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

(Not on this day)
463 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death: 4 November 1944.

Source:
AWM 64 1/342 (4) 1/343 AWM 237 (63) (64) NAA : A705, 166/35/382.

Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: NE 133
Radio call sign: JO – X
Unit: 463 Sqn RAAF

Summary:
Lancaster NE133 took off from RAF Waddington at 1743 hours on the night of 4/5th November 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen. Bomb load 14 x 1000lb. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base.
Twelve aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and only one of these NE133 failed to return.

Crew:
RAAF 424799 FO Kevin William Reilly Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 423797 WO Allan Richard MacKenzie, (Navigator)
RAAF 423536 FO Bert Charles Howard (Bomb Aimer)
RAAF 432181 Flt Sgt Ronald Norman Hall, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAF 1694037 Sgt Robert William Jones, (Flight Engineer)
RAAF 430750 Flt Sgt Arthur David Fryer (Air Gunner)
RAAF 442415 Flt Sgt Reginald Harold Battye, (Air Gunner)

It was later established that the aircraft crashed at approx. 1.5 miles north east of Recke.
Recke is 16 miles North West of Osnabruck, Germany.
All the crew were killed and they are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery,
Cleves, Germany. Cleves is located 40 miles north west of Duisberg, Germany.

Average age of crew 20.3 years.

RAAF 424799 FO Kevin William Reilly Captain (Pilot)
Aged 21, Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Reilly, of Camden, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 423797 WO Allan Richard MacKenzie, (Navigator)
Aged 21, Son of Allan Kenneth and Alma Catherine MacKenzie, of Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 423536 FO Bert Charles Howard (Bomb Aimer)
Aged 22, Son of Albert and Elizabeth Howard, of Earlwood, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 432181 Flt Sgt Ronald Norman Hall, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of Norman and Vera Edith Hall, of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.

RAF 1694037 Sgt Robert William Jones, (Flight Engineer)
Aged 20, Son of Ellen Campbell Jones, and stepson of George Milne, of Tue Brook, Liverpool.

RAAF 430750 Flt Sgt Arthur David Fryer (Air Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of David and Madeline Lily Fryer, of Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 442415 Flt Sgt Reginald Harold Battye, (Air Gunner)
Aged 19, Son of Samuel and Eva Eileen Battye, of New Hindmarsh, South Australia.

 

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG

RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT

IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS



Source:

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/15/88 Commonwealth war Graves records

Aircraft Type: Wellington

Serial number: HZ 570

Radio call sign: -U

Unit: ATTD 40 SQN RAF


Summary:

Wellington HZ570 was detailed on the night of 12/13th August 1943 to attack the beaches

in the Messina, Sicily area between 0030/0400 hours. Nothing was heard from the

aircraft and it failed to return to base.


HZ570 was seen by other aircraft on the same mission to explode in the air at approx 9000 feet over the Straits of Messina after air to air firing, and crash in flames on land near Gannae Zirri at approx 0039 hours. Tracer fire was observed by the other crews and
suggest the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. No chutes were observed.

Crew:

RAAF 406744 WO William Rowland Walters, Captain (Pilot)

RAAF 409069 Flt Sgt Wharton Owen Gaze, (Navigator)

RAAF 415030 Flt Sgt John Patrick Hall, (Wireless Air Gunner)

RAAF 416598 Flt Sgt David Hugh Morgan, (Air Bomber)

RAF 1548321 Sgt John Kenneth Kirk, (Air Gunner)


In 1949 a search party was informed by locals that the aircraft had crashed in the village of Faro Superiore, province of Messina, Sicily, and that the Germans had buried the crew in an old gun site on the outskirts of the village. A search of the area at the time could not locate any remains. In 1956 it was reported that the bodies had been located, and the crew of five are buried in the Syracuse War Cemetery, Messina, Locality Sicily, Italy.


RAAF 406744 WO William Rowland Walters, Captain (Pilot)

Aged 22, Son of William Alfred and Edna Mary Walters, of Claremont, Western Australia.

RAAF 409069 Flt Sgt Wharton Owen Gaze, (Navigator)

Aged 21, Son of William Owen and Beryl Lynne Gaze, of Gnowangerup, Western Australia.

