More of my local RAF lads, help needed please with the circumstances of their deaths.

After the fantastic help I have received from forum members, I hope you don't mind if I pick your brains regarding a few more of my local lads that lost their lives serving with the RAF. The links below should take you to their commemoration details on the CWGC. It would be great to know if possible in what circumstances these young lads lost their lives. If anyone needs any records looking up in the Durham Country Records Office of Durham Newspapers for the war years, please don't hesitate to ask, its the least I can do for the help I have received on the forum

Thanks
John.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

Name:FIRTH, CHRISTOPHERInitials:CNationality:United KingdomRank:Pilot Officer (Pilot)Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveUnit Text:619 Sqdn.Age:22Date of Death:20/10/1943Service No:146984Additional information:Son of Stephen and Elizabeth Firth, husband of Audrey Firth, of Dunston, Gateshead, Co. Durham.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:6. G. 14.Cemetery:HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


20-21 October 1943.

619 Squadron
Lancaster III EE114 PG-B
Op: Leipzig

Crew
P/O. C. Firth +
Sgt. G M. Weighell +
Sgt. C N D. Wright RCAF +
Sgt. D. Demaine +
Sgt. M. Jones +
Sgt. A G. Osborne +

The aircraft took off from Woodhall Spa at 1718 hrs. Crashed at Langwedel. All are buried in Hannover War Cemetery. Their average age was 22.

Note. Langwedel is not an uncommon place name. However, it is believed that the Langwedel, here refered too, lies some 7 km Sw of Hankensbuttel.

Bomber Command Losses Volume 4. W R. Chorley.

Regards
Peter.

 

Name:MIDDLETON, ARTHUR WALTERInitials:A WNationality:United KingdomRank:Sergeant (Air Gnr.)Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveUnit Text:115 Sqdn.Age:21Date of Death:21/07/1944Service No:1569017Additional information:Son of Ernest and Margaret R. Middleton, of Sherburn, Co. Durham.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Plot G. Row 1. Grave 11.Cemetery:PAPENDRECHT GENERAL CEMETERY


20-21 July 1944.

115 Squadron

Lancaster III ND913 A4-M2
Op: Homberg

Crew
F/O. C M. Clarey RAAF +
Sgt. H C. Luton +
Sgt. E J. Line +
F/S. S E. Kirkland +
Sgt. D. Hancock +
Sgt. A W. Middleton +
F/S. C A. Barlow RAAF +

The aircraft took off at 2330 hrs from Witchford. Crashed 0145 hrs at Papendrrecht (Zuid-Holland) on the north bank of the De Merwede and opposite Dordrecht. All are buried in the general cemetery at Papendrecht.

Bomber Command Losses Volume 5. W R. Chorley

 

Name:WINN, THOMASInitials:TNationality:United KingdomRank:Sergeant (Air Gnr.)Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveUnit Text:463 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.Age:23Date of Death:26/02/1944Service No:938040Additional information:Son of Thomas and Isabel Winn; of Sherburn, Co. Durham; husband of Margret Winn.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Mil. Plot. Row D. Coll. grave 8-10.Cemetery:LIESSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY


25-26 February 1944.

463 Squadron
Lancaster III DV274 JO-R
Op: Augsburg

Crew.
P/O. K H. McKnight RAAF +
Sgt. L W. Roberts +
F/O. S A. Isham +
F/O. C J. Johnson RAAF +
F/S. S J. Nelson RAAF +
Sgt. T. Winn +
Sgt. K. Linford +

The aircraft took off at 1845 hrs fron Waddington. Crashed near Liesse in the Department of Aisne, 15 km NE of Laon. All are buried in Liesse Communal Cemetery.

Bomber Command Losses Volume 5. W R. Chorley.

 

Name:WHITFIELD, NORMANInitials:NNationality:United KingdomRank:Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveAge:29Date of Death:16/09/1942Service No:1115657Additional information:Son of Sep and Mary Ann Whitfield, of Sherburn, Durham.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Coll. grave 4. B. 3-19.Cemetery:RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY


16-17 September 1942.

12 OTU
Wellington III BJ730
OP: Essen.


Crew
WO2. C W. Hall RCAF +
Sgt. D C. Marsh +
P/O. F J. Adams +
Sgt. N. Whitfield +
Sgt. G M. Caldwell RCAF +

The aircraft took off at 2026 hrs from Chipping Warden scheduled to raech the target by 2222 hrs. All rest in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

Sgt Marsh was just 18 years of age.

Bomber Command Losses Volume 7. W R. Chorley.

