7.40 MIA RAF 42840
Sgt RV Kingshott – (crew Jackson) MIA 17.7.40 RAF 751190
Sgt JA Hunter - (crew Jackson) found dead RAF 628333

P/O RW Ayres – (pilot) Blenheim ‘J’ survived crash/l
Sgt Webb – (crew P/O Ayres) injured in Crash/l
Sgt Roper - (crew P/O Ayres) injured in Crash/l

P/O HA Clark – (pilot) KIA Blen crash/l 14.7.40 RAF 72590
Sgt DD Morton – (clark crew) KIA 14.7.40 RAF 581239
Sgt F Clayton – (clark crew) KIA 14.7.40 RAF 581239

P/O J Rex – (pilot) Blen R3881 ‘A’ killed crash/l RAF 78982
Sgt JS Jeffrey – (crew Rex) killed in crash/l RAF 581226
Sgt JW Liddle - (crew Rex) killed in crash/l RAF 638666

F/Lt AER Fry DFC – S.Af (pilot) KIA ShotD 28.4.41 RAF 70232
P/O SG Collier – (pilot) killed ShotD 28.4.41 RAF 82663
P/O Morton - (pilot) POW ShotD 28.4.41 Survived
P/O Badland - (pilot) killed ShotD 28.4.41 RAF 86702

P/O DWB Taylor – (p) LibGR.V BZ765 F/59 – MIA RAF 116777
Sgt J Erskine – (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1097361
F/O MP Johnson – (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 128517
Sgt C Haddock – (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1129634
Sgt PS Barnett – (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1313941
Sgt AM Cowgill - (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1219841
Sgt LJ Hopkins - (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1294568
Sgt AJ Mason - (crew taylor) MIA 20.08.43 RAF 1234086

P/O GO Arscott - (Pilot) Blen killed trng. 4.5.40 RAF 41145
F/Sgt GH Barford - (obs) killed trng. 04/05/1940 RAF 560547
A2/Class Peter W Froom - (W. Op/AG) as above RAF 619761

P/O CJE Chamberlain – (pilot) Blen MIA 14/05/1940 RAF 40508
Sgt FJJ Evans – (chamb’ crew) MIA 14/05/1940 RAF 561705
A1/Class Frank Harris - (chamb’ crew) MIA 14/5/40 NOT RAF

F/Lt PA Hawks – (pilot) Blen MIA 14/05/1940 RAF 25078
Sgt GE Seldon - (Hawks crew) MIA 14/05/1940 RAF 563402
A1/Class CG Shaw - (Hawks crew) MIA 14/05/1940 RAF 623583

P/O M Murdoch – (pilot) Blen MIA 15/05/1940 NOT RAF
Sgt CA Morgan – (obs-Murdoch crew) MIA 15/5/40 RAF 523510

P/O Roy A Durie – (pilot) Blen MIA 18/5/40 RAF 42112
Sgt Robert Burns – (obs Durie crew) MIA 18/5/40 RAF 515576

P/O Clive R. Wylie – NZ (pilot) Blen KIA 16/6/40 RAF 41769
Sgt Liddiard – (crew Wylie) forced/l 19/05/1940 aban/p
AC Houlihan – (crew Wylie) injured 19/05/1940 straff

F/Sgt TA Thomas – (w.op.gun: Wylie crew) KIA 16/06/1940
F/Sgt James W Harris – (obs: Wylie crew) KIA 16/06/1940
Sgt George W Taplin – (obs) KIA 16/06/1940

F/O Francis D Bird – Ire.(pilot) Blen KIA 22/5/40 RAF 33300
F/Sgt CJW Brinn – (obs.bird.crew) ShotD.spitf RAF 563306
A2/Class GD Coles – (W.Op-AG:Bird crew) RAF 618330

P/O RE Shaw – (pilot) Blen MIA 26/05/1940 RAF 42575
Sgt Gordon L Schwind – (obs) MIA 26/05/1940 RAF 552935
A2/Class AC Brogan – (w.op-gun) MIA 26/05/1940 RAF 552071

Sgt TW McDonagh – MIA 9.5.40 – evac Dunkirk? RAF 581348
Sgt JAC Finlayson – MIA 9.5.40, evac Dunkirk? RAF 619739

P/O Stanley W Ashton – (pilot) Blen MIA 04/06/40 RAF 42476
Sgt William J Wilson – (obs: Ashton crew) MIA RAF 581485
Sgt Ronald Wilson – (w.op.gun: Ashton crew) MIA RAF 629500