RAAF 415030 Flt Sgt John Patrick Hall, (Wireless Air Gunner)

Aged 25, Son of Oswald John and Mary Josephine Hall, of North Perth, Western Australia.

RAAF 416598 Flt Sgt David Hugh Morgan, (Air Bomber)

Aged 21, Son of David Talbot Morgan and Charlotte Jean Morgan, of Kingswood Park, South Australia

RAF 1548321 Sgt John Kenneth Kirk, (Air Gunner)

Aged 21, Son of Allen M Kirk and Rebecca Kirk; husband of Dorothy Kirk, of Gorton, Manchester.

Do not see why they were squashed onto these headstones. Gilchrist and Prince were a separate crew?

 

Today in history 5th September 1939.

The first Australian casualties after the declaration of war on 3 September 1939 were serving members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). A pilot and his observer were killed in a flying accident while ferrying a Wirraway to Darwin, where 12 Squadron RAAF was based for coastal patrol missions. (Darwin is 3,750 Kms north west of Melbourne where the flight began)

Flying to Darwin via Narromine, Winton and Daly Waters on 1 Sep 39 for a deployment to Northern Australia, the Anson and five Wirraways arrived at DARWIN at 10.30 hours from Daly Waters. Unfortunately the arrival of the Wirraways was marred by a fatal accident. Flying Officer A.V. Dolphin of Recruit Training Depot, Laverton who was ferrying Wirraway A20-5, stalled and crashed onto the aerodrome and both the pilot and observer, No. 1 Corporal JOHNSON, H. W. - Air Observer, No. 12 Squadron were killed.

I went there in 2010 and photographed all the Royal Australian Air Force lads. A beautiful setting however a solemn reminder of those who gave their lives for our freedom. They are buried in the Adelaide River War Cemetery, Northern Territory. 197 Royal Australian Air Force and 14 Royal Air Force casualties are remembered there.

Within the cemetery you will also find a memorial to the missing who have no known grave: 163 Royal Australian Air Force casualties are listed there.

Location Information
Adelaide River is a township lying 116 kilometres south of Darwin, on the main north-south road from the capital to the railhead at Alice Springs.

The War Cemetery adjoins the civil cemetery, and is situated in savannah country about 1 kilometre from the Stuart Highway, in a short road which runs parallel to, and 100 metres from, the Adelaide River. Within the cemetery the graves are set in grassed plots in an area contained by a raised concrete kerb.

Historical Information from CWGC

During the Second World War, Adelaide River was the headquarters of a large base, and the war cemetery was created especially for the burial of servicemen who died in this part of Australia. It was used by Australian General Hospitals Nos. 101, 107, 119, 121 and 129, and after the war the Army Graves Service moved other graves into it from isolated sites, temporary military burial grounds and various civil cemeteries in the area.*

ADELAIDE RIVER WAR CEMETERY now contains 434 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Within Adelaide River War Cemetery will be found the NORTHERN TERRITORY MEMORIAL, which commemorates members of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Australian Merchant Navy and the Services Reconnaissance Department who lost their lives in operations in the Timor and Northern Australian regions and in waters adjacent to Australia north of Latitude 20 degrees south, and who have no known grave.

* There included: Bagot Hospital Cemetery; Berriman Hospital and War Cemeteries; Daly Waters Civil Cemetery; Darwin Public Cemetery; Gove War Cemetery; Hughes Cemetery, Darwin; Katharine Civil and War Cemeteries; Larrimah War Cemetery; Millingimbi War Cemetery; Mount Isa Cemetery, Queensland - just over the border, where No. 74 camp Hospital was set up; South Goulburn Island Mission Cemetery and Truscott War Cemetery.

