RAAF Burials in Europe

Geoff

What are they as I have a couple more I took as well?

 

KING, JOHN GRANVILLE Initials: J G Nationality: Australian Rank: Flight Sergeant (Nav.) Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Unit Text: 166 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 19/03/1944 Service No: 410000 Additional information: Son of John Thorpe King and Lotty King, of Croydon, Victoria, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: V. F. 7. Cemetery: COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
GLASSON, REX ARTHUR Initials: R A Nationality: Australian Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Unit Text: 166 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 25 Date of Death: 19/03/1944 Service No: 417300 Additional information: Son of Arthur John and Olive Helena Glasson; husband of Yvonne Jean Glasson, of Mile End, South Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. N. 10. Cemetery: COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
Both the above airmen were lost in the same incident..........

18-19 March 1944

166 Squadron
Lancaster III ND705 AS-F
Op. Frankfurt.

Took off 1910 hrs Kirmington. Presumed crashed in the sea off the shores of Belgium.

BCL Vol.5 - Chorley



The Frankfurt raid 18-19 March 1944

846 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitos - to Frankfurt. The German fighter force was again split. One part was lured north by the Heligoland mining operation but the second part waited in Germany and met the bomber stream just before the target was reached, although cloud made it difficult for these fighters to achieve much success. 22 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters - were lost, 2.6 per cent of the force. The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and this led to heavy bombing of eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing were scattered but this was almost inevitable with such a large force; new crews were usually allocated to the final waves.

 

Warhem Communal Cemetery, France

Got these 2 RAAF Australians plus the entire crew, consisting of 1 New Zealand, 1 Canadian and 3 British. Perhaps someone can confirm this.

An interesting combination of nationalities and ranks, especially a Squadron Leader Navigator.

DREWER, CLIFFORD HARRIS Initials: C H Nationality: Australian Rank: Flight Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 34 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 417818 Additional information: Son of Hubert Harris Drewer and Minna Little Drewer; husband of Rita Kathleen Drewer, of Millswood Estate, South Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

IRWIN, WILLIAM ALEXANDER Initials: W A Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force Unit Text: 7 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 29 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 414632 Awards: D F C Additional information: Son of William John and Ellen Irwin, of Dannevirke, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

McCARTHY, CHARLES ADRIAN Initials: C A Nationality: Australian Rank: Pilot Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 23 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 410696 Additional information: Son of Charles Francis and Ira McCarthy; husband of Dorothea Isabell McCarthy, of Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY



BROWN, REGINALD WISEMAN Initials: R W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Squadron Leader (Nav.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 7 Sqdn. Age: 30 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 104694 Awards: D F C Additional information: Son of Alvin C. and Agnes Brown, of Antler, Saskatchewan, Canada. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

CORNISH, ERIC Initials: E Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 7 Sqdn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 575796 Additional information: Son of Eli Charles and Dorothy Mary Cornish; husband of Diana Margaret Cornish, of Hastings, Sussex. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY



NIXON, RALPH Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 7 Sqdn. Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 1571977 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

WARD, JOHN THOMAS Initials: J T Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 7 Sqdn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 24/06/1944 Service No: 1001977 Additional information: Son of Stead and Nora Ward, of Leeds, Yorkshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row A. Coll. grave 48. Cemetery: WARHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY

 

Re the above post, to confirm the crew list and details of loss.......

23-24 June 1944

7 Squadron
Lancaster III ND590 MG-B
Op. Coubronne

F/L. W A. Irwin DFC RNZAF +
F/S. E. Cornish +
S/L. R W. Brown DFC +
F/L. C H. Drewer RAAF +
W/O. C A. McCarthy RAAF +
F/S. J T. Ward +
F/S. R. Nixon +

Took off 0002 hrs Oakington to bomb a flying-bomb site. Crashed at Warhem (Nord) 12 km south east of Dunkirk. All are buried in Warhen Communal Cemetery. S/L. Brown came from Antler in Saskatchewan.

BCL Vol.5 - Chorley.


Raid on flying-bomb sites 23-24 June 1944.

412 aircraft - 226 Lancasters, 164 Halifaxes, 22 Mosquitos - of Nos 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked 4 flying-bomb sites, which were all hit. 5 Lancasters lost.

 

Peter - Many thanks for confirming the above.

Regards - Rob

 

Geoff

What are they as I have a couple more I took as well?

I forgot that it is now only one of my outstanding ww1 pilots.

PALMER , PERCY ERIC
Second Lieutenant
29sq
17/07/1917
20
RFC
United Kingdom
C. 6.
LA BELLE ALLIANCE CEMETERY
Belgium Ieper,
West-Vlaanderen

 

Thanks Rob and Peter.

Great photos and info and another cemetery bites the dust.

France is the big challenge compared to most of my requirements in Europe.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Geoff

You obviously have these 2 RAAF guys, but I thought I'd post the other possible crew members with them as a complete group. Small Cemetery, so highly likely. Be nice to see this confirmed if someone could kindly consult the appropriate books.

TURNOCK, JOHN SIVYER Initials: J S Nationality: Australian Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 28 Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 404688 Additional information: Son of John Howard Turnock and Blanche Turnock, of Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 6. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY



HART, IAN ERIC Initials: I E Nationality: Australian Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force Age: 23 Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 400413 Additional information: Son of Eric Thomas Hart and Maude Isobel Hart; husband of Mavis Hilda Hart, of Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 8. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY




PASCOE, WILLIAM ALLAN Initials: W A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn Age: 35 Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 1380051 Additional information: Son of William T. and Leah B. Pascoe, of Sedgley, Staffordshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 5. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY



WINTER, GEORGE NORMAN Initials: G N Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn Age: 21 Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 989226 Additional information: Son of Charles and Florence Mary Winter, of Thornton, Bradford, Yorkshire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 7. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY




WOODWARD, JACK Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 1359686 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 9. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY



COONEY, PATRICK JOHN DENIS Initials: P J D Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force Unit Text: 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn Age: 22 Date of Death: 13/03/1942 Service No: 403951 Additional information: Son of Patrick Francis Cooney and of Maria Elizabeth Cooney (nee Kean), of Gore, Southland, New Zealand. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 10. Cemetery: ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY

 

All I know from the operational reports is that five aircraft were on a raid to Dunkirk and this aircraft failed to return.

The aircraft was captained by Sgt J.P.D. Mooney RNZAF.

Cheers

Geoff

 

To confirm the above......

13-14 March 1942

460 Squadron
Wellington IV Z1251 UV-X
Op. Dunkirk

F/S. P J D. Cooney RNZAF +
Sgt. J S. Turnock RAAF +
Sgt. T E. Hart RAAF +
Sgt. G N. Winter +
Sgt. J. Woodward +
Sgt. W A. Pascoe +

Took off 1934 hrs Breighton. Crashed at St-Joris-lez-Nieuwpoort (West Vlaanderen) 4 km east of Nieuwpoort, Belgium. All are buried in the Communal Cemetery at St-Joris-lez-Nieuwpoort.

BCL Vol.3 - Chorley.


13-14 March 1944.

Minor Operations: 20 aircraft to Boulogne, 19 to Dunkirk, 2 Blenheim Intruders to France and Holland, 5 Hampdens minelaying in the Frisians, 7 Hampdens on leaflet flights to France. 2 Wellingtons were lost from the Dunkirk raid and 1 Wellington from the Boulogne raid.

 

Thanks Peter for the good info as usual.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Sergeant JAMES KENNETH SMEE

1380996, 219 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 20
on 05 June 1942
Son of John F. Smee, and of Valetta Maria Smee, of Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with honour
HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY

 

Sergeant JAMES KENNETH SMEE

1380996, 219 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 20
on 05 June 1942
Son of John F. Smee, and of Valetta Maria Smee, of Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with honour
HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY


5 June 1942.

219 Squadron.

Beaufighter Mk If R2267

Pilot - 1380996 Sergeant James Kenneth SMEE
CWGC :: Casualty Details

Navigator - 926261 Sergeant Claude Stanley BASSETT
CWGC :: Casualty Details



The aicraft took off at 00.05 hrs. The pilot reported on W/T that the undercarriage would not lower. He was told to fly around until dawn. He later reported that the undercarriage was down but the aicraft stalled and crashed at 03.59 hrs, Boxgrove, Sussex, on approach to Tangmere.

 

Thanks for the Smee photo Clive.

Great effort.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Thanks for the detail Peter.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff,

Added it there have a look for yourself.....

Cheers
Tom

 

Hi Geoff,

Added it there have a look for yourself.....

Cheers
Tom

No doubt there Tom.

One that slipped through the net and caught again. His details on CWGC do not mention NOK as Australia so I did not pick it up which could go for quite a few more.

I have one who was killed in training at Uraniquity airfield in NSW which I am betting would be his younger brother.

Will check up tonight when I get home from work.


Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff,

That was one of the surprises so save you the wait here are the other 2 Post War this time... But still from Oz

Cheers
Tom