Names from North Coates Roll of Honour:
Died on 02.03.1942:
P/O DH Bain – (pilot) RAAF
Sgt KJ Lauder – RAAF
Sgt DR Rytherford - RAAF
Sgt WJ Jones - RAAF

Died on 21.04.42:
P/O MG Boggon – RAF 64902
P/O JAS Ours – RCAF
Sgt N White – RAAF
Sgt JE Howell – RAF 1105503
S/Ldr JSJ Thomson – HQ 16 Group RAF 37872

Died on 28.04.42:
F/Sgt DV Thesiger – (pilot) RAF 903497
Sgt JR Hoskins – RAAF
Sgt AF Neary – NFDR
Sgt ES Normore – NFDR

Died on 11.05.42:
Sgt C Scouller – RAAF
Sgt PJ Donaghy – RAAF
Sgt KW Higgston – RAAF
Sgt KW Kermode – RAAF
P/O V Moss – (pilot) RAF 69496
Sgt EWK Baker – RCAF
Sgt L Davis – RAF 1306093
F/S SA Coombs – RAF 755478

Died on 17.05.42:
Sgt TS Heron – (pilot) mentioned above as F/lt
P/O G Mclean - RAF 108803
Sgt DC McDonald - RCAF
Sgt E MacDonald – RAF 1112372

Died on 28.05.42: dated 29th on CWGC
F/S DC Imeson – (pilot) RCAF
Sgt LV Schafer - RHODESIA
Sgt JAE Hann – RAF 1310460
SGT WJ Wilkinson – RAF 1360733

Died on 29.05.42:
W/C RH Niven DFC – (Already listed above)
P/O DJ Richards – RAAF
P/O JJ Reilby - NOT RAF
Sgt J Howarth – RAF 553931

Three Liberators Lost:
F/Lt RP Wade – KIA 19/6/44 - Lib‘A’ RAF 88398 (all crew lost)
W/O NR Langton - KIA 19/6/44 - Lib‘L’ RAF 921402 (all crew lost)
Possible RAF crew members:
F/Sgt J Anderson – (pilot) RAF 1550924
Sgt J Cook – (W.op.AG) – RAF 1384560
F/O J Cruickshank – (Nav) RAF 152578
F/O PE Dickinson – RAF 152474
Sgt TH Edwards – (Flt/Eng) RAF 631216
F/Sgt J Haines – (Nav) RAF 931471
F/Sgt CL Kershaw – (W.op/AG) RAF 1100819
F/O JA Parsons – (W.op/AG) RAF 128381
Sgt SJ Trusson – (W.op/AG) RAF 1321794
F/Sgt J Steer – (Flt/Eng) RAF 564898

P/O IB Jenkins - KIA 24/6/44 - Lib‘H’ RAF 169575 (all crew lost)
Possible RAF crew members:
Sgt WH Wilson - (Flt/Eng) RAF 1069103
W/O RRJ Revell - (Nav) RAF 564007
Sgt HG Lewis - (W.op/AG) RAF 550742
F/Sgt JF Leonard - (Nav) RAF 1551749

RAF servicemen (grouped) same D.O.D (from CWGC list):

03/12/1945
BAKER, CC 1219314 03/12/1945
BALSOM, AJ 153832 03/12/1945
BEECH, EW 153958 03/12/1945
BIRKETT, WR 1081474 03/12/1945
BOLTON, H 1188678 03/12/1945
GIBSON, WG 105294 03/12/1945
GILLINGHAM, SJ 1338852 03/12/1945
HALLIDAY, JG 78912 03/12/1945
ROWE, H 190277 03/12/1945
SLACK, LJ 125827 03/12/1945

07/07/1941
BROWN, JH 553432 07/07/1941
AITKEN, L 37492 07/07/1941
WOOD, GT 581057 07/07/1941

28/04/1941
HAZELL, AHH 747835 28/04/1941
HENDERSON, RT 942398 28/04/1941
MINGHAM, J 759032 28/04/1941
TAYLOR, JFJ 759097 28/04/1941
FREEMAN, E 751931 28/04/1941
POWELL, W 809129 28/04/1941
HULME, JJ 941305 28/04/1941

07/05/1943
SUMMERS, HJ 141753 07/05/1943
TSITSELIS, G 946761 07/05/1943
SAINTHOUSE, B 1261203 07/05/1943
POLKINGHORNE, PG 1315420 07/05/1943
CAVE, WW 86706 07/05/1943