 

(Not on this Day - Catching up with a few)
RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
400010 Pilot Officer BELL-TOWERS, Wadya Wellesley
Source:
AWM 237 (65) AWM 54 778/3/121 Part 2 NAA : A705, 163/59/32
Micro Film No 463 OAFH Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley :
RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 118, Volume 1941.
Aircraft Type: Whitley
Serial number: Z 6829
Radio call sign: DY -
Unit: ATTD 102 SQN RAF
Summary:
Whitley Z6829 took off from RAF Topcliffe at 2218 hours on the night of 14/15th August
1941, detailed to carry out a raid on Hanover, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base.
Crew:
RAF 920529 Sgt Gerald Keith Powell, Captain (Pilot) +
RAAF 400233 Sgt Frank Walace Penn, (2nd Pilot) (POW)
RAAF 400010 PO Wadya Wellesley Bell-Towers, (Observer) +
RAF 997009 Sgt Richard Thomas Philp, (Wireless Air Gunner) +
RAF 905091 Flt Sgt Louis Edward David Lindsay, (Wireless Operator) +
RAF Sgt Thomas A Vermiglio, (Air Gunner) (POW)

The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter (Ofw Paul Gildner of 4/NJG1 ) and crashed at 0448 hours in the Waddenzee south of Terschelling. Four of the crew were killed and Sgt’s Penn and
Vermiglio were POW’s.

Those killed are buried in the Terschelling (West-Terschelling) General Cemetery, Locality Friesland, Netherlands. Terschelling one of the Frisian Islands lies off north coast of Holland, and West Terschelling is the main village on the island.

A later POW report by the then WO Penn stated, “The aircraft was attacked by an ME110. I was wounded in the first attack with four bullet wounds in the right foot. The second attack started a fire near the escape hatch and I extinguished it. The third attack destroyed all the controls and the Captain ordered bale out. I heard an acknowledgement from the Rear Gunner, but was told later he had baled out immediately. I don’t know if he was hit. I baled out. The aircraft was on fire again and out of control making a diving turn to left. There were still four in the aircraft when I left – the Captain, Observer and 2 Wag’s. The aircraft crashed at Texel Holland, and those four were still in the aircraft when it crashed.

I was picked up by the Germans soon after I came down. I later met the Rear Gunner in a POW Camp.”

RAAF Sgt Penn was from Surrey Hills in Victoria.

RAF Sgt Vermiglio was from West Derby, Lancashire.

RAF 920529 Sgt Gerald Keith Powell, Captain (Pilot) +
Aged 21, Son of Walter Bertram and Helena Gwendolyn Powell, of Putney, London.

RAAF 400010 PO Wadya Wellesley Bell-Towers, (Observer) +
Aged 32, Son of Henry Linacre Bell-Towers and Isabel Marion Bell-Towers; husband of Merla Bell Towers, of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 997009 Sgt Richard Thomas Philp, (Wireless Air Gunner) +
Aged 20, Son of William Frederick and Elizabeth Philp, of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Irish Republic.

RAF 905091 Flt Sgt Louis Edward David Lindsay, (Wireless Operator) +
Aged21, Son of Edward Louis Herbert and Emily Elizabeth Lindsay, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

(Not on this Day - Catching up with a few)
RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
404089 Pilot Officer CRICHTON, David Leckey
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/26/132 Nicro Film No 463 OAFH
Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses
of the Second World War, Page 133, Volume 1941.
Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: Z 8860
Radio call sign: SR -
Unit: ATTD101 SQN RAF
Summary:
Wellington Z8860 took off from RAF Oakington at 2112 hours on the night of 30/31st August 1941, detailed to bomb Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Rampton, 7 miles north west of Cambridge, UK, and one of the crew Sgt Barlow was killed in the
crash and four were injured. PO Crichton however died of his injuries on the 1st September 1941.
Crew:
RAF PO Reynolds, (Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 404089 PO David Lecky Crichton, (Observer) Killed
RAF Sgt L A Nauze, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF 1381373 Sgt Owen Hugh Barlow, (Front Gunner) Killed
RAF Sgt Myers, (Rear Gunner)

Remarks by the Group Commander on a Court of Inquiry stated “I concur in the findings.
The take off was delayed for some time by showers of rain, and in the past aircraft have taken off successfully after having their engines running for more than half an hour.”

PO Crichton is buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, UK. The Cemetery is known locally as the Newmarket Road Cemetery.

Sgt Barlow is buried in the St Asaph Church Cemetery, Flintshire, UK.

RAAF 404089 PO David Lecky Crichton, (Observer)
Aged 28, Son of William Frederick and Vera Claire Crichton of Warwick, Queensland, Australia.

