No.120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command. Personnel losses 1941-1945

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Peter Clare, Dec 15, 2010.

  1. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The following are the personnel losses sustained by No.120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command 1941 – 1945. Lest We Forget.


    During WW2 No.120 Squadron were involved in the destruction of no less than 13 German U-boats


    Some lists give 14 as their total, one, U 225 is in dispute.

    Acknowledgments

    Spidge....World War 2 Talk - Powered by vBulletin
    Henk Welting...Allied and Soviet Air Forces - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
    Geoffs Search Engine...Geoff's 1939-47 Search Engine
    'No. 120 Squadron Royal Air Force 1918 - 1998. P G. White / S P. Rennison
    No.120 Squadron Form 540 / 541



    .....................................................


    22 July 1941


    AC2. A J. Watkins was killed while driving a tractor on duty on the perimeter track at RAF Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland.


    CWGC :: Casualty Details
     
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  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    10 December 1941 Liberator I AM926 F/120


    On 5 November 1941 AM926 had taken off from RAF Nutts Corner for Prestwick, the aircraft and crew being attached to 18 Group.


    On 8 December 1941 Liberator II AL513 K/120 carried out a transit flight to RAF Dyce carrying F/O. J W. Rae and some of his crew as passengers to bring back AM926 F/120.


    On 10 December 1941 Liberator I AM926 F/120 crashed at about 1830 hrs in the Ochill Hills near Alva some 4 miles east of Stirling, Scotland, while on a transit flight from RAF Dyce to RAF Nutts Corner. There were no survivors.


    F/O. J W. Rae.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. R W. Magson.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. D. Clark.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. R H. Dear.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. D J. Bartell.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Extract from Form 1180 – Accident Record Card.


    Date : 10-12-41.
    Unit : 120 Squadron.
    Aircraft : Liberator I.
    Group :15
    Serial : AM926.
    Command : Coastal
    Engine : Twin Wasp.- 282632, 282635, 282633. 282634
    Duty : Ops – Dyce to Nutts Corner.
    Accident Time : After 1531 Hrs.
    Flight Duration : ?
    Pilot : F/O. J W. Rae.
    Casualties : Total crew, 5 Killed

    Remarks

    Possibly descending through cloud to pinpoint position – struck hill in cloud or after breaking cloud.

    A.O.C in C – Crashed in low visibility, no witnesses.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    18 February 1942 Liberator I AM925 X/120


    The aircraft took off from RAF Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland at 0450 hrs on an anti-submarine patrol but failed to gain height, struck a radio mast situated in a field at the end of the east west runway leaving the tail behind, the remainder of the aircraft careered across three small fields and came to rest almost opposite the airfield communal site on the Belfast road. The Liberator caught fire and exploded.
    Total flying time 211 hours 25 minutes.

    F/O. B S. Bannister DFC . Captain. Injured.

    Sgt. W J. Wilson. Second pilot. Injured.

    P/O. W M. Densham. Navigator. Fatally injured. P/O. Densham died on 20 February at No.31 General Hospital, Belfast.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/O. H. Wakefield DFC. Navigator Injured.

    Sgt. P. Welford. Navigator Killed.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    P/O. P G. Fuller. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Killed.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. A A. Middleton. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Killed.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. H. Mines. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Injured.

    Sgt. J F. Waite. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Injured. Sgt. J F. Waite was awarded the George Medal for his actions in rescuing P/O. Densham from the blazing aircraft.


    Extract from Form 1180 – Accident Record Card.


    Date : 18-02-42.
    Unit : 120 Squadron.
    Aircraft : Liberator I
    Group : 15
    Serial : AM925
    Command : Coastal
    Engine : Twin Wasp – 282828, 282629, 282630, 282631
    Duty : ?
    Accident Time : 0450 hrs
    Flight Duration : ?
    Pilot : 1st B S. Banister. 2nd H J. Wilson.
    Casualties : 4 Killed. 5 Injured.


    Remarks.


    Took off from runway. Lost height, struck mast and crashed. Did not use flaps as runway 2000 yards long.

    Court of Inquiry :- Error of judgment – main contributing factor was failure to use flaps (but not careless)
     
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    4 May 1942 Liberator II AL558 B/120.


    The aircraft was in the Nutts Corner circuit on a local night flying detail when it struck the summit of Divis Mountain and caught fire and burned out.

    Sgt. J. Gooder. Killed.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Extract from Form 1180 – Accident Record Card.

