While researching Charles Rankin, a former pupil of Perth Academy, I found the attached information on the Made in Perth website. Rankin lost his life when Lancaster DS790 was shot down on 21/22 January 1944 and three of the crew: Mill, Dinning and Johnston were taken prisoner. I am looking for advice on how I can find out what happened to them and whether they survived the war and returned home. Many thanks, Dave
Hi, Forum member alieneyes has a wealth of knowledge on WW2 Air Force matters and RCAF in particular so he may be able to answer your query. Good Luck Steve
Air Forces Database Search [RAFCommands] 5 died 3 taken POW Lancaster II DS790 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire. On the night of 21st / 22nd January 1944 Mill, Reid, Johnston, Rankin and Jones were flying together in 408 Squadron Lancaster DS790 on Ops to Magdeburg when the aircraft was set on fire by a night-fighter attacking. The aircraft broke up in the air but Mill and Johnston and one other were able to deploy their parachutes and survived to became PoWs. Rankin's body was found and he is now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Reid and Jones have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Tricky Dicky and Temujin, This is fantastic, thank you so much! No telling what life was like for them both as POWs but they were together in the same camp. Both returned home and both married, nice to see a happy ending. Thanks again for your help, Dave
Have found a link to an article from the Northern Echo in 2003 about William Johnston and his time as a POW. He was from Northern Ireland, settled in Thirsk and his exploits have been published in a book "Survival". Quite a character by the sound of it. Wartime escapades add up to the story of a true survivor
Dave, John Bleecker Mill is still with us. His wife passed in 2013. Virginia MILL Obituary (2013) - The Vancouver Sun In 1953 John Bentley Dinning submitted a claim with the POW Reparations board in Ottawa. These claims average about 20-odd pages and have a narrative as to how the claimant came to be a POW. Regards, Dave
That’s amazing Dave, thanks very much! a lovely obituary for Virginia Mill as well. I have a friend in Canada who has been a huge help with our research. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see what she can find out for us. Thanks again, Dave
Hello again Dave, Not sure how you found out about John Bleecker Mill still being with us, but you wouldn’t happen to have an address for him would you? Cheers, Dave
