Flying officer william kirkham 570 squadron

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by fallen8905, Jul 17, 2015.

  1. fallen8905

    fallen8905 New Member

    Hi

    Flying officer William Kirkham was my great uncle. His aircraft was Stirling LJ883 (V8-K)


    I am hoping somebody will have some photos that my family don't already have.

    Thanks
     
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    KIRKHAM, WILLIAM

    Rank:Flying OfficerService No:174309Date of Death:23/09/1944Age:21Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 570 Sqdn. Grave Reference: 4. A. 17. Cemetery:ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERYAdditional Information:Son of William and Leah Kirkham, of Birmingham; husband of Violet Daisy Kirkham, of Sheldon, Birmingham.
    Download Certificate
     
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  3. fallen8905

    fallen8905 New Member

    Thanks that's him!
     
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  4. graeme

    graeme Senior Member

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  5. fallen8905

    fallen8905 New Member

    yeh I found that yesterday I have been to the memorial before. I am just hoping to find out more information and maybe photos x
     
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  6. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    There's quite a bit of information and some photos about the crash of this aircraft in the books "Green On" by Arie-Jan Van Hees and "RAF at Arnhem". From the crew only RASC Despatcher, Driver S Badham and Tail Gunner, Flight Sergeant George Wood survived the crash. Wood was assisted to reach allied lines, with important information about Rotterdam defences strapped to his ankle, on 7th October and Balham crossed the Rhine with 137 other evaders on Operation Pegasus on 23rd October. I understand that George Wood became Godfather to "Billy" Kirkham's child in December that year.
     
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  7. fallen8905

    fallen8905 New Member

    That's great information! thanks so much x
     
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  8. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    fallen8905,

    It is very hard to find info about 570 Squadron especially at TNA with the squadron's appendices are 'WANTING'.

    Here are some articles about Bill Eames from 570, he may have photographs of members of the Squadron. You could get in touch with any of these institutions to get in touch with Eames..

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27710295

    http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/dday-at-70-war-hero-bill-eames-on-his-part-in-the-normandy-landings-30332893.html

    http://fermanaghherald.com/2013/07/enniskillen-d-day-veteran-recalls-his-raf-career/

    Do get in touch with RAF Hendon's archive section they must have photographs of the squadron.

    Best of luck

    brithm
     
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  9. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Photo of F/O. Kirkham
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    23 September 1944

    570 Squadron
    Stirling IV LJ883

    The aircrafts crew had just finished dropping its load and was down to 500 feet when it was struck by AA fire and a serious fire started in the port wing. The aircraft continued to descend and struck the ground (Planken Wambuis, Ede) causing the rear turret to break off and probably saving the gunners life in the process because only he and a dispatcher survived.

    F/O. William Kirkham 21 Pilot +
    F/O. Morris Hand 26 Wireless Operator +
    F/O. David Henry Atkinson 23 Bomb Aimer +
    F/O. Ernest Charles Brown 20 Navigator +
    Sgt. Harold Ashton 22 Flight Engineer +
    L/Cpl. Gerard Reardon 31 - 253 (Airborne) Composite Coy RASC +

    Source - Though Without Anger - C. Cummings
     
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  11. Patricia Marshall

    Patricia Marshall New Member

     
  12. Patricia Marshall

    Patricia Marshall New Member

    Hi, I think you are talking about my dad
     

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