19/08/1940
WILKINSON, WGJ 546143 19/08/1940
WHITING, WGF 581252 19/08/1940

20/09/1940
WALTERS, DA 642945 20/09/1940
WRIGHT, EE 580992 20/09/1940
PALMER, KV 42874 20/09/1940

29/05/1942
WILKINSON, WJ 1360733 29/05/1942
SCHAFER, LV 778716 29/05/1942

06/04/1941
LISHMAN, MW 81934 06/04/1941
MARTIN, AW 82720 06/04/1941
FITZPATRICK, R 809113 06/04/1941

17/01/1942
COLLINS, R 625932 17/01/1942
COOK, LE 62700 17/01/1942
MONRO, J 1006964 17/01/1942
LUNAN, HG 631284 17/01/1942
ARGENT, AC 65518 17/01/1942

18/08/1944
INSTONE, THM 1417346 18/08/1944
CHRISTIE, AW 3005923 18/08/1944

30/06/1941
WHITMORE, JN 44533 30/06/1941
TRUMAN, PA 977753 30/06/1941

16/06/1940
THOMAS, TA 625095 16/06/1940
TAPLIN, GW 580406 16/06/1940
HARRIS, JW 563138 16/06/1940

10/01/1941
SMITH, DBC 755260 10/01/1941
SMITH, PEN 973750 10/01/1941
COOK, KC 43096 10/01/1941

29/05/1941
SMALLBONE, WA 909986 29/05/1941
STURROCK, JGR 74691 29/05/1941
CONRADE, NL 963798 29/05/1941

23/11/1940
BEELAERTS VAN BLOKLAND, JCE 78859 23/11/1940
CARVIL, LS 549762 23/11/1940
WOODCOCK, JC 580991 23/11/1940

18/08/1944
INSTONE, THM 1417346 18/08/1944
LOWE, EN 1056312 18/08/1944
NEWELL, HFJ 1399435 18/08/1944
PRATT, D 1078897 18/08/1944
GRILL, GA 1607109 18/08/1944

17/10/1940
HIVES, EE 81354 17/10/1940
JONES, E 546188 17/10/1940
JONES, BD 755459 17/10/1940

29/11/1940
HOVENIER, AP 41927 29/11/1940
MAGEE, LE 581233 29/11/1940
SCOTCHMERE, JB 552935 29/11/1940

03/10/1941
RIDDELL, AS 946244 03/10/1941
ROGERSON, CF 89832 03/10/1941
SHARPE, ML 633334 03/10/1941’

24/02/1944
RHODES, AM 115142 24/02/1944
MOXHAM, JG 151551 24/02/1944
SMITH, RF 1572611 24/02/1944
JENKIN, FN 124658 24/02/1944

18/10/1945
THOMAS, BJ 181214 18/10/1945
SMITH, G 1600340 18/10/1945

26/07/1940
WALLACE, D 628797 26/07/1940
ROWE, GP 751202 26/07/1940
TURNBULL, MR 42915 26/07/1940

26/03/1941
VANE, DCS 910499 26/03/1941
ROBINSON, EK 751776 26/03/1941
SANDES, LD 42892 26/03/1941
MCMILLAN, P 88685 26/03/1941
BUTLER, WJ 751883 26/03/1941
GATES, GS 751899 26/03/1941

16/06/1941
MORTIMER, JA 754768 16/06/1941
MCINTYRE, SW 747919 16/06/1941

28/04/1942
(note the near sequential service numbers)
NORMORE, ES 798538 28/04/1942
NEARY, HF 798535 28/04/1942

01/08/1940
MORGAN-WELD-SMITH, RGS 05224 01/08/1940
PRYDE, P 551852 01/08/1940
DAVIS, DH 44271 01/08/1940

10/07/1940
JEFFERY, JS 581226 10/07/1940
HOPKIN, AD 36220 10/07/1940
FALCONER, J 551873 10/07/1940
ROWLES, TJ 581474 10/07/1940

