The men and women of Balloon Command were given vital areas to defend and as such these areas became targets for the German Luftwaffe. This meant that the operators were in a danger zone should an attack take place. Research has shown that over 450 men and women of Balloon Command died in WWII. As this site is developed we will record their names below. This information has been supplied courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Mr Len Bacon. http://www.bbrclub.org/roll_of_honour.htm
Presumably this is just referring to those actually manning the barrage balloons, but men were also transferred into manning High Speed Air Sea Rescue Launches. In case this is of interest, I add it here, if you feel it not appropriate, let me know and I'll delete, but I feel it's an aspect that may help others researching "unusual" deaths of Balloon Section personnel.. DENNIS, DONALD BASIL. Rank: Leading Aircraftman. Service No: 1383647. Age: 22. Date of Death: 19/08/1942. Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 961 Sqdn. (Barrage Balloon Sqdn.) Panel Reference: Panel 97. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Basil and Edith Mary Dennis, of Rye, Sussex. [961 Squadron was an RAF Anti Aircraft Barrage Balloon Section based at Dover. You might question why a member of such a ground based operation would be on the RAF Runnymede to AIRMEN with no known graves. The following accounts will explain Many researchers have been stumped by casualties with a Balloon Squadron reference, but who were in fact manning HSLs (High Speed Launches) engaged in rescue duties during “Operation Jubilee” (the raid on Dieppe). SUTTON, ARNOLD WEBSTER. Rank: Leading Aircraftman. Service No: 1054416. Date of Death: 19/08/1942. Age: 25. Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 961 Balloon Sqdn. Grave: 2. E. 2. Pihen les Guines War Cemetery Additional Information: Son of Henry Higginson and Nellie Maud Sutton, of Wolverhampton. ROYAL AIR FORCE, AIR-SEA RESCUE CREWS KILLED F/O HILL.J.R. H.S.L.122 Skipper 961 Sqn Sgt OSBOURNE.F. H.S.L.122 M.B.C. 961 Sqn Cpl APPLEBY.R.A. H.S.L.122 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. DENNIS.D.B. H.S.L.122 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. GOOD.H.K. H.S.L.122 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. MOSS.R.J. H.S.L.122 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. WILKINS.F.S. H.S.L.123 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. KRAFT.C.W. H.S.L.123 W/Op. 961 Sqn F/O BROAD.R. H.S.L.147 Skipper 961 Sqn Sgt STEPHENS.J.S. H.S.L.147 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. BAMBRIDGE.E.H. H.S.L.147 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. CURTISS.F. H.S.L.147 M.B.C. 961 Sqn L.A.C. SUTTON.A.W. H.S.L.147 N/ORD 961 Sqn L.A.C. STEPHENSON.R.F. H.S.L.147 M.B.C. 961.Sqn. 5 RAF crewmen were captured (F/S S. MacKenzie, AC1 D.B. Bradbury, Cpl R.F. Braddy, G. Butterworth and W.G. Roy). Lot Details. Lot 1017, 13 December 2007. Category: Groups & Single Decorations for Gallantry. Estimate: £2000-£2500. Hammer Price: £4500 Description: An outstanding Second World War Dieppe raid B.E.M. group of five awarded to Acting Corporal M. Nunn, Royal Air Force, the last man left standing on his Air Sea Rescue (A.S.R.) High Speed Launch (H.S.L.) after it was attacked by enemy aircraft: rescued by another H.S.L., this too had to be abandoned as a result of 30 minutes at the mercy of half a dozen F.W. 190s, until, at length, a few survivors were plucked to safety by a third launch from No. 27 A.S.R. Dover British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (755120 A.C. 1 M. Nunn, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (5) £2000-2500 Footnote: B.E.M. London Gazette 29 December 1942. The original recommendation states: ‘On 19 August 1942, A.C.1 Nunn was Wireless Operator in R.A.F. High Speed Launch (H.S.L.) 122. During operations the launch was severely attacked by enemy aircraft. He stuck to his post until the W./T. was shot away and, going on deck, found he was the only member of crew uninjured, the other members being either killed or wounded. He showed great presence of mind by first endeavouring to stop engines until he was almost overcome by fumes. He then ran to the wheel and continued to steer the launch for the British coast until sometime later he was taken off by H.S.L. 123. Shortly afterwards H.S.Ls 122 and 123 were sunk by the enemy. A.C. 1 Nunn has been with H.S.L’s Dover since December 1941 and has carried out numerous operations with skill and efficiency.’ Michael Nunn was born in South Hadley, Barnsley in August 1920 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force at Cambridge in June 1939. After initial training, he was posted to No. 27 Air Sea Rescue (A.S.R.) at Dover in December 1941, and it was in this capacity that he won his B.E.M. off Dieppe in August 1942. Of the 14 High Speed Launches called out on 19 August 1942, in response to no less than 47 “Mayday” calls, three were lost to enemy action, among them, as related above, Nunn’s H.S.L. 122 - five of her crew were killed, including Flying Officer J. R. Hill, four wounded and two taken P.O.W. Her fate - and that of H.S.L. 123 - is best summarised in an official report submitted by Squadron Leader Coates, from which the following extract has been taken: ‘At about 16.35, four miles S.E. of the position, going north, 123 was attacked by two out of four F.W. 190s that appeared ahead. L.A.C. Wilkins was wounded and Sergeant Smith slightly wounded. A “Help” signal was sent. The planes did not return and course was maintained. Shortly afterwards the boat was challenged from the shore and the batteries opened fire, the shells falling astern. At 16.50 four F.W. 190s attacked from the port beam and course was altered towards them and no casualties resulted. A second “Help” signal was sent. Course was altered to N.W. to try and shake off the planes, which again disappeared, and to contact 122 [with Nunn aboard] for mutual aid and support ... 122, when sighted, was being bombed by a Heinkel and when closed at 17.15 was found to have been badly damaged by cannon and machine-gun fire, and with only five men left alive. These were being transferred when six or eight F.W. 190s appeared and attacked from the port beam, four serious casualties being sustained. A signal “Urgent Help 182 Dungeness 23” was sent. The boats then became separated. In view of the fact that not a single British fighter had provided cover or was even sighted from the time the English coast was left, and that we had been informed that none could be expected, it was considered that absolutely no possibility remained of making the 25 miles to our coast against the concerted attacks in operation. The boat [122] was therefore abandoned at 17.20. Whilst the survivors were in the water both boats were attacked for about half an hour and set completely on fire. H.S.L. 177, five to six miles distant, apparently saw smoke and having contacted R.M.L. 513 and two Spitfires, proceeded and performed a plucky and skilful rescue at about 18.00, the F.W. 190s making off on their approach ... ’ Assuming Nunn had been a regular member of H.S.L. 122 since his arrival at No. 27 A.S.R. Dover, he would have been the veteran of numerous rescue operations in the interim, the unit’s O.R.B. revealing another encounter with enemy aircraft on 16 April 1942, when 122 was attacked by a pair of 109s off Folkestone - ‘No casualties but bullet hole damage to hull’ (the unit’s O.R.B. refers, full photocopied extracts from which are included, together with a good deal more information on the Dieppe raid). Having received his B.E.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held on 16 March 1943, and been advanced to Acting Corporal, Nunn transferred to No. 4 A.S.R. at Wick that September, where he served until being released in October 1945; sold with a copied wedding photograph and images of H.S.L. 122. Lot Details: Lot 661, 2 Dec 09. Category: Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry Estimate: £2000-£2500. Hammer Price: £4100 Description ‘There can be no question as to the bravery of these men of the Air Sea Rescue Service who were often working within sight of the French coast. For myself, I would rather meet a FW 190 head-on in my Spitfire than meet one from a rescue launch.’ Flight Lieutenant D. R. “Don” Morrison, D.F.C., D.F.M., No 401 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, who rescued L.A.C. Dargue off Dieppe - taken from Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork’s Shot Down and in the Drink, R.A.F. and Commonwealth Aircrews Saved from the Sea 1939-45. An outstanding Second World War Dieppe raid B.E.M. group of five awarded to Leading Aircraftman A. Dargue, Royal Air Force, for great gallantry as a Nursing Orderly in High Speed Launches of Air Sea Rescue British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (1331108 L.A.C. Albert Dargue, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (5) £2000-2500 Footnote: B.E.M. London Gazette 29 December 1942: ‘Leading Aircraftman Dargue was Nursing Orderly on a High Speed Launch during the combined operations on 19 August 1942. In spite of wounds, he endeavoured to carry out first-aid to the wounded until he was picked up in a seriously wounded condition. The courage and valuable services rendered by Leading Aircraftman Dargue are typical of the high qualities displayed by the nursing orderlies, who have carried out hazardous operations in High Speed Launches which play an essential part in Air Sea Rescue.’ Albert Dargue was serving in H.S.L. 122 of No. 27 Air Sea Rescue at Dover at the time of operation “Jubilee”. Of the 14 High Speed launches called out on 19 August 1942, in response to no less than 47 “Mayday” calls, three were lost to enemy action, among them H.S.L. 122 - five of her crew were killed, including Flying Officer J. R. Hill, four wounded and two taken P.O.W. A full account of the action is to be found in Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork’s Shot Down and in the Drink, R.A.F. and Commonwealth Aircrews Saved from the Sea 1939-45, in which it is revealed that Dargue was plucked from the water by Flight Lieutenant D. R. “Don” Morrison, D.F.C., D.F.M., No 401 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, himself having been picked up by H.S.L. 177 after being downed earlier that day. Pitchfork takes up the story: ‘Morrison noticed a semi-conscious seaman drifting away. He immediately dived into the sea and burning oil to reach the badly injured man, bringing him alongside the launch where he was recovered on board. He was Leading Aircraftman Albert Dargue, the medical orderly of H.S.L. 122, which had been attacked and set on fire by German fighters. Despite being badly hurt himself, Dargue tended the seriously wounded until H.S.L. 123 pulled alongside. Only four men were left alive and Dargue dragged the other three survivors on deck, but just as they were about to be transferred, H.S.L. 123 also came under attack and was severely damaged. As the launch caught fire, the master gave the order to abandon ship. Dargue inflated the Mae Wests of the three injured men and pushed them overboard before he jumped. Exhausted and weak from his wound, he could do little to help himself until Morrison rescued him. Once H.S.L. 177 had picked up the 14 survivors the master headed for Newhaven at full speed, where the wounded were quickly evacuated to hospital. Morrison returned to his squadron and was soon back on duty. Following the Dieppe operation there were a number of gallantry awards for the men of the R.A.F’s high speed launches, including an M.B.E. to Conway and a B.E.M. to the brave L.A.C. Albert Dargue. Morrison wrote a detailed report of his experiences but made no mention of his own courageous part. He was loud in his praise for the men who manned the R.A.F. rescue launches and concluded his report: ‘There can be no question as to the bravery of these men of the Air Sea Rescue Service who were often working within sight of the French coast. For myself, I would rather meet a FW 190 head-on in my Spitfire than meet one from a rescue launch.’ ’ Pitchfork continues: ‘There were many lessons to be learnt from the Dieppe raid, in particular the lack of armour plate protection for the gunners on rescue launches operating in the combat area. There was also a clear need for more capable armament, and the Admiralty agreed to supply 15 Oerlikon guns for the R.A.F’s launches at Dover and Newhaven. During October approval was given for 32 launches based at the east and south coast units to be provided with one 20-mm. Oerlikon and four .303 Vickers guns on twin pedestal mountings. It was also agreed that armour plating should be provided for the more vulnerable areas of the launches.’ Sold with the recipient’s original wartime photograph album, containing some rare and impressive images of A.S.R. craft and personnel (16 in total), the outer cover with R.A.F. cap badge and the inside cover ink inscribed, ‘L.A.C. A. Dargue, R.A.F.’, together with a copy of Air Sea Rescue (H.M.S.O., 1942) and one or two related newspaper cuttings.