RAF 1381373 Sgt Owen Hugh Barlow, (Front Gunner)
(No NOK details available)

 

(Not on this Day - Catching up with a few)
RAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
FORMER RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH THE RAF
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
40064, Squadron Leader Kevin Harrold Walsh
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 166/17/72 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Blenheim IV
Serial number: Z7274
Radio call sign: XD-
Unit: SQN RAF 139 Sqn RAF
Op: Anti-Shipping
Summary:
The aircraft took off from RAF Station Manston at 1023 hours on 2/9/1941..
Squadron Leader Walsh was the pilot of a 139 Sqn RAF Blenheim attacking shipping on a day mission
off the coast of Belgium. Walsh’s aircraft was the first of three aircraft to attack. It
was hit by flak and was seen to catch fire and dive into the sea 100 yards seaward of
the target. Nothing further was seen of the aircraft or crew.
Crew:
RAF 40064 Sqn Ldr Walsh, Kevin Harrold (Pilot) Killed
RAF 560790 Flt Sgt Hole, Alfred George (Killed)
RAF 1017894 Sgt Brook, George Henry (Killed)
Sgt Brook is recorded as missing with no known grave and is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.. Sqn Ldr Walsh is buried in the Wenduine Communal Cemetery, Belgium, and Flt Sgt Hole is buried in the Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Holland.

Sqn Ldr Walsh was on a short service commission in the Royal Air Force of 5 years.

RAF 40064 Sqn Ldr Walsh, Kevin Harrold Pilot) Aged 25, Son of Richard and Ellen (Nellie) Walsh nee Sexton, Born Mt Pleasant, South Australia
RAF 560790 Flt Sgt Hole, Alfred George Aged 30, Son of Charles and Laura Eliza Hole, of Brislington, Bristol.
RAF 1017894 Sgt Brook, George Henry Aged 29, Son of Fred and Hannah Brook, of Huddersfield.

 

1/ Can anybody assist with the Acronyms in the Summary text of this report? (NAP - NOZ - QDM) ???

2/ Can anybody assist with AGE, NOK details of the RAF lad in this crew? RAF 620414 Sgt Hudson, George (2nd Wireless Operator) +

The Runnymede Memorial lists 3,945 Air Force members lost from 3/09/1939 to 30/09/1941

RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT IN ROYAL AIR FORCE
SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS IN WORLD WAR 2 AND MISSING WITH
NO KNOWN GRAVE.
402279 Sergeant NORTH, Hunter Arthur Aubrey
Source:
NAA : A705, 163/147/124
Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: Z 8868
Radio call sign: DX-C
Unit: 57 Sqn RAF
Summary:
Wellington Z 8868 of 57 Sqn RAF took off from RAF Station Feltwell, at 1920 hours on
29 September 1941 to attack military objectives at Genoa, Italy. At 0006 hours on 30
September a message was received from Z 8868 stating NAP. At 0341 hours a further
message stated NOZ, and also requested a QDM and was given a bearing of 314 degrees.
At 0409 hours at further QDM of 314 degrees was given, and later QDM’s at 0420 and
0502 hours of 315 degrees. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after this, and it
failed to return to base.
Crew:
RAF 996505 Sgt Paul, John William Captain (Pilot) +
RAF 1176111Sgt Greenwood, Arthur Henry (2nd Pilot) +
RAAF 402279 Sgt North, Hunter Arthur Aubrey (Observer) +
RCAF R/52075 Sgt Postans, Ronald George (1st Wireless Operator) +
RAF 620414 Sgt Hudson, George (2nd Wireless Operator) +
RCAF R/63908 Sgt Chapman, Gordon Lindsay (Air Gunner) +

It was later recorded that a photograph had been recovered some time before 28
November 1941 near Schiermonnik Island, one of the Friesian Group of Islands off the
north coast of Holland. A message on the photo stated that Sgt North (RAAF) and Sgt
Postans (RCAF) had been in a dinghy for two days. No trace of the aircraft or missing
crew was found, and it was assumed that the crew had lost their lives at sea.

RAF Sgt Paul, John William Captain (Pilot) Aged 23, Son of John William and Catherine Paul, of Aberdeen.

RAF 1176111Sgt Greenwood, Arthur Henry (2nd Pilot) Aged 21, Son of Arthur and Harriet Greenwood, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire.