09/05/1941
ROBERTS, FG 80841 09/05/1941
RICHARDS, GW 911097 09/05/1941
CLOSE, GCN 37383 09/05/1941

03/06/1941
KERR, TD 44527 03/06/1941
HINE, J 990454 03/06/1941
FLETCHER, KPT 956658 03/06/1941

28/08/1940
DELLOW, J 42812 28/08/1940
EDWARDS, KA 745956 28/08/1940
BETTIS, LE 900253 28/08/1940

24/02/1944
BOLTON, IE 119652 24/02/1944
GAMBLE, NR 52314 24/02/1944

02/08/1940
CLOSE, JR 653790 02/08/1940
DREW, DA 79539 02/08/1940
HERBERT, AG 749485 02/08/1940

26/11/1940
JERWOOD, KW 84915 26/11/1940
BATTLE, EF 637571 26/11/1940

01/12/1940
HINMAN, LB 85235 01/12/1940
WALDEN, DA 751116 01/12/1940

18/10/1945
JONES, JH 1048837 18/10/1945
GILLARD, JEJ 172908 18/10/1945

23/03/1943
PHILLIPS, RA 128609 23/03/1943
MOORE, EP 79752 22/03/1941

29/01/1942
PITCHER, DJ 625018 29/01/1942
GEE, DJR 89331 29/01/1942
BOLLE, JA 951745 29/01/1942

25/07/1940
HASWELL, H 72482 25/07/1940
SIMPSON, DB 755136 25/07/1940

31/08/1940
PEDDIE, AL 747834 31/08/1940
LEONHARDT, FJ 751200 31/08/1940
FINLAY, JJ 42826 31/08/1940

24/10/1941
STRINGER, A 986905 24/10/1941
THOMPSON, PG 963185 24/10/1941
BUCHAN, DA 43092 24/10/1941
FRENCH, RE 975469 24/10/1941

21/08/1941
MYLCHREEST, JE 977614 21/08/1941
FOSTER, WFW 88477 21/08/1941
CROWTHER, GA 918137 21/08/1941

04/02/1941
CUSTERSON, D 83273 04/02/1941
HARKER, W 749391 04/02/1941

14/05/1940
SHAW, CG 623583 14/05/1940
HANDS, F 616584 14/05/1940

22/03/1941
DATE, DW 86661 22/03/1941
WATKINS, BJO 633030 22/03/1941

18/01/1942
STORY, AW 1253997 18/01/1942
HANKINS, P 910438 18/01/1942

08/01/1942
STOTT, TA 938915 08/01/1942
JONES, RS 1013197 08/01/1942
GOLDSMITH, S 552202 08/01/1942


Un-grouped Fatalities by year:
1940:
ANNS, AH 633160 01/10/1940
CROUT, GE 755728 30/11/1940
REYNOLDS, B 42528 20/08/1940

1941:
BUCKLEY, DN 633416 25/03/1941
DEAR, PD 39506 29/09/1941
DULLEY, DN 963822 30/06/1941
GEE, RA 89629 03/10/1941
JOHNSON, WH 900135 16/04/1941
ODGERS, WY 549825 22/02/1941
TOMKINS, HF 755409 16/10/1941

1942:
HANN, JAE 1310460 29/05/1942
RICHARDS, R 89301 01/03/1942

1943:
DAVIES, FS 79579 15/12/1943
DE LA BASTITA, HJP 130019 29/01/1943
DUNN, DM 141755 29/03/1943
FAGE, J 1172715 26/03/1943
HADDOCK, C 1129634 20/08/1943

1945:
DANKS, C 292697 20/01/1945
DELEHANTY, JI 195485 22/06/1945
RICHLEY, GMJ 357075 17/12/1945

1947:
ROBINSON, G 203460 22/07/1947

 

Aussie, thanks for posting the 59 Squadron Roll of Honour, a good piece of work. Looking through the list it seems I have details of some of the losses which I'll post on here.

Regards
Peter.

 

07/07/1941
BROWN, JH 553432 07/07/1941
AITKEN, L 37492 07/07/1941
WOOD, GT 581057 07/07/1941


Blenheim IV Z7450 TR-O
Base: Dettling.
Take off time: 1503 hrs.
Op: Strike.

Shot down by flak from a destroyer off Gravelines and seen to dive into the sea with the starboard engine on fire. S/L. Aitken rests in Dunkirk Town Cemetery; Sgt. Brown in Oostende New Cemetery while Sgt. Wood is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

28/04/1941
HAZELL, AHH 747835 28/04/1941
HENDERSON, RT 942398 28/04/1941
MINGHAM, J 759032 28/04/1941
TAYLOR, JFJ 759097 28/04/1941
FREEMAN, E 751931 28/04/1941
POWELL, W 809129 28/04/1941
HULME, JJ 941305 28/04/1941


On this day 59 Squadron lost four aircraft.

