In Memoriam - Those Air Force Pilots/Crews who died on this day in WW2.

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by spidge, Nov 20, 2009.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Flying Officer WILLIAM AUSTIN THORNTON

    400161, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 29
    on 18 March 1942
    Son of Frederick William and Annie Thornton.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    SECOND WORLD WAR FATALITIES
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING IN RAF
    BEAUFORT SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

    400161 Flying Officer THORNTON, William Austin
    Source :
    NAA : A705, 163/58/65 Commonwealth War Graves records
    Aircraft Type: Beaufort
    Serial number: W 6474
    Radio call sign:
    Unit: 86 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Beaufort W6474 of 86 Sqn RAF in transit from RAF Station Portreath to the Middle
    East, was reported missing on 18 March 1942.
    Crew:
    RAAF 400161 FO Thornton, W A, Captain (Pilot)
    RCAF FO Brinkworth E P (Navigator/Bomb Aimer)
    RAF Sgt Brigstocke A L, (Wireless/Air Gunner)
    RAF Sgt Bohling C N B, (Wireless/Air Gunner)
    Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1948 that the crew
    had lost their lives at sea. Their names are commemorated on the Memorial to the
    Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
    19

    In Memory of
    Flying Officer ERNEST PETER BRINKWORTH

    J/3276, 86 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force
    who died age 21
    on 18 March 1942
    Son of Ernest Edward and Christina Brinkworth, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ANDREW LAWRENCE BRIGSTOCKE

    977612, 86 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 23
    on 18 March 1942
    Son of William Osborne Brigstocke Ruby Helen Brigstocke, of Liverpool.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Sergeant CYRIL NORMAN BYRON BOHLING

    1161242, 86 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 26
    on 18 March 1942
    Son of George Ernest and May Bohling.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
     
  2. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Flying Officer ALAN JAMES PRYDE

    436583, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 23
    on 19 March 1945
    Son of Harry Ewart Gladstone Pryde and Margaret Mary Pryde, of Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    EGLANTINE CHURCH OF IRELAND CEMETERY

    Eglantine 436583 Pryde_AJ.JPG

    Eglantine All Saints Church of Ireland.jpg

    Eglantine Cemetery 3.JPG


    As It Was 3a

    On 8th September 1990 a memorial window at the back of Eglantine church was dedicated to all the 21 airmen buried in the graveyard. The last aircraft incident involving major loss of life during the Second world War was on 19th March 1945 when the crew of a Liberator aeroplane, based at RAF Aldergrove, crashed on Colin Mountain, killing eleven airmen. Five of the crew now rest peacefully in Eglantine. A memorial service was held in the Church on 19th March 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the crash.

    The crew of Liberator KG 896
    (1674 HCU — Aldergrove)
    Crashed 19th March 1945
    Flying Officer William Ian Holmes, R.N.Z.A.F. (Pilot)
    Pilot Officer Alan James Pryde, R.A.A.F. (Pilot)
    Sergeant Oliver Aston, R.A.F. V.R. (Air Gunner)
    Sergeant Ronald James Edge, R.A.F. V.R. (Air Gunner)
    Sergeant Robinson Sidney Palliser Hook, R.A.F. V.R. (Flt. Engineer)

    also
    Flying Officer William Davis Cheyne, R.A.F. V.R. (Wireless Operator)
    Flying Officer Cecil Andrew James Honey, RAFVR (Navigator)
    Pilot Officer Richard Henry Appleyard, R.C.A.F. (Navigator)
    Pilot Officer Stanley Frederick Bright Sargent, R.A.F. (Navigator)
    Sergeant Dennis Archibald Bates, R.A.F. (Wop/Air Gunner)
    Sergeant Patrick McNeilly, R.A.F. V.R. (Wireless Operator)
    436583 Flying Officer PRYDE, Alan James
    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/33/330 Commonwealth War Graves records
    Aircraft Type: Liberator
    Serial number: KG 896
    Radio call sign:
    Unit: 1674 Heavy Conversion RAF
    Summary:
    On the 19th March 1945, Liberator KG896 took off from RAF Aldergrove , Crumlin,
    County Antrim Northern Ireland, detailed to carry out a low altitude radar exercise on a
    moving target on Lough Neagh. There were several R/T contacts during the flight
    conveying the appearance that everything was in order. The last contact was at 0218
    hours. Two minutes later the aircraft flew into high ground, six miles west of Belfast, at
    Yornagrough, 900 feet above sea level, while on a course to the airfield., and all on board
    were killed. .
    Crew:
    RNZAF FO Holmes, W I (Pupil Captain under Instruction)
    RAAF 436583 FO Pryde, A J (Pupil 2nd Pilot)
    RAF PO Sargent, S F B (Pupil Navigator)
    RCAF PO Appleyard, R H (Pupil Navigator)
    RAF FO Cheyne, W D (Pupil Wireless Operator)
    RAF Sgt P McNeilly, (Pupil Wireless Operator)
    RAF Sgt R S P Hook, (Pupil Wireless Operator Air)
    RAF Sgt D A Batesd, (Pupil Wireless Operator Air)
    RAF Sgt R J Edge, (Pupil Flight Engineer)
    RAF Sgt O Aston, (Pupil Air Gunner)
    RCAF FO Cecil Andrew James Honey, (Navigator)

