17 yr old Mid-Upper Gunner

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by canuck, Mar 2, 2017.

  1. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    RCAF Flt. Sgt. James I. Rheubottom R/196199

    Jimmy Rheubottom
    , from Winnipeg, was listed as 19 but lied about his age to enter the RCAF.
    He was killed by night fighter gunfire over France on July 25th 1944, in a 300 Squadron Lancaster, AGE 17.

    300 Squadron Lancaster I LM178 BH-U P/O. Robinson

    rheubottom.jpg rheubottom1.jpg
     
  2. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Is there a bit more of a family tragedy here?
    RHEUBOTTOM, JAMES. Rank: Flight Sergeant. Trade: Air Gunner. Service No: R/196199. Date of Death: 25/07/1944. Age: 19.
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 300 (Polish) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row A. Grave 7. Cemetery: ORLEANS MAIN CEMETERY.
    Additional Information: Son of Alice Nixon, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

    RHEUBOTTOM, ALVA EDISON. Rank: Pilot Officer. Trade: Air Bomber. Service No: J/92189. Date of Death: 04/11/1944. Age: 25.
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 640 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Coll. grave 17. F. 6-8. Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY.
    Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Alice Rheubottom, of Sundridge, Ontario, Canada.

    The only query is if Alice was the mother of both, then the earlier entry for James shows her as having remarried, yet the later entry for Alva refers to his father Joseph. No doubt someone here can clarify!
     
  3. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    They appear to be unrelated.
    To begin with, Sundridge and Winnipeg are approx. 1, 900 km apart.

    Ancestry records show the mother of Alva Edison Rheubottom as being Alice Smith (1889-1935).
    The father of James Rheubottom is shown as Albert Rheubottom (born in Wales) and also pre-deceased.
     
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  4. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    James Rheubottom had two brothers, Charles, age 22, who lived in Edmonton, AB and Philip, age 20, overseas RCAF. Their father, Albert, died 2 February 1936.

    I'm not sure where the "age 17" for James comes from. While his application to join the RCAF gives a birthdate of 15 March 1925, so does the handwritten estate documents written by his mother on 30 July 1945.

    As his enlistment application is dated 10 October 1942, I'm wondering if "age 17" was his age on enlistment, not death? This is furthered by the story of R287664 F/Sgt Edward James Wright, who lied a couple of times about his age but when all was said and done his true age (16) is on all records.

    Lancaster KB879 Crash

    Regards,

    Dave
     
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  5. canuck

    canuck Closed Account


    Dave,

    I was thinking thing same thing. Enlisted at 17 and died at age 19. It seems a stretch that he enlisted at 15 given his small stature.

    Still damn young!
     
  6. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Thanks for checking, canuck.
    I'm aware of the distances between the two Canadian locations, but given that settlers seem to have travelled much, much further to reach Canada, in that sense, they aren't too far apart, and if a widow remarried, then she may move far away with her second husband.
    It's unusual enough to have only 2 instances in the CWGC database, and with the name for their mothers being the same, I felt it necessary to raise the question.
     
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  7. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    I'm glad you raised it Kevin and it was certainly worth checking.

    There is a Rheubottom from Winnipeg who sailed with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915. I am checking on that connection also.
     
  8. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The following from RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.5 - W R. Chorley

    24-25 July 1944

    300 Squadron
    Lancaster I LM178 BH-U
    Op. Stuttgart

    Took off from Faldingworth at 2137 hours. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed just to the north of St. Laurent des Bois, 5km north east of the small town of Marchenoir. Those who died now rest in Orleans Main Cemetery. All three evaders were wounded, F/S. Robinson RCAF was treated by German doctors in Paris while F/S. Dunseith RCAF went to a hospital at le Mans, F/O. Forman RCAF reached England on 18th August 1944

    Crew.

    F/O. W W. Robinson RCAF evaded
    Sgt. E L. Morter +
    F/O. C M. Forman RCAF evaded
    F/O. J I. Duguid RCAF +
    Sgt. L T J. Page +
    Sgt. J. Rheubottom RCAF +
    F/S. J I. Dunseith RCAF evaded

    ......

    During the course of 1944 RAF Bomber Command visited Stuttgart of 18 occasions. 4,655 aircraft were dispatched with 4,225 attacking the target ( Industry and Transport) 9,275 tons of HE along with 5,648 tons of Incendiaries were dropped. 132 aircraft were missing or lost.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2017
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  9. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    132 aircraft X 7 crew members = 924 casualties in 1944 alone.

    I am struck by the contrast:

    "The French 5th Armored Division captured Stuttgart on 21 April 1945, encountering little resistance"
     
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  10. Ted Wright

    Ted Wright Junior Member

    As the nephew of Edward James Wright I can tell you that he enlisted in Winnipeg , Manitoba a week after his 15th birthday in November of 1943 , overseas by July 1944 and killed in a Lancaster crash while with the 428 Ghost Squadron April 30 ,1945 .I can only assume that the recruitment officers at this site were told to approve and process all or near all applicants despite their doubts of age eligibility .Despite my uncle's vast travels and experiences as a merchant sailor at that age he still looked like a fifteen year old and was simply able to alter his birth certificate from 1928 to 1925 and they accepted that .It was a tough time for Bomber Command and all bodies were likely welcome recruits .Flt. Sgt.James Rheubottom doesn't look to me as being of age either but I think a self confident ,assured attitude would help get you in the door .
    Regards to you Dave and all who frequent WW2
     
  11. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    My uncle was flying Lancs with 428 at the very same time. His last flight log entry was May 1st, 1945.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2017
  12. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Flight Sergeant Edward James Wright RCAF

    "believed to be the youngest aircrew member killed in the Second World War"

    Lancaster KB879 Crash
     
  13. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Alan Wells, a member here, has done quite a bit of research on the loss of Lancaster KB879.

    Attached are photos of both Rheubottom and Wright. Fake papers aside, both lads seem extremely young.

    Ted, I've sent you a PM.

    Regards,

    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Thanks for posting those Dave.

    The individual photos make them appear even younger. Almost school boys.
     
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