    Date : 4-05-42
    Unit : 120 Squadron
    Aircraft : Liberator II
    Group : 15
    Serial : AL558
    Command : Coastal
    Engine : Twin Wasp. 204840, 204951, 204952, 204953
    Duty : Local night flying
    Accident Time : 0030 hrs
    Flight Duration : 48 minutes
    Pilot : 1st F/O. G H. Wood. 2nd Sgt.D W. Alexander
    Casualties : 1 Killed, 3 Injured.

    Remarks.

    Instruments. In flight hit hill crashed & burnt. Court of Inquiry, due to error of judgement on part of pilot in that he made his down wind leg too long and when turning cross wind hit Divis Hill. Altimeter read 1450 feet. Divis Hill 1567 feet. Recommendations. Divis Hill should be marked with lights.

    O/C. AOC
    AOC in Chief
    Chief Inspector of Accidents. Agree with findings of the Court.
     
  5. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    28 May 1942. Liberator I AM924 D/120.


    The aircraft took off from Stornoway at about 0700 hrs. and made two reconnaissances of the Loften Islands and while returning from the second flight the Liberator met three Me109s and although one of these was destroyed, the Liberator was badly damaged with two engines out of action. One gunner had been killed and two other crew members injured. The aircraft slowly lost height until one of the remaining over heated engines failed, the Liberator crashed into the sea at about 1800 hrs and broke up.

    F/O. R. Walton. Captain. Evaded to Sweden.

    P/O. T J. Corkran. RAAF. Second Pilot. Evaded to Sweden.

    F/S. T J. Culnane. Navigator. Died from cold and exhaustion after two days in a dinghy.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. E J. Booker. Flight Engineer. Evaded to Sweden.

    F/S. E A. Allgood. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Killed in action during the attack by the Me109.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. J D. Pickering. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air gunner. Evaded to Sweden.

    Sgt. B. Smith. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air gunner. Wounded in the attack by the fighter; may have been killed in the crash; body found in the water.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details



     

    Attached Files:

  6. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    12 August 1942. Liberator III FK235 N/120.


    The aircraft was escorting convoy ONS120 and crashed when the port wing touched the sea while executing a low level turn. There were no survivors.

    P/O. A Pattison. Captain
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. R. Cameron. 2nd Pilot
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. H. Brown. Navigator
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. V S. Marsh. Flight Engineer
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. G. Miller. W E M / Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. H. Hulatt. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. P J. Donahue. Wireless Operator Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. S E T. Harcourt. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    …..................................................................................................................................
     
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  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    13 August 1942. Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120.


    Liberator LV341 Z/120 crashed into the sea off Tory Island while returning to RAF Ballykelly from a Search and Rescue / Anti-submarine patrol.

    P/O. V D. James. RNZAF. Captain. Missing.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. H V F. Archer. Second Pilot. Saved. Trawler Glenogil.

    Sgt. A B. Craig. RCAF. Navigator. Missing.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. S. Clare. Flight Engineer. Missing.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. K H. Watson. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Missing.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. P F. George. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Saved. Trawler Glenogil.

    Sgt. W C. Gordon. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Saved. Trawler Glenogil.

    Sgt. F N. Hollies. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Saved. Trawler Glenogil.


    Details of sortie, crash and rescue......

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/20969-thursday-13-august-1942-loss-liberator-iiia-lv341-z-120-a.html


    Extract from Form 1180 – Accident Record Card.

    Date : 13-08-42
    Unit : 120 Squadron
    Aircraft : Liberator IIIA
    Group : 15
    Serial : LV341
    Command : Coastal
    Engine : Twin Wasp. 13251, 13252, 13255, 13254.
    Duty : Creeping Line Ahead for survivors of ship. Letitia.
    Accident Time : 1515 hrs.
    Flight Duration :
    Pilot : 1st P/O. V D. James. 2nd Sgt. H V F. Archer.
    Casualties : 4 Killed.

    Remarks.

    Engine failure (Flight) A/C force landed in sea, loud bang heard from direction of bomb bay. And all four engines cut.
    Investigation appears to establish that co-pilot inadvertently operated master control switch to cause all four engines to cut.

    AIB Consider the above remarks to be primary cause. Contributory, probably absence or inefficiency of guard over switches fitted by aircraft manufacturer.
     
  8. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    21 August 1942. Liberator IIIA LV340 X/120.