 

Name:HOGGETT, STANLEYInitials:SNationality:United KingdomRank:SergeantRegiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveUnit Text:50 Sqdn.Date of Death:08/02/1945Service No:1569216Additional information:Son of George Hoggett, and of Hannah Hoggett (nee Goodall); husband of Eliza Rebecca Hoggett, of Sherburn, Co. Durham.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Coll. grave 23. D. 1-3.Cemetery:REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY


7-8 February 1945.

50 squadron
Lancaster I PD316 VN-A
Op: Ladbergen

Crew
F/L. J. Boyle +
Sgt. G. Ansell +
Sgt. S. Hoggett +
F/S. H R. Hand pow
F/S. D G. Rodwell +
Sgt. R G. Turner pow
Sgt. P R. Jones +

The aircraft took off at 2059 hrs from Skellingthorpe and set course for the Dortmund-Ems Kanal. Those who died are buried in the Reichswald Forrest War cemetery.

Bomber ommand Losses Volume 6. W R. Chorley.

 

Name:HENDERSON, ARTHURInitials:ANationality:United KingdomRank:Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveUnit Text:207 Sqdn.Age:21Date of Death:02/03/1945Service No:1671712Additional information:Son of Thomas Newrick Henderson and Eleanor Henderson, of Sherburn, Co. Durham.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Grave 15562.Cemetery:CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY


1-2 March 1945.

57 Squadron
Lancaster III ND572 DX-F
Training

Collided in the air with a 207 Squadron Lancaster, while engaged on night fighter affiliation training, both aircraft falling at 0118 hrs on Fen Farm, Ruskington, some 4 miles NNE of Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
All crew killed.


207 Squadron
Lancaster III ME473 EM-N
Training

Crew
F/L. E. McM Lawson RAAF +
Sgt. G W. Flitt +
F/O. W W. Lord +
F/S. A. Henderson +
Sgt. R. Richardson +
Sgt. G. Wilkinson +
Sgt. R C. Banks +
LAC. J. Morrison +

Took off 0021 hrs Spilsby and lost in the circumstances described above. Six bodies were recovered but F/S. Henderson and Sgt. Banks, thye latter from Nakuru, Kenya, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial . LAC Morrison was a batman who had joined the crew for air experience flying.

Note. The crash site was excavated by the Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group in August 1996 and the remains of Sgt. Banks were recovered. He was buried with full military honours on 26 October 1996.

Bomber Command Losses Volume 6. W R. Chorley.

 

Name:SHORT, ROBERT PURSEYInitials:R PNationality:United KingdomRank:Aircraftman 2nd ClassRegiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer ReserveAge:20Date of Death:28/03/1942Service No:1037565Additional information:Son of Robert Arthur Short and Alice Short, of Sherburn.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Grave 1513.Cemetery:SHERBURN (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD


John,

Sorry to say, as yet, I cannot find anything related to the above.

 

Peter, thanks mate, you have gone beyond the call of duty, as ever all very much appreciated.

All the best
John.

 

Excellent work, Peter.
Positive Reputation added.

Many thanks Owen, I'm only repaying what others have done for me over the years.

All the best.
Peter

 

Well done Peter from me too!

Nearly every time you bring up a Chorley report there seems to be a RAAF lad included.

 

Peter, I have found one more local lad, could I ask you please do you have anything on him

Thanks again
John.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

Peter, I have found one more local lad, could I ask you please do you have anything on him

Thanks again
John.

CWGC :: Casualty Details

John,
Nothing as yet but I live in hope.

 

Peter,

Forgot to say that I had also increased your reputation however we all know you don't need it!

 

Peter
Thanks for checking for Sidney Kyle for me. I have just contacted someone on Genes Reunited who has Sidney on their family tree, hopefully they may be able to tell us something of his untimely death....I will keep you posted on any reply I get....once again many thanks for all your help.

John

 

Owen
Yes that's our new village war memorial. My friend Kevin Stock and myself were behind the project, after three years hard work we finally saw our efforts come to fruition when our new village war memorial was erected and dedicated on this years Remembrance Sunday. Sherburn Hill has always had an outdoor war memorial....Sherburn Village a mile down the road never did... until now.

John.

 

Peter
Thanks for checking for Sidney Kyle for me. I have just contacted someone on Genes Reunited who has Sidney on their family tree, hopefully they may be able to tell us something of his untimely death....I will keep you posted on any reply I get....once again many thanks for all your help.

John


The GRO Death index for RAF Overseas deaths list your man as being with 59 OTU at the time of his death.

By courtesy of Andy Ingham - rafcommands.com

 

Thanks Peter to you and Andy Ingham of rafcommands.com, much appreciated, this gives me something else to look into, if all else fails I will order his death certificate.

John.