Hello everyone, I am still researching the dead buried in Milan War Cemetery and have noted that the crew listed from the above bomber from 40 Squadron, which crashed on the night of 10-11 July near Mediglia south of Milan, does not include the pilot, though locals reported seven casualties. In collective grave VI. E. nos. 11-15 there are the remains of: 1013219 Arthur J. Ellworthy Air gunner 1399182 Albert H. Mabey Navigator 1567889 Andrew McKenzie Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 1494140 Alan Ross Sergeant/Air bomber 1804807 Norman Walters Sergeant Where would I find the name of the pilot and the other crew member? Thanks in anticipation, Vitellino
This says Walters was the Pilot. Wellington MF399 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database]
Hi I found this - Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Gaywood (roll-of-honour.com) - it says he was a pilot? Looking at CWGC - Name, Rank & Service No. Unit, Regiment, Country of Service Date of Death Commemorated at NORMAN WALTERS Sergeant Service Number: 1804807 40 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 20 years old MILAN WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave VI. E. 11-15. Italy More detailsSave to My list ANDREW McKENZIE Sergeant Service Number: 1567889 40 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 22 years old MILAN WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave VI. E. 11-15. Italy More detailsSave to My list WILLIAM JAMES HOSKING Aircraftman 1st Class Service Number: 1158887 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 24 years old BARI WAR CEMETERY XV. D. 15. Italy More detailsSave to My list ARTHUR JAMES ELWORTHY Sergeant Service Number: 1013219 40 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 20 years old MILAN WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave VI. E. 11-15. Italy More detailsSave to My list ALBERT HORACE MABEY Sergeant Service Number: 1399182 40 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 35 years old MILAN WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave VI. E. 11-15. Italy More detailsSave to My list ALAN ROSS Sergeant Service Number: 1494140 40 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 22 years old MILAN WAR CEMETERY Coll. grave VI. E. 11-15. Italy More detailsSave to My list CHARLES TREVOR RANSOM Corporal Service Number: 1194662 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Died 11 July 1944 BOLSENA WAR CEMETERY I, H, 11. Italy regards Robert
Thanks a lot to both of you. That would seem to resolve the problem Possibly the locals got the number of casualties wrong. However, I do have another question. How usual was it for a sergent to be the pilot of an aircraft? Also, should CWGC be informed that Norman Walters was the pilot? Vitellino
Sergeant pilots were very common. You also get all-sergeant crews. Here's an example: An expensive visit to Castelvetrano All the best Andreas
How usual was it for a sergent to be the pilot of an aircraft Reasonably - from Aug 1935 there had been an allocated RAF Direct Entry for Airmen Pilots. On outbreak of war approx 30% of operational squadron pilots were Sgt. From June 1940 the minimum rank for all aircrew was Sgt. Ross
Only the Wellington crew on the graves list were from No.40 Squadron. W J Hosking was from No.8016 AMES C T Ransom from No.887 AMES Corporal C T RANSOM (1194662), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) [Royal Air Force WW2 Casualty ] Ross
My website is up and running. It's in Italian but the basic information on the casualties is in English. A big thanks to all those who helped me out, Vitellino Il Cimitero di Guerra di Milano