Blenheim IV N3615 TR-E
Base; Thorney Island.
Take off time: 1018 hrs.
Op: Strike.

Crew.
F/L. A E R. Fry DFC +
Sgt. E. Freeman +
Sgt. J F J. Taylor +

Took off for a sweep of the coast of Holland. Shot down at 1220 hrs by flak-ship MFLA703 off the Hoek van Holland. F/T. Fry, from Somerset West Africa, and his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

-------------------------------------------------------

Blenheim IV V5520 TR-F
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time: 1018 hrs.
Op: Strike.

Crew.
P/O. S G. Collier +
Sgt. J. Mingham +
Sgt. W. Powell +

Shot down by a flak-ship at 1220 hrs during a convoy attack off thye Hook od Holland. All rest in Hoek van Holland General Cemetery, Holland.

--------------------------------------------------------

Blenheim IV V5687 TR-H
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time: 1018 hrs.
Op: Strike.

Crew.
P/O. R D. Morton. pow
Sgt. B R. Flury. pow
Sgt. J J. Hulme +

Shot down by a flak-ship at 1220 hrs during a convoy attack off Hoek van Holland.
Sgt. Hulme was washed ashore on the 15 May 1941 near Bergen aan Zee and now rests in Bergen General Cemetery, Holland.

----------------------------------------------------------

Blenheim IV V6097 TR-A
Base. Thorney Island.
Take off time: 1018 hrs.
Op: Strike.

Crew.
P/O. H. Badland +
Sgt. A H H. Hazell +
Sgt. R T. Henderson +

Shot down by flak-ship at 1220 hrs during a convoy attack off Hoek van Holland. P/O. Badland rests in Zeeweg General Cemetery, Rockanje; Sgt Henderson in Hoek van Holland General cemetery, Holland; While Sgt. Hazell is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

------------------------------------------------------------

C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

19/08/1940
WILKINSON, WGJ 546143 19/08/1940
WHITING, WGF 581252 19/08/1940


Blenheim IV R2795 TR-D
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time: 2200 hrs.
Op: Caen.

Crew.
P/O. B. Reynolds. Died of wounds 27 August.
Sgt. W G F. Whiting +
Sgt. W G J. Wilkinson +

Failed to return.

All rest in Bayeux War cemetery, Calvados, France.

C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

20/09/1940
WALTERS, DA 642945 20/09/1940
WRIGHT, EE 580992 20/09/1940
PALMER, KV 42874 20/09/1940


Blenheim IV R3635 TR-V
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time: 2125 hrs
Op: Cherbourg.


Missing. P/O. Palmer and his crew are buried in Le Vast Churchyard, Manche. France.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

06/04/1941
LISHMAN, MW 81934 06/04/1941
MARTIN, AW 82720 06/04/1941
FITZPATRICK, R 809113 06/04/1941


Blenheim IV V5962 TR-J
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time: 1030 hrs.
Op: Search.

Missing off St. Brieuc Bay, Brittany, France, after a message at 1137 hrs stating 'Seven Escort vessels double line astern steaming 240 degrees which ended abruptly. Possibly shot down by Fw Bauer of II/JG2 some 40 km (25 miles) North of Morlaix. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

30/06/1941
WHITMORE, JN 44533 30/06/1941
TRUMAN, PA 977753 30/06/1941


Blenheim IV V5863 TR-X
Base: Detling.
Take off time: 0226 hrs.
Op. Wander patrol.

Crew.
P/O. J N. Whitmore +
Sgt. D N. Dulley +
Sgt. P A. Truman +

Hit a balloon cable on the return from the patrol to the coast of Holland and ditched off Dover, Kent. P/O. Whitmore is buried in Folkestone New Cemetery while his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

10/01/1941
SMITH, DBC 755260 10/01/1941
SMITH, PEN 973750 10/01/1941
COOK, KC 43096 10/01/1941


Blenheim IV T2217 TR-F
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time 0030 hrs.
Op: Brest.

Took off in company for an attack on the Admiral Hipper Ran out of fuel while lost and crashed into the St.George Channel on the return from the target. The crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.



C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

29/05/1941
SMALLBONE, WA 909986 29/05/1941
STURROCK, JGR 74691 29/05/1941
CONRADE, NL 963798 29/05/1941


Blenheim IV V6447 TR-R
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time 0925 hrs
Op: Convoy Escort.