    The aircraft is recorded as having been on an air test when in conditions of low cloud or sea mist, it hit a rocky knoll at an elevation of around 1100 feet and crashed at 1150 hrs against the lower slopes of Big Trosk Mountain, near Carnlough Northern Ireland, killing all on board.


    F/O. M F. Dear. Captain.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. A B. Meyer. Second Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    P/O. A B. Gomperts. Navigator.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. C. Humphrey. Flight Engineer.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    P/O. R. Ainslie. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. I. McQuay. Ireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. T W. Taylor RNZAF. Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    G/C. H K. Goode DSO DFC AFC. Passenger.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    …....................................................................................................................................
     
  9. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    25 October 1942.


    F/O. A H. Wood RAAF lost his life while convalescing at the Offices Hospital, Torquay, when enemy aircraft made an attack on the town.

    CWGC :: Casualty Details
     
  10. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    3 November 1942. Liberator II AL519 S/120.


    The aircraft was on a night flying practice when soon after take -off at 1925 hrs it flew into Dunbrock Mountain 51/2 miles south west of RAF Ballykelly. The court of Inquiry commented that the pilots attention might have been distracted because of difficulty in retracting the undercarriage.

    W/O. N W. Robins. Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details
     
  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    9 January 1943. Liberator I AM921 B/120.


    The aircraft caught fire and crashed while taking off from Reykjavik, Iceland.


    Crew.

    W/O. P L B. Ellis. Captain.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/S. J G. Benson. 2nd Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/S. G. Lowrison. Navigator.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. D. McClelland. Flight Engineer. Survived.

    F/S. A. Barthorpe. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Survived.

    Sgt. G. Young. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Survived

    Sgt. W. Stanfield. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Passengers.

    Cdr. C. Harris. Survived.

    Lt. A. Finn. Survived.

    S/L. H. Catchlove. Survived.

    F/O. W. Wright. 120 Squadron Catering Officer.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/L. F H. Salt.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    LAC. M I. Kidd.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Cpl. H Y. Mills.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Cpl. J D. Cole.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details


    Extract from Form 1180 – Accident Record Card.

    Date : 09-01-43
    Unit : 120 Squadron
    Aircraft : Liberator I
    Group : 15
    Serial : AM921
    Command : Coastal
    Engine : Twin Wasp. 281063, 281064, 281066, 281065
    Duty : Transit
    Accident Time : 1136 hrs
    Flight Duration :?
    Pilot : W/O. P L. Ellis (K)
    Location : Reykjavik (Iceland)
    Casualties : 9 All Killed

    Remarks.

    Fire in air shortly after take-of. Landing, starboard inner fell out and collapsed the starboard wheel. A/C came to rest on gravel heap, fuselage forward of wings being on fire.

    Court of Inquiry – Accident caused by petrol leak and resulting fire.
    …................................................................
     
  12. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    4 October 1943. Liberator III FL923 V/120.


    On 4 October 1943, 120 Squadron were tasked with supporting a number of convoys and the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Longmore and crew were escorting convoy ON204 when they sighted a U-boat on the surface (U 539 Oblt Lauterbach-Emden) As the Liberator went into the attack the U-boats commander decided to remain on the surface and fight.

    The following account of the action is compiled from German records.

    "The Liberator, which was mistakenly identified as a Lancaster, was sighted at 1123 hrs when 7-8000 metres away, approaching at an altitude of 800 metres. All the boats flak guns which consisted of two twin and one quadruple 200-mm, were immediately manned and fire was opened. despite heavy flak the aircraft circled, drawing slowly closer to the U-boat, Until at 1138 hrs it ran into the attack replying to the -boats fire with cannon when at a range of 1000 metres. Although hit several times, the aircraft pressed home the attack, dropping six depth charges that fell ahead of the poet bow at a distance of between 10 and 159 metres from the U-boat, which was shaken violently. Both the aircraft's starboard engines were seen to have caught fire and shortly afterwards it came down in the sea, exploding on impact with the water. On assumption that none of the aircrew would escape from the wreckage, the CO ordered the U-boat to dive so that a proper inspection of damage, which turned out to be relatively minor , could be made. One of U 539's crew was slightly wounded"


    W/G. R M. Longmore OBE. Captain.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/O. R W. Tait. Co-Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/O. F M. Webber. Co-Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/L. J N G. Bruce. Navigator.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/S. A L. Parsons. Flight Engineer.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/L. A L. Furr. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    W/O. A E. Mincham. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    W/O. W. Stott. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details
     
  13. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    13 July 1944. Liberator V BZ910 F/120.


    The aircraft was airborne at 2002 hrs from RAF Ballykelly and crashed into the sea four miles off Inistrahull, Ireland, shortly after taking off for an anti-submarine patrol . At 2048 hrs Liberator G/120 reported on R/T as sighting a patch of burning oil.


    W/O. H S. Cruttenden. 1st Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/S. C A. Peatly. Co-Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F/L. H J. Bates. Navigator. Captain. Saved.

    F/S. T. Pye Co-Pilot.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. C W. Stevenson. Flight Engineer. Saved.

    F/S. J A. Blair. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    F./S. J K. Logan. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Saved.

    Sgt. C E. Towsley RCAF. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Sgt. G L. Hendy. Wireless Operator / Mechanic. Saved.
    .
     
  14. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    1 October 1944. Liberator V/120.


    Sgt A L. Turnell Flight Engineer. Walked into a wind milling propeller of Liberator V G/120 after returning to RAF Ballykelly from an anti-submarine patrol.

    CWGC :: Casualty Details
     
  15. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Peter
    There is a cross section of incidents and the normal everyday hazards faced by any crew, what I cannot fathom is the number of fatalities caused by walking into revolving propellers.
    Was it distraction of tiredness after a sortie?

    Thanks for the post
     
  16. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Peter
    There is a cross section of incidents and the normal everyday hazards faced by any crew, what I cannot fathom is the number of fatalities caused by walking into revolving propellers.
    Was it distraction of tiredness after a sortie?

    Thanks for the post

    Mike,

    Like you say, tiredness following a mission and a moments inattention with disasterous results.

    A terrible end to the mission.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  17. Barry Wright

    Barry Wright New Member

    Hi Peter,

    Flying Officer William John Wright was my Grandfather, but I know very little about him other than what I have discovered through the War Graves Commission and your details on this site. I know he is buried in Fossvogur Cemetery, Reykjavik and his service number was 102330. I would dearly love to know more about his role in 120 Squadron and maybe get some details about the kind of man he was, etc. My father was moved away as a young boy and lost touch with his dad, always wanting to know what happened to him. Unfortunately my dad died before he found out about his father, but I am determined to learn as much as I can about this brave individual and pass on the details to the rest of my family. I have a photograph of my grandfather and now know a bit more thanks to your information. Any guidance you can give in finding out more my Grandfather would be very much appreciated.

    Thanks & Kind Regards,

    Barry Wright
    Barrywrightqs@aol.com

     
  18. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hello Barry,

    Sorry to say I cannot add much more to the details you already have, if your Grandfather had been air crew then I could have plotted his operational career with 120 Squadron through the Squadron ORB. I can add a short history of the aircraft involved in the accident which might help

    Do you have your Grandfathers service record? Always a good starting point with family research.....

    https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
    .

    All the best

    Peter.


    Liberator I AM921 B/120

    Construction No 12
    ex 40-2360
    San Diego to El Secundo by USAAF FC 9th May 1941
    Gander to Squires Gate 19-20 May 1941
    To Scottish Aviation Ltd, Prestwick 20 May 1941
    To DGRD (Director General of Research & Development) at RAE Farnborough 2 June 1941
    Farnborough to Scottish Aviation Ltd 10 July 1941. Converted to Liberator I. Operationally equipped with ASV and 20mm cannon
    To 120 Squadron 10 October 1941
    120 Squadron to Scottish Aviation Ltd for mods 17 March 1942
    Returned to 120 Squadron 4 July 1942
    Engine caught fire in air and fell out at Reykjavik 9 January 1943.
    Struck Off Charge 17 February 1943
     
  19. Grant Mills

    Grant Mills New Member

    Hi Peter,

    I am researching my Grandfather, SGT Alfred Middleton who was killed on this flight. I was hoping to find out something more of his time and the flights he made. I plan to reach out to the UK Gov to obtain his service records. Do you know if there are any squadron pictures that he may have been in?

    Many thanks for your write up here. It helped a lot in understanding what happened to him. My Mother and Grandmother never talked much about him so anything you have is precious...

    Thank you and regards.

    /grant


     
  20. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hello Grant. If you search Liberator I AM925 on the forum you should get a few hits. Having said that I do have a more detailed account of the crash, somewhere, I need to have a good look for it .

    Regards

    Peter

    Crashed on take-off. RAF Nutts Corner 1942.
     
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