J.Hunter. Siouville Churchyard. Sdn? Comrades?

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by RJL, Oct 3, 2010.

  1. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    John Hunter. Sergeant. RAF. Siouville Churchyard.

    Hello Pals. I was hoping that you could help me out with some info about Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Hunter. He is the only CWGC burial in Siouville Churchyard. Would anyone know what squadron he was with or if any of his comrades also died on 1st May 1943.
     
  2. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    Hi,

    No.1663 CU, Halifax DG408

    Regards
    Ross
     
  3. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Hi Ross

    Thanks for the info. That's brilliant.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Hi,

    No.1663 CU, Halifax DG408

    Regards
    Ross
    Found this.
    40th ROH
    Thornton, Clive Richard Leonard
    Barneville-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery, France.

    1663 Heavy Conversion Unit. HP Halifax V DG408 T/o Rufforth 15:20 for cross country exercise which went wrong. Shot down or crashed into sea off Brest, all 8 aboard killed.
     
  5. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

  6. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Owen, Phil.
    That is brilliant. Thanks for your posts.
     
  7. Jackiecampbell272

    Jackiecampbell272 Junior Member

    Hi, John hunter was my granda's brother,I have pictures of John, his grave in France when my granda went to see him, also a picture of his death certificate as well.
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi and welcome to the forum Jackie.

    Any photos and info you have would be great.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Just noticed the crew detail was not posted! Buried in (4) cemeteries. Even one in Jersey.
    In Memory of
    Sergeant JOHN HUNTER

    652116, Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hunter, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
    Remembered with honour
    SIOUVILLE CHURCHYARD


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ERIC FORD WILLIAMSON

    815223, Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Percy Henry Williamson and of Louise May Williamson (nee Ford), of Nottingham; adopted son and nephew of Elizabeth Ford, of Nottingham.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant WILFRED JOHN PELHAM

    1397020, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 21
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Frederick Charles and Mary Selina Pelham, of Wyboston, Bedfordshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant DENNIS CHARLES BUTLIN

    547514, Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 01 May 1943

    Remembered with honour
    ST. HELIER WAR CEMETERY, HOWARD-DAVIS PARK, JERSEY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant CLIVE RICHARD LEONARD THORNTON

    577022, Royal Air Force
    who died age 18
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Richard Alexander and Annie Irene Thornton, of Merstham, Redhill, Surrey.
    Remembered with honour
    BARNEVILLE-SUR-MER COMMUNAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant DENNIS WILLIAM SUFFLING

    1388152, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Bertie Reginald and Alice Rebecca Suffling, of Southtown, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ALLAN JOHN DUNN

    1312809, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 27
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of John Joseph and Annie Bessie Matilda Dunn, of Sandleheath, Hampshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant HENRY HINETT

    1520789, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Henry and Eliza Hinett, of Sandbach, Cheshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

    01/05/43 Halifax V DG408 Sgt E Williamson, Sgt W Pelham, Sgt D C Butlin, Sgt C Thornton, Sgt D Suffling, Sgt A Dunn, Sgt H Hinett Sgt J Hunter if 1663HCU

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  10. Jackiecampbell272

    Jackiecampbell272 Junior Member

    Just noticed the crew detail was not posted! Buried in (4) cemeteries. Even one in Jersey.
    In Memory of
    Sergeant JOHN HUNTER

    652116, Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hunter, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
    Remembered with honour
    SIOUVILLE CHURCHYARD


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ERIC FORD WILLIAMSON

    815223, Royal Air Force
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Percy Henry Williamson and of Louise May Williamson (nee Ford), of Nottingham; adopted son and nephew of Elizabeth Ford, of Nottingham.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant WILFRED JOHN PELHAM

    1397020, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 21
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Frederick Charles and Mary Selina Pelham, of Wyboston, Bedfordshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant DENNIS CHARLES BUTLIN

    547514, Royal Air Force
    who died
    on 01 May 1943

    Remembered with honour
    ST. HELIER WAR CEMETERY, HOWARD-DAVIS PARK, JERSEY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant CLIVE RICHARD LEONARD THORNTON

    577022, Royal Air Force
    who died age 18
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Richard Alexander and Annie Irene Thornton, of Merstham, Redhill, Surrey.
    Remembered with honour
    BARNEVILLE-SUR-MER COMMUNAL CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant DENNIS WILLIAM SUFFLING

    1388152, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Bertie Reginald and Alice Rebecca Suffling, of Southtown, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant ALLAN JOHN DUNN