RAAF 402279 Sgt North, Hunter Arthur Aubrey (Observer) Aged 30, Son of Arthur Ernest and Beatrice North, of Forster, New South Wales, Australia.

RCAF R/52075 Sgt Postans, Ronald George (1st Wireless Operator) Aged 22, Son of Cpl. George Samuel Postans, A.S.C., and Ada Postans, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

RAF 620414 Sgt Hudson, George (2nd Wireless Operator) NO NOK LISTED

RCAF R/63908 Sgt Chapman, Gordon Lindsay (Air Gunner) Aged 26, Son of William Frederick and Lottie Adorah Chapman, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

QDM is a Q code, asking “What is the magnetic course to steer, with zero wind, to reach you?”

 

Thank you snailer! I did google about 10 sites and only come up with that one site however zero with the other two.
"QDM
: Magnetic Bearing TO the station (from the aircraft)"
Yours is more explicit "with no wind"!!

Cheers

 

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

404384 Pilot Officer RYDER, Robin Munro

Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A9300 Barcode 5262587 and 5248436
Commonwealth War Graves records Bomber Command losses of the Second World War Volume 1941

Aircraft Type: Wellington 1C
Serial number: R1328
Radio call sign: BL-T
Op: Frankfurt
Unit: ATTD 40 SQN RAF

Summary:
T/O 1955 Alconbury 12/13th September1941. Last heard of W/T at 2206 indicating the port engine had failed. The two airmen who died are buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Locality Kamp Lintfort, Nordrheim-Westfal. Germany. Rheinberg is 24kms north of Krefeld and 13kms south of Wesel.
Crew:
RAF 28124 S/L John Croft Atkins (Pilot) (Killed)
RAF Sgt R C Thomson (Navigator) (POW)
RAAF 404384 PO Robin Munro Ryder (Observer) (Killed)
RAF Sgt B T Banner (Air Gunner) (POW)
RAF F/S A E Hough (Wireless Air Gunner) (POW)
RAF Sgt D F Darlow (Air Gunner) (POW)

RAF 28124 S/L John Croft Atkins Pilot (Killed) Aged 33, Son of James Benjamin and Florence Hannah Atkins; husband of Elsie Ruth Atkins, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

RAAF 404384 PO Robin Munro Ryder (Observer) (Killed) Aged 20, Son of Robert Leslie and Ailsa Munro Ryder, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; grandson of Mrs. M. E. Ryder, of Hill End, Queensland.

 

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

407141 Flying Officer SUGG, Eric John

Source:

AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/57/121 Commonwealth War Graves record
Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: X 9926
Radio call sign: BL-T
Unit: ATTD 40 SQN RAF
Op: Nurnberg

Summary:
Wellington X9926 T/o Alconbury 2304 on the night of 12/13th October 1941 and was detailed to carry out an operational mission to Nurnberg from which it failed to return.

Crew:
RNZAF 401757 PO Ian Murray Vass Field, Captain (Pilot)
RAF 745249 Sgt Paul Fraser Collis, (2nd Pilot)
RAAF 407141 FO Eric John Sugg, (Navigator)
RAF 995903 Sgt Richard Anthony Dundon (1st Wireless Air Gunner)
RCAF R/59125 Flt Sgt Thomas Lincoln Duxbury, (2nd Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF 1377560 Sgt Henry Raymond Gordon Chapman, (Air Gunner)

All the crew are buried in the Dinant (Citadelle) Military Cemetery, Locality Dinant, Namur, Belgium.

RNZAF 401757 Pilot Officer IAN MURRAY VASS FIELD Aged 26, Son of Gordon Field and of Dorothy Field (nee Lewis), of Hope, Nelson, New Zealand.

RAF 745249 Sergeant PAUL FRASER COLLIS Aged 24, Son of Hugh Henry Fraser Collis and Gladys Olive Collis, of Bristol; husband of Joyce Mabel Collis, of Cliftonwood, Bristol.

RAAF 407141 Flying Officer ERIC JOHN SUGG Aged 30, Son of Bentham and Sarah Ann Sugg; husband of Lois Catherine Sugg, of Eudunda, South Australia.

RAF 995903 Sergeant RICHARD ANTHONY DUNDON Aged 22, Son of Patrick Joseph Dundon, and of Margaret Dundon, (nee Richardson) of Lydiate, Lancashire.

