Hello. I'm Albert. A cousin of my mother, Eileen O'Brien married Air Marshall Leslie Gossage. Their son, Peter Gossage, was a pilot with No. 85 Squadron, flying a Hurricane Mk 1. He was killed in the region of Saffron Walden, Essex 31 May 1940. Do any of you have any information about what was going on in that region that day? Any information should be very much appreciated.
I'm Albert, I should like to find information about No. 85 Squadron on 31 May 1940. My mother's cousin, Eileen O'Brien was married to Air Marshal Leslie Gossage. Their son Peter was a pilot of No. 85 Sqn and was killed near Saffron Waldon, Essex that day. Does anyone have information about that day?
Hi Albert, The loss was a training one so the cut and paste brigade are having difficulty finding it in the normal reference book. The squadron had returned to Debden on the 23rd May from France and was replacing aircraft and pilots. The new crews needed to be brought up to speed with air tactics. Two pilots were killed that day Sgt L R Butler and P/O P L Gossage. Hurricane N2536 Stalled during a practice dogfight and spun into the ground 2 miles north of Debden and was destroyed by fire. Hurricane P3584 Stalled off a turn during a practice dogfight and spun into the ground 1 mile west of Debden. I have not researched who was on what aircraft yet but I advise contacting RAF Museum Hendon to get a copy of the Form 1180 for each aircraft. This will give the pilot of each as well as some more details of the loss. Regards Ross
Welcome Albert, I've moved your posts to a thread of their own CWGC :: Casualty Details Pilot Officer PETER LESLIE GOSSAGE 74703, 85 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 31 May 1940 Son of Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage, K.C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C., and of Lady Gossage (nee O'Brien), of Buxted. Remembered with honour BUXTED (ST. MARGARET THE QUEEN) CHURCHYARD
Welcome to the forum Albert a link below for you Peter Leslie Gossage ( - 1940) - Find A Grave Memorial
The following was Printed in the Widnes Weekly News Weekly News Friday June 14th.1940 - WIDNES FIRST MAYOR - Great Grandson Killed Pilot Officer P.L. Gossage, younger son of Air Marshal A.L. Gossage, air member for personnel to the Air Council. Is among those “killed on active.” Pilot Officer Gossage is great Grandson of the late Alderman F, H. Gossage, the first Mayor of Widnes, a Great great grandson of the late Mr. William Gossage, the founder of the famous soap firm of Messrs. William Gossage and Sons Ltd.’ and a grandson of the late Colonel and Alderman W. Winwood Gossage, who was Mayor of Widnes in 1901 and 1902.
Hurricane N2536 was piloted by Sergeant L R Butler. He was thought to have blacked out during a high speed stall, and flat spun in.
To Albert, and fellow respondees, including Ross; at Hendon I think!? I have just found this post and joined the forum. Peter Gossage was my uncle, although of course I never met him. I was born in 1963. It was a tough time for your cousin and her husband, my grandfather as their older son was an infantry officer missing in the evacuation of France as well. Fortunately, for me, he was alright and evacuated through Cherbourg. Thank you for the information above, and Albert I hope you found what you were looking for. I am interested in how my grandmother Eileen was your cousin. I hope this thread will be read and highlighted. 2011 was a while ago now, as was 1940! Regards, Andrew
Hi Andrew and Albert, I live in Buxted where Peter is Buried. My father Peter Peake has been looking after the grave for a number of years now. Apparently the Peake’s were best friends with the Gossage’s around the time of Peter’s death and my father who was born in 1940 thinks he might have been named after Peter Gossage. My father has been trying to track down family members for a while now. Would he be able to email you both? I tried to Attach a photo of the grave from this years 11th Nov where I put some Poppy’s on his grave as my father is currently stuck in Australia as all international flights have been cancelled. Where do you both live? Joanna
Joanna, Andrew was last aboard in February 2017 and Albert in May 2011. You can try the option for a private conversation, access via your profile to 'Conversations' or going via their badge here using Start a Conversation. Assuming the email they used to register is still valid. Good luck.