    1312809, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 27
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of John Joseph and Annie Bessie Matilda Dunn, of Sandleheath, Hampshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY


    In Memory of
    Sergeant HENRY HINETT

    1520789, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 22
    on 01 May 1943
    Son of Henry and Eliza Hinett, of Sandbach, Cheshire.
    Remembered with honour
    BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

    01/05/43 Halifax V DG408 Sgt E Williamson, Sgt W Pelham, Sgt D C Butlin, Sgt C Thornton, Sgt D Suffling, Sgt A Dunn, Sgt H Hinett Sgt J Hunter if 1663HCU

    Cheers

    Geoff



    Thanks for the reply.. i have uploaded some pictures, but i need help with some info because i was talking to a girl from WWII 38 GROUP SQUADRONS REUNITED - Guest Book and she had said that they had named a road after John, near the beach where he was found, also that there was no training at the time of crash and that he was on a special ops, does anyone know any info to help me please.

    cheers

    jackie
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the reply.. i have uploaded some pictures, but i need help with some info because i was talking to a girl from WWII 38 GROUP SQUADRONS REUNITED - Guest Book and she had said that they had named a road after John, near the beach where he was found, also that there was no training at the time of crash and that he was on a special ops, does anyone know any info to help me please.

    cheers

    jackie

    The following details related to the above loss are taken from 'RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.8 - W R. Chorley

    1 May 1943

    1663 HCU
    Halifax V DG408
    Op. Training.

    Took off 1520 hrs from Rufforth for a cross country exercise which went tragically wrong and ended in tragedy circa 1925 hrs in the sea off the French port of Brest. Seven now lie in cemeteries at Barnville-sur-Mer (Sgt. Thornton), Siouville (Sgt. Hunter who hailed from Belfast) and Bayeux, the remaining five. On 3rd June 1943 Sgt. Butlins body came ashore on the Channel Island of Jersey (near La Pulante) and he now rests at St. Helier War Cemetery, his funeral being held with full militay honours on 6 June.

    Crew.

    Sgt. E F. Williamson +
    Sgt. C R L. Thornton +
    Sgt. D C. Butlin +
    Sgt. W J. Pelham +
    Sgt. D W. Suffling +
    Sgt. A J. Dunn +
    Sgt. H. Hinett +
    Sgt. J. Hunter.
     
  12. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Am I right in thinking that (when considered "ready") crews from HCU's and OCU's were put on "Gardening" Operations over the sea, to drop mines or force U-boats to stay submerged, and which counted for half an operational sortie? That way they got some experience of the "real thing" without being exposed (allegedly) to the dangers and rigours of a flight over enemy held territory... although shown as a Cross Country, to get as far as Brest seems an almighty navigational error...
    The scattering of the crew seems much greater than others I have read about, makes it seem as if they all baled out individually to be that separated
     
  13. katesoif

    katesoif Junior Member

    I am trying to find any relatives of Sgt. D. W. Suffling who was KIA 1st May 1943 in Halifax DG408
    He came from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
    Kate
     
  14. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    I am trying to find any relatives of Sgt. D. W. Suffling who was KIA 1st May 1943 in Halifax DG408
    He came from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
    Kate

    Kate, Dennis William Suffling appears a number of family trees on ancestry so I have sent a message to the first one with a link to this thread

    P
     
  15. Suffling

    Suffling Junior Member

    Hi Kate,
    I am a relative of Sgt.Dennis W. Suffling, he was my uncle. Are you a relative? My father was his younger brother Terence William Suffling. I would have liked to have met him but feel that i knew him slightly from photographs etc. that I have seen.
     
  16. katesoif

    katesoif Junior Member

    Many thanks for this Englandphil. I have sent a private message to Suffling. Back on this case and will look at my "Ancestry" tree this evening
     
  17. snailer

    snailer Country Member

    I have a copy of the ORB for this incident if anyone wants a copy. There is also a piece about it in "Wings over York" by Brian Mennell.
     
  18. katesoif

    katesoif Junior Member

    Hi I am not a relative but I am looking for relatives of this crew. I was contacted in May by a relative of the crew asking if it might be possible to make contact with other relatives.
    Kate
     
  19. snailer

    snailer Country Member

    Hi Kate,

    PM sent.
     
  20. dan35

    dan35 Junior Member

    Hello,

    Here are some news about the loss of Halifax DG408 V and his crew. A great change in the place of his fall. I found documents Lannion cemetery where the five bodies were buried between 8 and May 24, 1943.

    Halifax V DG408
     

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