    PO Holmes, PO Pryde, and Sgt’s Hook, Edge and Aston are buried Eglantine Church of
    Ireland Cemetery, County Down, Northern Ireland.
    PO Sargent is buried in he Islington Cemetery & Crematorium, UK.
    PO Appleyard is buried in the Glenavy Roman Catholic Churchyard, UK.
    PO Cheyne is buried in the Aberdeen (Springbank) Cemetery Scotland, UK.
    Sgt McNeilly is buried in the Old Monkland Cemetery, UK.
    Sgt Bates is buried in the Birmingham (Yardley) Cemetery, UK.
    FO Honey is buried in the Liskeard (St Martin) Churchyard, UK
     
    Pieter F likes this.
  3. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Spidge
    65 years ago today were these lads from 202sq:

    CRASHED 20TH NOVEMBER 1944 AT LOUGH AN LABAN ENISKILLEN
    RANK - NAME - SERVICE
    W/O Ernest Slack RAF - Buried Stanley New Cemetery - Durham
    F/Sgt. John W. Geldert RAF - Buried MORECAMBE AND HEYSHAM (TORRISHOLME) CEMETERY Lancashire
    F/Lt. George Vincent Forbes-Lloyd (Pilot) RAF - Buried RADLETT (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, ALDENHAM
    Sgt. Douglas W. Nater RAF - Buried ALDBOROUGH HATCH (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD Essex
    F/Sgt Gordon F.Tribble RAF - Buried DORKING CEMETERY Surrey
    F/Sgt Peter B.Marshall RAF - Buried CHICHESTER CEMETERY Sussex
    Sgt. Fred J. Deem RAF - Buried WELLINGTON CEMETERY, Somerset
    P/O William John Sharp RAAF - Buried IRVINESTOWN CHURCH OF IRELAND CHURCHYARD County Fermanagh and was from Burwood in Victoria.
    __________________


    Geoff - I apologise - I have the crew for you ( unfortunately PO Sharp not in the group).- jim S.

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    Pieter F likes this.
  4. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks James!

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Sergeant MALCOLM JACK RITCHIE

    403390, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 23
    on 20 March 1942
    Son of Gilbert Malcolm and Pauline Ritchie; husband of Dorothy Dale Ritchie, of North Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL



    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE
    SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH
    NO KNOWN GRAVE.
    403390 Sergeant RITCHIE, Malcolm Jack
    Source:
    NAA : A705, 163/157/142
    Aircraft Type: Spitfire
    Serial number: P 7363
    Radio call sign:
    Unit: 66 Sqn RAF
    Summary:
    Spitfire P 7363 of 66 Sqn RAF on 20 March 1942 was detailed to carry out air to sea
    firing against sea markers, being under instruction not to continue to dive below 700 feet.
    The weather at the time was excellent and the sea calm. Eye witnesses reported that each
    time the aircraft pulled out of a dive it appeared to do so quite sharply.
    The last time the aircraft pulled out of the dive, it rose from about 100 feet before it
    crashed into the sea. This seemed to indicate a high speed stall at a low altitude with the
    pilot being unable to recover in time. The location was one mile north west off Gull
    Rock, Portreath
    Crew:
    RAAF 403390 Sgt Ritchie, M J (Pilot)
     
  6. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Warrant Officer HAROLD JAMES ARNEY

    428596, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 29
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Arthur Ernest and Elizabeth Arney; husband of Kathleen Shirley Arney, of Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Source :
    NAA : A705, 166/4/217.
    Aircraft Type: Lancaster
    Serial number: PA 973
    Radio call sign: OF – C
    Unit: 97 Sqn RAF
    Summary:
    Lancaster PA 973 of No 97 (Strait Settlements) Sqn RAF, took off at 2335 hours from
    RAF Station Coningsby, Lincoln, UK, on 20 March 1945 to bomb a target at Bohlen.
    Weather clear. Visibility good. Flak over target moderate to intense. Aircraft did not
    return to base and no evidence as to loss or whether aircraft shot down over target. No
    messages received from aircraft.
    Crew:
    RAAF 418813 Flt Lt Cottman, J.D., Captain (Pilot).
    RAAF 432022 PO Murray, A.G., Navigator.
    RAAF 428596 WO H.J.Arney, Wireless Operator.
    RAAF 430103 Flt Sgt J.S. Coster, Air Bomber.
    RAAF 437562 Flt Sgt V.E.Petschel, Mid Upper Gunner.
    RAAF 430011 Flt Sgt L.J.Bull, Rear Gunner.
    RAF Sgt J.W.Cross, Flight Engineer.
    With no trace of the aircraft or crew being found following post war investigations and
    enquiries, it was recorded in 1949 that the missing crew had no known grave.
    In Memory of
    Flight Lieutenant JOHN DENNIS COTTMAN

    418813, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 21
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Walter Thomas Cottman and Lily Elizabeth Cottman, of Toorak, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Pilot Officer AUBREY GEORGE MURRAY

    432022, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 33
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Thomas Foster Murray and Gertrude Adelaide Murray; husband of Marjorie Heather Isabel Murray, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant JOHN STEWART COSTER

    430103, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 20
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Charles Stewart Coster and Rosamond Coster, of Loch, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant VICTOR EDWARD PETSCHEL

    437562, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 26
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Christian Bernhardt Petschel and Minna Louise Petschel; husband of Verna Clara Helen Petschel, of Nhill, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant LAWRENCE JOSEPH BULL

    430011, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 20
    on 21 March 1945
    Son of Joseph Clarence and Beatrice Constance Bull, of Metung, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    In Memory of
    Sergeant JOHN WILLIAM CROSS

    1395339, 97 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 21 March 1945

    Remembered with honour
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
     
  7. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Flying Officer ROBERT EDWARD BUTT

    420858, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 20
    on 22 March 1944
    Son of Arthur Augustus and Margaret Annie Butt, of Petersham, New South Wales, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

    Butt_RE Photo.jpg

    Description
    Portrait of 420858 Aircraftman Robert Edward Butt, RAAF. Formerly a clerk, Butt enlisted at Sydney on 6 December 1941, and was posted to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAF. Promoted Pilot Officer (PO), he and three others from the seven man crew of Lancaster ND538 were killed whilst on bombing operations over Germany on the night of 22/23 March 1944.

    RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
    IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
    420858 Pilot Officer BUTT, Robert Edward
    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/6/451 Commonwealth War Graves records
    W R Chorley6 : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 123,
    Volume 1944.
    Aircraft Type: Lancaster
    Serial number: ND 538
    Radio call sign: KM – T
    Unit: ATTD 44 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Lancaster ND538 took off from RAF Dunholme Lodge at 1856 hours on the night of
    22/23rd March 1944 to bomb Frankfurt, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft
    after take off and it failed to return to base.
    Crew:
    RAAF 420858 PO Butt, R E Captain (Pilot)
    RAF Sgt G H Butland, (Flight Engineer)
    RAF FO Sparrow, A R (Navigator)
    RAF Flt Sgt R J Whiter, (Bomb Aimer)
    RAF Sgt G Donald, (Wireless Operator Air)
    RAF Sgt J Shaw, (Mid Upper Gunner)
    RAF Flt Sgt G C Spurden, (Rear Gunner)
    Later a Missing Research & Enquiry Unit reported that “the aircraft exploded in the air
    and crashed on 22nd March 1944 near Brauneberg on the Mosel. Brauneberg is 19 miles
    north east of Trier, Germany.
    Four of the crew were killed and Sgt Butland, FO Sparrow and Flt Sgt Whiter were
    POW’s.
    Those killed are buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Locality Kamp Lintfort,
    Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Rhsinberg is 24kms north of Krefeld and 13kms south of
    Wesel.
    In Memory of
    Sergeant GEORGE DONALD

    1553633, 44 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 20
    on 22 March 1944
    Son of George and Jessie Wilson Donald.
    Remembered with honour
    RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant JAMES SHAW

    2211323, 44 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 22 March 1944

    Remembered with honour
    RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant GEORGE CHARLES SPURDEN

    1442428, 44 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 24
    on 22 March 1944
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Spurden; stepson of Mrs. I. K. Spurden, of Letchworth, Hertfordshire.
    Remembered with honour
    RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    This was a very sad death in a most famous family.

    In Memory of
    Pilot Officer IRVINE SCOTT OWEN GAZE

    60097, 610 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 19
    on 23 March 1941
    Son of Sqdn. Ldr. Irvine Owen Gaze, R.A.A.F., and Freda Gaze, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    PORTFIELD (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

    Portfield All Saints Churchyard 60097 Gaze_ISO.jpg

    His Fathers Biography
    Irvine Owen Gaze

    Born in 1890, and a cousin of Spencer-Smith. Educated at Scotch College, West Australia, and was in business in Melbourne when he joined part of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition (Ross Sea Party). After the expedition, he went to England and joined the Royal Flying Corps and qualified as an instructor. He was shot down twice. Between the two World Wars held an executive position with the Clifton Shoe Company at Clifton Hill Victoria and in World War Two was an instructor with the RAAF and became a Squadron Leader. He then farmed sheep, and died in 1988.
    New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust: preservation of Antarctic heritage


    His brother was

    Frederick Anthony Owen Gaze DFC & Two Bars,[1][2] OAM[3] (born 3 February 1920) is a decorated World War II flying ace credited with 12.5 aerial victories and a former racing driver from Australia. He was born in Melbourne. He participated in four World Championship Grands Prix driving his HWM, debuting on June 22, 1952.[4] He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula 2 races across Europe as well as competing in the Australian and New Zealand Grands Prix in the early 1950s. Gaze is also step-grandfather to the third generation of Davison racing drivers, Alex, Will and James.
    His war time service highlights included becoming the first Squadron Leader of an Allied jet air wing (RAF 616 squadron) to operate over enemy territory, first Allied pilot to land in France after D-Day, the first Australian to shoot down a jet (Me 262) in combat and becoming the first Australian jet fighter pilot flying the Gloster Meteor during the closing stages of the war. His Me 262 victory also resulted in Tony Gaze being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the third time and as such become the only Australian during World War II to have achieved this honour. He escaped from occupied France with the help of the French Resistance after being shot down in combat. After 488 combat missions he ended the war as Australia's tenth highest ace achieving 12.5 victories all while flying his favourite mount the Supermarine Spitfire. During the war he had also flown with some of the most famous names including Wing Commander Douglas Bader, highest allied European war Ace Johnnie Johnson (Spitfire Ace with 38 victories) as part of the RAF's famous Tangmere Wing and Paul Tibbets (pilot of the 'Enola Gay', B29 Bomber) who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
     
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  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Squadron Leader RICHARD THOMAS FITZGERALD
    D F C

    295249, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 24 March 1944
    Son of Patrick Daniel and Mary Margaret Fitzgerald, of Namban, Western Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY



    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/6/460 Commonwealth War Graves records
    W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 129,
    volume 1944
    .Aircraft Type: Lancaster
    Serial number: ND 597
    Radio call sign: TL _ A
    Unit: ATTD 35 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Lancaster ND597 took off form RAF Graveley at 1844 hours on the night of 24/25th
    March 1944 to bomb Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it
    failed to return to base.
    Crew:
    RAAF 295242 Sqn Ldr Fitzgerald, R T DFC Captain (Pilot)
    RAF FO Dineen, C J (Flight Engineer)
    RAAF 426690 FO Savage, J F (Navigator)
    RAF Flt Sgt W S Muego (Bomb Aimer)
    RAAF 405673 WO R A Brewington, (Wireless Operator Air)
    RAF Flt Sgt S H Boulton, (Air Gunner)
    RAF Flt Sgt F K Smith (Air Gunner)
    It was later established that ND597 when homeward bound was attacked by a night
    fighter and exploded in the air. The aircraft crashed at 11pm on 24 March 1944 at
    Welsleben, which is approx 10 miles south of Magdeburg, Germany.
    Five of the crew were killed and Flt Sgt’s Muego and Boulton were POW’s. These two
    survivors were ejected from the plane by the blast of the explosion.
    Those killed are buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery
    Citation :
    The Citation for the DFC awarded to the then Flt Lt Fitzgerald reads as follows :
    “ Flt Lt Fitzgerald of 77 Sqn RAF has completed very many sorties during which he has
    bombed such targets as Berlin, Cologne, Mannheim and Hanover. He has displayed great
    skill and enterprise setting an example which has won the confidence of his crew. On one
    occasion when attacking Cologne, his aircraft was badly damaged by ack-ack fire. Coolly
    and skilfully Flt Lt Fitzgerald flew clear of the defences went on to execute his attack and
    afterwards flew safely back to base. His superb effort was worthy of the highest praise.
    (London Gazette 16/11/43 Page 5023)