Failed to return. Sgt. Conrade rests in Lodge Hill cemetery, Birmingham, while the rest of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

23/11/1940
BEELAERTS VAN BLOKLAND, JCE 78859 23/11/1940
CARVIL, LS 549762 23/11/1940
WOODCOCK, JC 580991 23/11/1940

Blenheim IV R2783 TR-V
Base: Thorney Island'
Take off time: 1535 hrs.
Op: Lorient.

Shot down by an Me109 into the Channel. P/O. Beelarts van Blokland, from the Netherlands, and his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

17/10/1940
HIVES, EE 81354 17/10/1940
JONES, E 546188 17/10/1940
JONES, BD 755459 17/10/1940

Blenheim IV T2319 TR-D
Base: St. Eval.
Take off time. 1715 hrs
Op: Bombing of destroyers.

Last seen in formation before an attack on destroyers off Brest. P/O. Hives is commemorated on the Runnymede memorial, Sgt B. Jones rests in Danygraig Cemetery, Risca. Monmouthshire, while Sgt. E. Jones is buried in Lawns Cemetery, Leeds, Yorkshire.

C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

29/11/1940
HOVENIER, AP 41927 29/11/1940
MAGEE, LE 581233 29/11/1940
SCOTCHMERE, JB 552935 29/11/1940


Blenheim IV N3614 TR-E
Base: Thorney island.
Op: Moon Patrol.

Missing, failed to return. Sgt. Magee, from Eire and his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

03/10/1941
RIDDELL, AS 946244 03/10/1941
ROGERSON, CF 89832 03/10/1941
SHARPE, ML 633334 03/10/1941’


Hudson V AM704 TR-D
Base: Thorney Island.
Take off time 1909 hrs.
Op: Hach Patrol.

Took off for a night patrol but failed to return after reporting three enemy patrol vessels about 6 miles West of Le Havre at 2000 hrs. A Whitley in the same area reported that a Hudson had been hit by flak and crashed into the sea. The above are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.


C/C Losses - McNeill.

 

26/07/1940
WALLACE, D 628797 26/07/1940
ROWE, GP 751202 26/07/1940
TURNBULL, MR 42915 26/07/1940


Blenheim IV T1801 TR-T
Base; Thorney Island.
Take off time 0315 hrs.
Op; Cherbourg.

Missing. Both P/O. Turnbull and Sgt. Rowe are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while Sgt. Wallace rests in Criel-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery, France.

C/C. Losses - McNeill.

 

F/Lt RP Wade – KIA 19/6/44 - Lib‘A’ RAF 88398 (all crew lost)
W/O NR Langton - KIA 19/6/44 - Lib‘L’ RAF 921402 (all crew lost)


On 19 June 1944 two experienced pilots took off about 30 minutes apart from RAF Ballykelly in Liberator FL990. A/59 and FL989. L/59. Both appear to have encountered severe down drafts soon after take-off and crashed into coastal headlands; all personnel aboard were killed.

 

24/6/44 - Lib‘H’ RAF 169575 (all crew lost)


On 24 June 1944 Liberator FL977. H/59 was carrying out a radio-controlled approach from the north into Ballykelly and flew into Ben Evenagh. All the crew were killed.

 

Thanks Peter, some great information there. I have also just come across this.

09/05/1941
ROBERTS, FG 80841 09/05/1941
RICHARDS, GW 911097 09/05/1941
CLOSE, GCN 37383 09/05/1941

Close was S/Ldr at the time and is buried in France.

http://www.gc-database.co.uk/graves.htm

also:

01/08/1940
MORGAN-WELD-SMITH, RGS 05224 01/08/1940
PRYDE, P 551852 01/08/1940
DAVIS, DH 44271 01/08/1940

Morgan-Weld-Smith was C/O at the time.

01.08.1940
Commanding Officer, 59 Squadron RAF
[his Blenheim L8792 "A" had taken off from Thorney Island and failed to return from an attack on Cherbourg; for details see KentFallen (under P/O D.H. Davis)]

taken from this site: http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RAF_officers_M01.html

The KentFallen link is:

http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/SMARDEN%20WW2.pdf

also:

18/08/1944
INSTONE, THM 1417346 18/08/1944
CHRISTIE, AW 3005923 18/08/1944
(add these men)
LOWE, EN 1056312 18/08/1944
NEWELL, HFJ 1399435 18/08/1944
PRATT, D 1078897 18/08/1944
GRILL, GA 1607109 18/08/1944

RAF Coastal Command Liberator BZ724 of 59 Squadron at Ballykelly,Northern Ireland, had been operating in the North Atlantic on an anti-submarine mission on the night of 17th/18th August 1944, when due to bad weather, and nearing the end of its lengthy patrol, it was diverted to RAF Tain in NE Scotland.