RCAF R/59125 Flight Sergeant THOMAS LINCOLN DUXBURY Aged 25, Son of Thomas and Ethel Duxbury, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

RAF 1377560 Sergeant HENRY RAYMOND GORDON CHAPMAN NO NOK LISTED

 

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

RAAF 402127 Sergeant LORD, Clive Gordon

RAAF 406044 Sergeant RICH, Joseph Geoffrey.

Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/139/77 Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Page 159,
Volume 1941
Aircraft Type: Whitley
Serial number: Z 9155
Radio call sign: GE – G
Unit: ATTD 58 SQN RAF

Summary:
Whitley Z9155 took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire at 1909 hours on the night of 12/13th October 1941, detailed to bomb Nuremburg, Germany. The aircraft crashed at 0500 hours on 13th October 1941 at Allerthorpe in the vicinity of Pocklington airfield Yorkshire, while being diverted, and all the crew were killed. A few minutes before the crash the pilot radioed to say the aircraft was almost out of fuel. (Aircraft was flying for just under 10 hours)

Crew:
RAAF 402127 Sgt Clive Gordon Lord, Captain (Pilot)
RCAF R/71909 Sgt Hugh Edwin Donson, (2nd Pilot)
RAAF 406044 Sgt Joseph Geoffrey Rich, (Observer)
RCAF R/64045 Flt Sgt William Henry Burns, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF 908627 Sgt Herbert Conroy Lee, (Wireless Air Gunner)

Sgt’s Lord and Donson are buried in the Barmby On-the-Moor (St Catherine) Churchyard, East Riding Yorkshire, which is 14 miles south east of York. UK.
Sgt Rich is buried in the Leeds (Gelherd Road) English Hebrew Cemetery, Yorkshire,UK
Flt Sgt Burns is buried in the Pocklington Burial Ground, Yorkshire, UK.
Sgt Lee is buried in the North Tawton Cemetery, Devon, UK.

RAAF 402127 Sgt Clive Gordon Lord, Captain (Pilot)
Aged 24, Son of Roy Septimus and Emma Trant Lord, of Gemorne, New South Wales, Australia.

RCAF R/71909 Sgt Hugh Edwin Donson, (2nd Pilot)
Aged 21, Son of John William and Margaret Brown Donson, of York Mills, Ontario, Canada.

RAAF 406044 Sgt Joseph Geoffrey Rich, (Observer)
Aged 23, Son of Samuel Charles and Pearl Rich, of South Perth, Western Australia.

RCAF R/64045 Flt Sgt William Henry Burns, (Wireless Air Gunner)
Aged 22, Son of Frank G. and Mary M. Burns of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

RAF 908627 Sgt Herbert Conroy Lee, (Wireless Air Gunner)
Aged 25, Son of Herbert and Ethel Lee, of North Tawton.

 

458 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 20 October 1941

Source:

AWM 64 1/279 AWM 64 Microfilm 87 AWM 237 (63) NAA : A705, 163/98/338.

Commonwealth War Graves records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command

Losses of the Second World War, Page 165 Volume 1941.

Aircraft Type: Wellington IV

Serial number: Z 1218

Radio call sign: FU – D

Unit: 458 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Wellington Z1218 took off from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire, at 1839

hours on the night of 20/21st October 1941 to bomb the Antwerp docks, Belgium. Ten

aircraft from the Squadron took off on the mission, and of these Z1218 failed to return.

This was the first operational mission of the Squadron.

Crew:

RAF 912835 Sgt Peter John Maxwell Hamilton, Captain (Pilot) (of Australia) (Killed)

RAAF 400410 Sgt Philip George Crittenden, (2nd Pilot) (Killed)

RAF 102969 PO David Kimber Fawkes, (Observer) (Killed)

RAF 968195 Sgt Andrew Young Condie, (Wireless Operator) (Killed)

RAF 995859 Sgt Thomas Jackson, (Front Air Gunner) (Killed)

RAF 611158 Sgt Percival George Ernest Alfred Brown, (Rear Air Gunner) (POW)


Post war it was established by a Missing Research and Enquiry unit that the aircraft crashed at Mont-sur-Marchienne on 20/10/1941. Shot down by a German night fighter (ME-109/BF 110). Mont-sur-Marchienne is located approx 2 miles south west of Charleroi, Belgium.

