AOP (Air Observation Post) Squadron Casualties

"Ramacal,

This is perhaps a bit off topic but I wonder if you have the War Diary of 'B' Flight 658 (AOP) of Jan 45. 'B' Flight was for this month (or part of it) attached to the 5 AGRA. Weather permitting they kept a continuous watch over the front.

In the War Diary of the 5 AGRA I have found only one instance where AOP called for fire, which was on the 13th of January when in gathering dusk six Panther tanks were spotted and targetted near Nisramont.

I wonder if you have more info on their operations."

Sorry. I only have the war diary of 652 AOP from June 44 to June 45. No other AOP units.

 

Name: MOLISON, WILLIAM STRACHAN
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 662 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 28/03/1945
Service No: 109759
Awards: D F C and Bar
Additional information: Son of William James Molison and Hilda Maria Molison, of Sanderstead, Surrey.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 60. C. 13.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Details from the war diary of 662 AOP Squadron about the death of W S Molison. Another incorrect unit recorded on CWGC.

 

Name: WYKES, PETER TERREY
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 658 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 24/03/1945
Service No: 85197
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of Gerald Davis Wykes and Gertrude Amy Wykes, of Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 53. G.8.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY



Name: McNAIRNEY, FRANCIS
Rank: Leading Aircraftman (Obs.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 658 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 24/03/1945
Service No: 1371126
Additional information: Son of Anthony McNairney and of Catherine McNairney (nee Miller); husband of T. E. McNairney, of Polbeth, Midlothian.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. A. 2.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY



The war diary of 662 AOP Sqdn records the shooting down of 658 Sqdn's Capt Wykes and his Observer by "one of our own shells".

 

Name: BALLYN, CECIL CLAUDE
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 658 A.O.P. Sqdn.,
Age: 38
Date of Death: 18/03/1945
Service No: 184322
Awards: D F C and Bar
Additional information: Son of William and Catherine Goldsack Ballyn; husband of Mildred Irene Ballyn, of Chelsea, London.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 13. E. 4. Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY

Photo from the Sanguinius set on Flikr



From the war diary of 658 AOP SQDN.

Wounded by small arms fire on the 19th February 1945.



Admitted to 3 Casualty Clearing Station on the same day.



Recommended for the DSO on the 23rd by Brigadier M Yates, DSO, OBE.
(Not granted - Maybe got the Bar to his DFC?)



B Flight advised of his death on the 18th March.

 

Rob
5AGRA Diary 19th Feb

 

Nice one Rob. The same Brigadier Yates.Rob
5AGRA Diary 19th Feb

 

BALLARD, ERNEST BENJAMIN
Rank: Major
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 258 Bty., 65 Field Regt.
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 655 A.O.P. Sqdn.,
Age: 32
Date of Death: 18/05/1943
Service No: 72398
Additional information: Son of Charles and Elizabeth Ann Ballard; husband of Kathleen Florence Ballard, of Wokingham, Berkshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. A. Grave 1380.
Cemetery: HORNCHURCH CEMETERY

(Also posted in the RA Commemoration thread)

 

Name: Burgess, Geoffrey L.
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: 653 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 26/08/1944
Service No: not known
Cemetery: VILLEZ-SUR-LE-NEUBOURG CHURCHYARD
Additional information: Husband of Margaret of Oakwood, Hexham, Northumberland.
Interred in the Churchyard at Le Neuberg near Rouen

The Flight Diary records that on August 26th 1944 "the Flight moved to a landing ground [ALG] at Combon.. ..Capt Burgess did not turn up.. for the night "; on the 28th Aug: "there is still no news [of Capt Burgess] in spite of recce by plane by Squadron HQ and ‘A’ Flight." On 30th Aug: "It was with great regret that the Flight heard the news that Capt Burgess had been killed in a flying accident near Neubourg [where he had been flying in support of an Armoured Brigade].

Captain Burgess is remembered in a memorial window of the church at St John Lee near Hexham.

Pages of the war diary relating to the above.

 

Name: WYKES, PETER TERREY
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 658 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 24/03/1945
Service No: 85197
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information: Son of Gerald Davis Wykes and Gertrude Amy Wykes, of Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 53. G.8.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: McNAIRNEY, FRANCIS
Rank: Leading Aircraftman (Obs.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 658 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 24/03/1945
Service No: 1371126
Additional information: Son of Anthony McNairney and of Catherine McNairney (nee Miller); husband of T. E. McNairney, of Polbeth, Midlothian.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. A. 2.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Details from the war diary of 658 AOP about the above casualties.

Both men reported missing. An OP of 147 Field Regt saw the Auster crash and reported no one walked away from the wreckage.

Crash site confirmed. Men believed buried.

Plane confirmed as that belong to the 2 men. Crosses and details placed on the graves.

 

Name: HILL, RAYMOND JESSE
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 658 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 14/10/1944
Service No: 137284 Additional information: Son of Alfred Jesse and Evelyn Ruth Hill; husband of Joan Mary Hill, of Plaistow, Essex.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 10.
Cemetery: OVERLOON WAR CEMETERY

Photo from the Sanguinius set on Flikr.



Copy of the war diary page regarding Lt Hill.

 

Name: HEARD, PETER IAN DOUGLAS
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 659 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 27/06/1944
Service No: 85531
Additional information: Son of R. D. and Beryl N. E. Heard, of Bridgend, Glamorgan. Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 15.
Cemetery: BROUAY WAR CEMETERY



From the war diary of 659 AOP Sqdn. Capt Heard shot down by ME-109's.