It would appear that after making a descent through cloud and very short on fuel, the Liberator struck the moor above Helmsdale and disintegrated.

P/O John Lloyd (member of crew, maybe the pilot) Pictured here in early 1944 whilst flying with 59 Squadron as a 2nd Pilot. P/O Lloyd had flown a good number of missions with Coastal Command, and soon gained a commission.

taken from the website:
http://www.ww2inthehighlands.co.uk/folders/crashes/helmsdale.htm

more on this Liberator here:
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/daveswrecks/newpage11.html

Crew of BZ724.

Pilot: P/O John Lloyd. RNZAF.
Co-Pilot: F/O Ronald H.Legrow. RCAF.
Navigator 1: P/O Robert Seigler. RCAF.
(plus those mentioned above)
and an RAAF serviceman W/Op: P/O Alan J.McLay. RAAF


Thanks again, will keep you updated on my progress.

Lorenzo

 

24/6/44 - Lib‘H’ RAF 169575 (all crew lost)


On 24 June 1944 Liberator FL977. H/59 was carrying out a radio-controlled approach from the north into Ballykelly and flew into Ben Evenagh. All the crew were killed.

thanks for this Peter. I have just found this on a site set up by the son of Ken "Titch" Regan: http://sforsugar.com/home.html

Liberator V ‘H’ (FL 977) had been on CLA patrol, leaving the patrol area at 01.57 on June 24th. The aircraft (The crew, Captained by Pilot Officer I B Jenkins, was 2nd Pilot: Warrant Officer G F Logan; Navigator: W/O R R J Revell; Sgts W H Wilson, H G Lewis; W/Os G W Geering, W G Wallace; Flt Sgt H G Coombes) received a weather report advising to divert from Ballykelly because of bad visibility. QDMs (meaning: What is the magnetic course to steer, with zero wind, to reach you) were regularly exchanged between the station and the aircraft with the last recorded message, according to 59 Squadron’s Operation Record Book, at 04.16. No further contact was made.

Taffy Jenkins had set his heart on his home base and Titch and Monty heard the drone of his Pratt and Whitney engines circling overhead. They went outside but the mist was too bad to see anything. They heard the Liberator go round a second and then a third time, but on the fateful third circuit there was the horrendous and terrifying sound of the Liberator crashing into the Binevagh mountains across Lough Foyle from the airfield. It was 04.20. Three hours later FL977 was located on the hillside. There were no survivors; Titch, Monty and their colleagues would never see their friends again.


Thanks again,

Lorenzo.

 

07/05/1943
SUMMERS, HJ 141753 07/05/1943
TSITSELIS, G 946761 07/05/1943
SAINTHOUSE, B 1261203 07/05/1943
POLKINGHORNE, PG 1315420 07/05/1943
CAVE, WW 86706 07/05/1943

Taken from the memoirs of F/Lt EE Allen DFC:
http://www.seawaymall.com/eallen/part3.html

mission dated 07.05.43

"At briefing we were advised that double patrols were being laid on for escort of the Queen Mary who was westbound for American shores. The shorter range airplanes were escorting until our arrival and we were to escort her through the mid-Atlantic section. I believe they told us Churchill was aboard, but in any event it was a very high priority escort in the south Atlantic. Peter Wright's crew was to leave at 9 a.m. along with our crew and we were as usual to proceed independently. The other two 59 Squadron aircraft were to depart at 11 a.m...

...Thus, of the four aircraft that set out to escort the Queen Mary in the middle of the Atlantic (a completely unnecessary escort with the Queen doing twenty-four knots) we lost three aircraft and eight experienced crewmen. It wasn't a good start for the #59 Squadron VLR Liberators. Anyway, after briefing Bartlett, I joined the rest of the crew at rum and breakfast. As a crew we got together after lunch. Everyone looked and felt like death. The doctor looked us over and said, "You guys are all grounded until I say you can fly." Nobody complained."

Three of the crew must have been non RAF personnel do you think?... also this was a second tour crew according to the memoirs. thanks

Lorenzo.