Sgt Brown (RAF) was a POW but all the rest of the crew were killed. They are buried in the Charleroi Communal Cemetery, which is approx 28 miles south of Brussels, Belgium.


W R Chorley states that Sgt Crittenden was the first Australian serving in Bomber Command to be killed on operational flying with an RAAF Squadron. This is in part true however the Captain of Aircraft (Hamilton) was another Australian in the RAF. Sadly Sgt Crittenden was on his first operation out. So then, Sgt Crittenden was the first “RAAF” Australian serving in Bomber Command to be killed on operational flying with an RAAF Squadron.

SGT Brown survived the crash and was captured. He was held at Stalag Kopernikus and was given the POW number 24443 and was released by the Russians in May 1945. Sgt Brown was born in 1920 and married Nellie Berry in Paddington, London close to if not on his 21st birthday. He died at the age of 57 in March 1978. Both Australians were from suburbs of Melbourne in Victoria.

RAF 912835 Sgt Peter John Maxwell Hamilton, Captain (Pilot) (Of Australia)
Aged 22, Son of John Maxwell Hamilton, and of Harriet Gilchrist Hamilton, of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 400410 Sgt Philip George Crittenden, (2nd Pilot)
Aged 20, Son of George Walter and Beatrice Annie Crittenden, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

RAF 102969 PO David Kimber Fawkes, (Observer)
Aged 25, Son of Walter Hugh and Margaret Fawkes (nee Burrow), of Harefield, Middlesex. B.Sc. (Econ.), A.C.I.S.

RAF 968195 Sgt Andrew Young Condie, (Wireless Operator) Aged 23, Son of Alexander and Margaret Condie, of Sauchie, Clackmannanshire.
Aged 26, Son of Thomas and Isabella Jackson, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire; husband of Margaret Jackson, of Middlesbrough.

(Thanks to WW2talk.com members TD and snailer for providing the information on Sgt Brown.

 

Transferred to here. Posted in the wrong thread.

RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
404470 Sergeant KENT, Malcolm Edward

Source:
AWM237 (65) NAA : A705, Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses Operational Training Units,1940-1947,
Page 86, Volume 7.

Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: L 4348
Radio call sign:
Unit: 20 Op Training RAF

Summary:
On the 5th December 1941, Wellington L4348 took off from RAF Lossiemouth, detailed
to carry out a navigational training exercise. The aircraft crashed at 1600 hours some 14 miles west of Strathy Point, near Thurso, Sutherland, and burst into flames. The blaze was seen by the crew of another of the Unit’s aircraft, and all the crew were killed.

Crew:
RAF 742058 Flt Sgt Harold Sidney Douglas Goss, Captain (Pilot)
RAF 1166019 Sgt Anthony Richard McCoy, (Observer)
RAF 1163046 Sgt Alfred Flint, (Observer)
RAAF 404470 Sgt Malcolm Edward Kent, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RNZAF 404111 Sgt Allan James Wilson (Wireless Air Gunner)

Flt Sgt Goss is buried in the Watford Cemetery, UK.
Sgt’s McCoy, Kent and Wilson are buried in the Wick Cemetery, UK
Sgt Flint is buried in the Braunstone (St Peter) Churchyard, UK.

RAF 742058 Flt Sgt Harold Sidney Douglas Goss, Captain (Pilot)
Aged 22, Son of Sidney James Goss and Gladys Lilian Goss, of Watford; husband of Denise Doreen Goss.

RAF 1166019 Sgt Anthony Richard McCoy, (Observer)
Aged 22, NO NOK LISTED

RAF 1163046 Sgt Alfred Flint, (Observer)
Aged 28, Son of Harry and Lilla Evelyn Flint, of Bushby.

RAAF 404470 Sgt Malcolm Edward Kent, (Wireless Air Gunner) Aged 23, Son of Edward George and Ann Kent, of Roma, Queensland, Australia.

RNZAF 404111 Sgt Allan James Wilson (Wireless Air Gunner)
Aged 20, Son of Herbert and Jean Geraldine Wilson, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

 

Hi Spidge, Anthony Richard McCoys death was registered in the district of Kirkton Farr, Sutherland, age 22. Sorry I've no credits left at Scotlandspeople website, but anybody researching him in the future and wants to open the death entry the GRO Reference is 050/1 15.