 

Name: LODER, DAVID WARREN
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 659 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 02/08/1944
Service No: 182101
Additional information: Son of Albert E. and Florence G. Loder, of Blean, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. C. 2.
Cemetery: ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY



Name: AITCHISON, PRIDEAUX
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 659 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Date of Death: 02/08/1944
Service No: 1531116
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. C. 1.
Cemetery: ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY



The 2 men were reported missing and had not returned.



The 2 men had been found at Le Tourner by 181 Field Regt, RA. Presumed shot down.



The CO attended the funeral. Camerions provided the burial party.

 

Name: WILSON, JOHN
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 659 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 15/11/1944
Service No: 149792
Additional information: Son of John and Mary Wilson, of Greenock, Renfrewshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 2.
Cemetery: OPLOO (ST. ANTHONIS) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHYARD



From the war dairy of 659 AOP.

The aircraft he was flying stalled and crashed.

 

Name: STUART, DENNIS IVOR
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 659 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 04/02/1945
Service No: 201836
Additional information: Son of William Horace and Gwendolen Lewis Stuart, of Porthcawl, Glamorgan.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot RR. Grave 15.
Cemetery: EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY

Photo courtesy of PieterF if I am correct.



Name: RICHES, VERNON JOWETT
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 659 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 03/02/1945
Service No: 1137289
Additional information: Son of Harold Riches, and of Elsie Riches, of Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. F. 6.
Cemetery: MIERLO WAR CEMETERY

From the war diary of 659 AOP Sqdn.

The men were shot down by an FW-190 on the 3rd. LAC Riches died the same day. Capt Stuart had severe injuries and died the following day. The funerals of both men took place on the 5th.

 

Name: CURTIS-WILLSON, CLIFFORD
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 660 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 12/03/1945
Service No: 72227
Additional information: Son of William Thomas Curtis-Willson and Irene Madge Curtis-Willson; husband of Joan Maureen Curtis Willson, of Rottingdean, Sussex, England.
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. B. 5.
Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

Photo from the Sanguinius set on Flikr



Discovered from the war diary, that Curtis-Willson had a passenger the day they were shot down. He was a photographer from the Canadian Film Unit.

Name: BARNETT, HARRY HENRY ALFRED
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: General List, Canadian Army Unit
Text: 3 Public Relations Group.
Date of Death: 11/03/1945
Service No: D/46110
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. G. 14.
Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

(Photo also from the same source)



From the war diary of 660 AOP Sqdn

Their aircraft was attacked by ME-109's. They got away, but Curtis-Willson was severely wounded and his passenger Sjt Barnett had been killed.

Capt Willson died the following day and was buried.

 

Name: HOLLIS, FREDERICK EDWIN
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 660 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 03/03/1945
Service No: 182464
Additional information: Son of Herbert and Amy Hollis; husband of Hilda May Hollis, of Horsford, Norfolk, England.
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. D. 3.
Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

Photo from the Sanguinius set on Flikr



From the war diary of 660 AOP Sqdn.

Capt Hollis was killed in a traffic accident. Run down in the dark by a heavy lorry. The funeral took place the following day.

 

March 1945 was a bad month for 660 AOP Squadron.

Name: BRANDON, HEDLEY BRENT St. GEORGE
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 660 A.O.P. Sqdn.,
Age: 25
Date of Death: 26/03/1945
Service No: 94731
Additional information: Son of Noel Harold and Muriel E. Brandon, of Boar's Hill, Berkshire.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 47. A. 5.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Photo of Captain Brandon with thanks to his Family





Name: ROBINSON, GEORGE JOHN
Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class (Flt. Mech.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 660 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 26/03/1945
Service No: 2206105
Grave/Memorial Reference: 21. G. 9.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

From the war diary of 660 AOP Sqdn.

The 2 men went missing on the 26th. Their remains were discovered on the 27th and the funerals took place on the 28th.

 

Name: EVANS, HUGH LEWIS
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 660 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 18/04/1944
Service No: 77537
Additional information: Son of Charles Lewis Evans and Edith Mary Evans, of Newbury Berkshire; husband of Nona Beatrice Mary Evans.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Left Hand Column.
Cemetery: OXFORD CREMATORIUM

Photo from Findagrave





From the War Diary of 660 AOP Sqdn.

Capt Evans was killed in a flying accident. The Unit's first fatality since it's formation.

 

Name: HOCKNEY, ALFRED STANLEY
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force Secondary
Unit Text: attd. 660 A. O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 25/07/1944
Service No: 1079276
Additional information: Son of John William and Ellen Mary Hockney; husband of Muriel Joan Hockney, of West Tofts, Thetford, Norfolk.
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. B. 5.
Cemetery: RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY

Although not a flyer, it makes a change to find an Other Rank's death mentioned by name and the circumstances.

From the war diary of 660 AOP Sqdn.

The Sqdn was bombed and he was killed by Anti-personnel bombs.

 

Name: RUSSEL, GEORGE VIVIAN DEREK
Rank: Captain (Air Obsn. Post Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Air Force
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 661 A.O.P. Sqdn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 22/06/1944
Service No: 143848
Additional information: Son of Maj. Francis Cokayne Russel and Adelina Ethel Russel, of South Kensington, London.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. OO. Grave 17.
Cemetery: CUDHAM (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD, ORPINGTON



From the war diary of 661 AOP Sqdn.

Killed whilst flying near Croydon.