    Savage_JF.jpg
    In Memory of
    Flying Officer JOHN FRANCIS SAVAGE

    426690, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 27
    on 24 March 1944
    Son of Frederick John and Genevieve Constance Savage; of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; husband of Molly E. Savage, of Miles. Queensland.
    Remembered with honour
    BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Flying Officer CECIL JOHN DINEEN

    53475, 35 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 20
    on 24 March 1944
    Son of Francis Frederick Dineen and of Isabella Dineen (nee Fisher); husband of Mary Isabel Dineen, of Bexleyheath, Kent.
    Remembered with honour
    BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Warrant Officer ROBERT ALEXANDER BREWINGTON

    405673, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 27
    on 24 March 1944
    Son of Warren Alexander and Alice May Brewington; husband of Jessie May Brewington, of Paddington, Queensland, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Flight Sergeant FREDERICK KENNETH SMITH

    1433744, 35 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 30
    on 24 March 1944
    Son of Frederick and Mary Smith, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent.
    Remembered with honour
    BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY
     

    Attached Files:

  10. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    in memoriam
    roll of honour-on active service
    long.-in proud and loving memory of my dear nephew, flying-officer w. H. (bill) long, 419859, who lost his life air operations, germany. March 25, 1945. -sadly missed. (inserted by m. Mckenzie, dandenong.)

    long.-419859 f.o. William henry long previously reported missing, now classified lost his life march 25, 1945, air operations over germany, beloved only son of mr. And mrs. E. W. Long, loved brother of enid (mrs. Williams, deceased), marjorie (de- ceased), and lorraine (mrs. Woodgate). -duty nobly done.

    View attachment 48300

    raaf fatalities in second world war among
    raaf personnel serving on attachment
    in royal air force squadrons and support units
    419859 flying officer long, william henry
    source:
    Awm 237 (65) naa : A705, 166/25/290 commonwealth war graves records
    aircraft type: Tempest
    serial number: Sn 138
    radio call sign:
    Unit: Attd 80 sqn raf
    summary:
    Tempest sn138 was detailed on 25th march 1945 to carry out an armed recce of the
    bocholt-borken area. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed in flames from a height of
    1000 feet. The pilot was killed.
    Crew:
    Raaf 419859 fo long, w h (pilot)
    fo long is buried in the rheichswald forest war cemetery, locality kleve, nordrhein-
    westfalen, germany. The cemetery is 5kms south west of kleve.
    332
     

    Attached Files:

  11. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
    IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

    Source:
    AWM237 (65) Micro Film No 463 OAFH Commonwealth War Graves records
    W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War :Page 53,
    Volume 1942..
    Aircraft Type: Wellington
    Serial number: Z 1143
    Radio call sign: BU -
    Unit: ATTD 214 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Wellington Z1143 took off from RAF Stradishall on the night of 26/27th March 1942,
    detailed to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and
    it failed to return to base.
    Crew:
    RAAF 400581 PO Creed, E W C Captain (Pilot)
    RAAF 400885 Sgt W W R Norton, (Pilot)
    RAAF 404277 Sgt W I Christsen, (Observer)
    RAF Sgt A F M Emms, (Wireless Air Gunner)
    RAF Sgt J R Payne, (Wireless Air Gunner)
    ARMY Capt Mair A P (Royal Artillery attached to 214 Sqn)
    The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2225 hours at Vriezenveen
    (Overjissel) on the east side of the Overjissel Canal and some 9kms NNW of Almelo,
    Holland..
    All on board were killed and they are buried in the Vriezenveen General Cemetery,
    Netherlands. Vriezaenveen is a small town 9kms north of Almelo and 1.5kms east of the
    Overjissel Canal.

    Vriezenveen Gen Cem 404277 Christsen_WI.jpg
    In Memory of
    Pilot Officer ERIC WILLIAM CUTHBERT CREED

    400581, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Willie Herbert and Edith Gwennie Creed, of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant WILLIAM WYKES ROBEY NORTON

    400885, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 29
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Wykes Strange Chapman Norton and Eva Grace Norton, of Armadale, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant WILLIAM WYKES ROBEY NORTON

    400885, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 29
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Wykes Strange Chapman Norton and Eva Grace Norton, of Armadale, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant WALTER IRVINE CHRISTSEN

    404277, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Walter Irvine Hans and Isabel Christsen, of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY

    In Memory of
    Sergeant ALBERT FREDERICK MONS EMMS

    1376234, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 27
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Frederick and Sarah Emms; husband of Phyllis Mary Emms, of Welling, Kent.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant JOHN ROUTLEDGE PAYNE

    984801, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 25
    on 26 March 1942
    Son of Alfred Joseph and Catherine Payne, of Penrith, Cumberland.
    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Captain ALFRED PETER MAIR

    64403, Royal Artillery
    attd., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 26 March 1942

    Remembered with honour
    VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Pieter F

    Pieter F Very Senior Member

  13. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thought I recalled a couple of the names however these anniversaries are just being picked at random.
     
  14. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    27 March 1944

    298 Squadron
    Halifax III NA664
    South Farm, Smallwood, Spetisbury, Dorset.


    The aircraft was returning to base at the conclusion of a night cross country sortie of nearly five hours duration. On the downwind leg of the landing approach the aircraft lost speed, its port wing dropped and it dived into the ground off a stall. The most probable cause of the accident was that the pilot forgot to lower the flaps to 30 degrees defore lowering the undercarriage and was not immediatly concerned when the airspeed fell below 120 mph. It was commented that the Halifax bleeds off speed rapidly below 140 mph and there is a marked tendency in both Mark III and V Halifaxes for the throttles to slip back, below – 3 inches of boost. This crew had only arrived recently from 1665 HCU and were inexperienced on the type. Nonetheless, flying Halifax NA613, they had participated in Operation VARSITY and their aircraft towed a Horsa. During the return, that aircraft was struck by AA fire and suffered hydraulic problems necessitating an emergency landing at Manston.

    Casualties

    Flying Officer Paul Charles WILLIAMS 21 Pilot
    Flight Sergeant George Seaton REDKNAP 27 RCAF Navigator
    Flying Officer Harold Eric ACKROYD 25 Bomb Aimer
    Flight Sergeant George Cameron McKay STEWART 23 Wireless Operator
    Sergeant Jack Redman PAYNE 20 Flight Engineer
    Sergeant Henry Albert STINSON 24 Air Gunner

    'Though Without Anger' - Colin Cummings
     
    Pieter F likes this.
  15. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    In Memory of
    Sergeant DONALD JAMES RAE

    406681, Royal Australian Air Force
    who died age 21
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of Leonard Clarkson Rae and Irene Eddleston Rae, of Katanning, Western Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY



    RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
    RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
    IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
    406681 Sergeant RAE, Donald James
    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/155/112 Micro Film No 463 OAFH
    Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses
    of the Second World War, Page 82, Volume1943.
    Aircraft Type: Stirling
    Serial number: BF 453
    Radio call sign: BU – L
    Unit: ATTD 214 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Stirling BF453 took off from RAF Chedburgh at 1940 hours on the night of 27/28th
    March 1943, detailed to bomb Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off
    and it failed to return to base.
    Crew:
    RAF PO Challis E Captain (Pilot)
    RAF Sgt R G Martin, (Flight Engineer)
    RAF Sgt R Anderson, (Navigator)
    RAF Sgt C K Phin, (Navigator)
    RAF Sgt E Greenhalgh, (Wireless Air Gunner)
    RAF Sgt S A Woodrow, (Air Gunner)
    RAAF 406681 Sgt D J Rae, (Air Gunner)
    The aircraft was reported crashed at Finkenwerder, a town on the south bank of the Elbe
    and some 8kms south west from the centre of Hamburg, Germany.
    All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Hanover War Cemetery, Germany..


    In Memory of
    Pilot Officer EDWARD CHALLIS

    140914, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 22
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of Vincent and Clara Challis, of Stocksbridge, Yorkshire.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant REGINALD GEORGE MARTIN

    1171555, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 27 March 1943

    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ROBERT ANDERSON

    942664, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 25
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of John Wilfred and Hannah Bowman Anderson, of Fulwell, Sunderland, Co. Durham.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant CRAWFORD KIER PHIN

    1349598, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 21
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of David and Mary Maitland Phin.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ERIC GREENHALGH

    1379905, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of William and Elizabeth Ann Greenhalgh, of Astley Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant STANLEY ALFRED WOODROW

    933968, 214 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 22
    on 27 March 1943
    Son of Herbert Frederick and Ellen Cecilia Woodrow, of South Norwood, Surrey.
    Remembered with honour
    HANOVER WAR CEMETERY
     
  16. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    The first allied airman to be buried at Eindhoven (Woensal) General Cemetery


    In Memory of
    Flight Lieutenant JOHN ALOYSIUS SIEBERT
    D F C

    36155, 207 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died age 23
    on 28 March 1941
    Son of Francis Joseph and Ella Mary Siebert, of Kingswood, South Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY

    Eindhoven (Woensel) 36155 Siebert_JA.JPG

    Flight Lieutenant John Aloysius Siebert, also of Adelaide, was 23 when he was awarded the D.F.C. late in 1940. Siebert received his flying training at Point Cook, gaining his wings in June 1938. He left the following month for England for service with the R.A.F. Siebert gained the award for successfully carrying out 200 hours' operational flying, many of the flights having been made in adverse weather conditions. His courage and determination in attacking the enemy had been outstanding, and he had a long record of consistently good work.

    Avro Manchester L7303 EM-P: Dusseldorf, 27/28 March 1941: pilot Flt Lt JA Siebert DFC RAAF

    John Aloysius Siebert DFC: note that his grave, Plot FF, Grave 4, like all the 207 Squadron graves has a poppy cross planted in front bearing the inscription From 207 Squadron RAF Association.

    John Siebert, aged 23, was the son of Francis Joseph and Ella Mary Siebert, of Kingswood, South Australia. He was the first Allied airman to be buried in Eindhoven after his 207 Squadron Avro Manchester, based at RAF Waddington, was shot down on the night of 27/28 March 1941. L7303 EM-P was attacking Dusseldorf : the rest of the crew were POWs -

    2nd Pilot Peter Robson,
    Observer George Fomison,
    W/Op AG Jim Taylor,
    M/U William McDougall and
    R/G Peter Gurnell.

    The remaining members of his crew were able to bale out in time. John Siebert stayed in his Manchester until everybody else had jumped to safety, The next morning it appeared that his parachute was only half open when he hit the ground.

    Siebert's Manchester was shot down by Stabs Feldwebel Gerhard Herzog of NachtJagdGeschwader 1 flying a Messerschmitt Me-110. Stfw Herzog himself was killed in action on 20 October 1943 having shot down between 9 and 12 aircraft.
     
  17. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Kierath_RV.jpg

    View attachment 48480

    by david edlington

    thousands of their compatriots fell victim to fighters and flak in the air battles of world war ii, but five australians who broke out of stalag luft iii in the great escape on march 24-25, 1944, met pitiless deaths at the hands of the gestapo, along with 45 other airmen.

    They were squadron leader james catanach, dfc, aged 22; warrant officer albert horace hake, 27; flight lieutenant reginald victor kierath, 29; flight lieutenant thomas barker leigh, 25; and squadron leader john edwin ashley williams, dfc, 24.

    Of the five, woff hake – whose spitfire was shot down over france in april 1942 on operations with no. 72 squadron (raf) – played the most prominent part in preparations for the breakout as he was the mastermind of the compass-making operation.

    The ingenious compasses were made from melted bakelite phonograph records, slivers of magnetised razor blades, glass from broken windows and solder obtained from the seals of tin cans. Woff hake stamped them with the inscription “made in stalag luft iii. Patent pending” so that the bearers, if recaptured, would not be shot as spies.

    This did not prevent his execution after he was caught not far from sagan, where the pow camp was located, as he slogged on foot across the snow-covered landscape.

    When he joined the raaf in january 1941, on his enlistment papers he had included ice skating among his list of sporting pursuits. (he first met his future wife, noela, at an ice rink. They were married five months before he embarked for service overseas.) but the icy conditions the exposed pow faced on the run were something else and he suffered severe frostbite. Other recaptured allied airmen saw him hobbling with a group of prisoners and a gestapo escort to a black car outside the gorlitz civilian prison on march 30. The man renowned for lively renditions of songs, including waltzing matilda, on guitar at stalag luft iii, was never seen alive again.

    Fltlt leigh was also in the group of airmen murdered at that time. He, too, had been recaptured in the sagan area.

    An air gunner with no. 76 squadron (raf), he had been in a halifax bomber that had been shot down in august 1941. An ex-raf halton apprentice, his nationality is listed as united kingdom on commonwealth war graves commission records, but he originally came from sydney.

    Like fltlt leigh, sqnldr williams joined the raf before the war, though he was flying with no. 450 squadron (raaf) when his kittyhawk was shot down during a strafing mission in north africa in october 1942.

    He had been born in new zealand but his family moved to australia when he was a child.
    Known to his squadron mates as “willy”, he took to the skies in baggy khaki shorts and shirt and leather sandals.

    Despite his appearance, he was a formidable pilot who became an ace and earned the dfc.

    At the pow camp before the great escape he was among those who collected wooden slats from the bunks to shore up the tunnels.

    He and fltlt “rusty” kierath were among a group of 12 airmen disguised as foreign workers who attempted to make their way to czechoslovakia.

    Their pair – who had attended the same school – were arrested with two others by a mountain patrol near the border and taken to reichenberg jail. They were murdered by the gestapo on march 29.

    For the kierath family, descended from german immigrants and who had already had a son killed in action with the australian army at tobruk in 1941, the death of another son who they believed was safe in a pow camp would have been devastating.

    A member of 450sqn, fltlt kierath became a pow in april 1943 after being hit by anti-aircraft fire while attacking naval targets.

    At stalag luft iii, he helped create fake walls to hide forged documents, al hake’s compasses and other material vital to the breakout .

    Sqnldr catanach enlisted in the raaf in melbourne in august 1940. His previous military experience was confined to three years in the cadet corps at geelong grammar, but he became an accomplished flier.

    He never lived to receive the dfc awarded for bringing back to base on three occasions aircraft that had been severely damaged on raids with no. 455 squadron (raaf).

    There was to be no return when his hampden bomber and other coastal command aircraft flew out on september 2, 1942, for murmansk, russia, to protect arctic convoys. Near the finnish/norwegian border, anti-aircraft fire from an armed trawler forced him to crash land. One of the raaf’s youngest squadron leaders and keenest fliers was forcibly grounded – a prisoner in stalag luft iii.

    Fluent in german, he learned norwegian in the pow camp. After he broke out, he and three companions headed for denmark. Near the border a suspicious policeman insisted on checking their cases, which contained escape rations. Inspection of their clothing revealed they were wearing altered greatcoats. The four airmen were handed over to the kiel gestapo and murdered on march 29, 1944.

    The hollywood myth

    in the classic film the great escape, one of the scenes in the closing stages shows a character played by james coburg and supposed to be an australian, escaping over the pyrenees into spain.

    The reality was far different as only three of the 76 airmen who escaped made it to safety and none were australian (two were norwegian and one was dutch). The choice of an aussie character may well have been in acknowledgement of paul brickhill, who wrote the book the great escape, which inspired the movie.

    However, there was an australian link to one of the successful escapees – dutch pilot flight lieutenant bram van der stock wore an altered raaf overcoat on his journey to freedom.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    30 March 1944

    42 OTU
    Albemarle P1463
    Wigber Low, Bradbourne, Near Ashbourne

    The aircraft was operating on a dual night sortie of circuits and landings and was being operated by an instructor pilot, two trainee pilots and a wireless operator. Almost immediately after take-off the aircraft failed to gain sufficient height to clear some high tension cables which were only 200 feet above the airfield altitude and flew through these before crashing and exploding in flames. From the flight path of the aircraft it is apparent that the crew had initiated a turn back to the airfield during which the cables were hit.

    Casualties

    P/O. Douglas Reginald Revitt. Pilot. CWGC :: Casualty Details
    F/O. Eric Mathew Montagu O'Connor RAAF. Pilot.CWGC :: Casualty Details
    F/S. Samuel Morrison. Pilot. CWGC :: Casualty Details
    Sgt. George Bruce Scammell. Wireless Operator. CWGC :: Casualty Details

    'Though Without Anger. - Colin Cummings.
     
  19. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Birth 12 Nov 1912 Brookton, Western Australia, Australia
    Died 30 Mar 1941 Hospital, Ipswich, England Age 28 years


    White (3).JPG
    In Memory of
    Sergeant FREDERICK BEN WHITE

    633512, 7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 30 March 1941
    Son of William Benjamin Harris White and Eizabeth Mary Ann White, of Brookton, Western Australia; husband of Phyllis White.
    Remembered with honour
    BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Birth 12 Nov 1912 Brookton, Western Australia, Australia
    Died 30 Mar 1941 Hospital, Ipswich, England Age 28 years


    View attachment 48296 View attachment 48297
    In Memory of
    Sergeant FREDERICK BEN WHITE

    633512, 7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 30 March 1941
    Son of William Benjamin Harris White and Eizabeth Mary Ann White, of Brookton, Western Australia; husband of Phyllis White.
    Remembered with honour
    BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY

    Details of the above loss......

    23-14 March 1941

    7 Squadron
    Stirling I N3643
    MG-G
    Op. Calais

    The aircraft took off from Newmarket. Caught fire in flight and while trying to force-land collided with H/T cables and struck the roof of a house before crashing at 0152 hrs on Hazelwood Common near Leiston, Suffolk. Sgt. White died from his injuries on 30 March.

    Crew.

    S/L. S A F. Robertson +
    Sgt. A J. Roberts +
    Sgt. G M. Short +
    Sgt. E V. Seymour +
    Sgt. F B. White inj
    Sgt. P. Green +
    Sgt. J B. Clarke +

    'Bomber Command Losses' Vol.2 - W R. Chorley
     

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