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

Don't wish to confuse you John but I've received another reply from rafcommands.com via Henk Welting regarding Sidney Kyle.

Maybe it will give you another lead.


LAC Sidney KYLE
Hi all,
I've him as an airgunner killed during a training flight on Battle L5761. Also killed:
F/Sgt (Pilot) J.B. MacDermott - 1378189
Cpl (Obs) John McD. Anthony - 623972.

Regards
Peter.

 

Brilliant, thanks Peter....that confirms it, I have been contacted this afternoon via Genes Reunited off Sidney Kyle's nephew, he is going to send me Ministry Of Defence report on his death, but tells me that records show that he was lost at sea after engine failure family lore had it that the aircraft he lost his life in was towing a target for land based anti aircraft gun emplacements and during an exercise the aircraft was hit..
Peter with what you already told me about the RAF Overseas deaths list and him been with 59 OTU I have been doing a bit of googleing and found the following reply on a thread on RAF Bomber Commands.

'This Austin Motors-built Fairey Battle Mk. I s/n L5761 went as 'missing' on the 15th of November 1942 from No. 59 Operational Training Unit at R.A.F. Station Milfield, Northumberland. I believe it was used as a target-tug.'

http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=5124&forum=DCForumID6&archive=yes

I will post more when Sidney's nephew gets back onto me.....once again many thanks.
All the best
John

 

Good news John, I'll be interested in the outcome.

Regards
Peter.

 

Peter, Sidney Kyle's nephew has very kindly sent me the report from Air Historical Branch, you will note there is no mention on Cpl. Anthony.
Also while searching the Times online I found LAC Kyle and Pilot Macdermott mentioned together as missing believed killed, again no mention to Cpl. Anthony here as been killed with Kyle and Macdermott in the Times.
On the overseas deaths lists Cpl. Anthony is listed as serving on HMS Avenger, which I believe was an Aircraft Carrier.

Just a couple of more questions on this one if you or anyone else on the forum could possibly please answer....what would be LAC Kyle's duties be on this target towing flight. And how far behind would the target be behind the Battle aircraft when towed.

Thanks
John.

PS. Many happy returns of the day Peter...have a gud un!

AHB Report.

Surviving records held in AHB (RAF) show that LAC Kyle was Aircrafthand/Batman aboard Battle aircraft serial number L5761 of 59 Operational Training Unit.
On the 15th November, 1942 LAC Kyle and his pilot J B Macdermott 1378189, were undertaking a target towing flight when the aircraft was seen to force land on the sea, three miles north of Goswick, Northumberland, at 1035 hours. Although an intensive search was carried out, there was no signs of the aircraft and the occupants. An investigation stated that the crash was due to engine failure but the cause of which could not be determined.

 

Just a couple of more questions on this one if you or anyone else on the forum could possibly please answer....what would be LAC Kyle's duties be on this target towing flight. And how far behind would the target be behind the Battle aircraft when towed.


Hi John,
Not a question I can answer myself, so I've posted it elsewhere hoping to get a result.

Many thanks for the birthday wishes.

Regards
Peter.