Goss GRO Ref 050/1 14
Flint GRO 050/1 12
Kent GRO 050/1 13
Wilson GRO 050/1 11

 

Hi Amberdog, great info, thank you.

 

GOSS, HAROLD SIDNEY DOUGLAS
Rank:
Flight Sergeant
Trade:
Pilot
Service No:
742058
Date of Death:
05/12/1941
Age:
22
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Grave Reference:
Sec. K. Uncons. Row 2. Grave 801.
Cemetery:
WATFORD CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Sidney James Goss and Gladys Lilian Goss, of Watford; husband of Denise Doreen Goss.

 

Hi Geoff,

McCoy was born in the December 1919 Qtr. in Birkenhead. Mother's maiden name was Webb

Nice bio of him here:

http://www.ota-southampton.org.uk/memorial/biography1/McCoy, Anthony.jpg

Regards,

Dave

 

Thanks Clive for the photo.

Thanks Dave, filled in the info nicely however still unable to match the marriage! I get another younger brother Louis W which fits with Anthony R. W. after the father (if) William. Doing a reverse check on the marriage I get Robert (transcription error? should be Roberta?

Cheers

 

A biography of S/L James Clark - Biography - James Clark - Australian Dictionary of Biography

460 SQUADRON RAAF, WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death: 12 December 1944

Source:
AWM 64 (1/295) AWM 64 (1/294) Appendix C72 AWM 237 (64)
NAA : A705, 163/26/212
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: PB 542
Radio call sign: AR – D2
Unit: 460 Sqn RAAF

Summary:
Lancaster PB542 took off from RAF Binbrook at 1559 hours on 12 December1944 to bomb Essen, Germany. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb and 16 x 500lb bombs. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Eighteen aircraft from the
squadron took part in the raid and only one aircraft PB542 did not return to base.

Crew:
RAAF 402439 Sqn Ldr Clark, James (DFC) (AFC) (MID) Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 409224 FO Reid, Brian Clapham (DFC) (Navigator)
RAAF 411987 FO Bethel, Stanley James (Bomb Aimer)
RAF 149052 FO Sanders, Christopher (Wireless Operator Air)
RAF 160860 FO Milner, Leon (Flight Engineer)
RAAF 411772 FO Edwards, Philip Edwin (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAAF 404043 FO Scott, John Maxwell (DFM) (Rear Gunner)

It was established post war that the aircraft was shot down by flak at Bergerhausen near Essen at 1940 hours and burst into flames on impact. Six of the crew killed are interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Cleves, Germany.

FO Milner (RAF) is recorded as missing and his name is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.

Sqn Ldr Clark who was acting CO of the Squadron at the time had completed 50 operational sorties.

RAAF 402439 Sqn Ldr Clark, James (DFC) (AFC) (MID) Captain (Pilot)
Aged 29, Son of David and Mary Clark; husband of Ivy Eileen Clark, of East Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

RAAF 409224 FO Reid, Brian Clapham (DFC) (Navigator)
Aged 24, Son of Arthur and Frances May Reid, husband of Jan Reid, of Ashburton, Victoria, Australia.

RAAF 411987 FO Bethel, Stanley James (Bomb Aimer)
Aged 24, Son of Thomas Stanley and Miriam Georgina Bethel, of Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia.

RAF 149052 FO Sanders, Christopher (Wireless Operator Air)
NO AGE OR NOK LISTED

RAF 160860 FO Milner, Leon (Flight Engineer)
Aged 23, Son of Harold and Emily May Milner, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire; husband of Barbara Jean Milner, of Long Eaton.

RAAF 411772 FO Edwards, Philip Edwin (Mid Upper Gunner)
Aged 31, Son of Philip Robert and Minnie Lavina Edwards, of Glebe, New South Wales, Australia.

RAAF 404043 FO Scott, John Maxwell (DFM) (Rear Gunner)
Aged 27, Son of Wallace Oakhampton Scott and Annie Scott, of Ashgrove, Queensland, Australia; husband of Marjorie Scott, of Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia.