RAF losses May 1940. An update.

ROSEWARNE, VIVIAN ALLEN WILLIAM 40021 Flying Officer (Pilot) 30/05/1940
BAYNES, ROY 42479 Pilot Officer (Pilot) 30/05/1940
KNIGHT, JOHN 581515 Sergeant (Obs.) 30/05/1940
SPENCER, DENNIS DOUGLAS GEORGE 755611 Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 30/05/1940
ADAMS, JAMES CAMPBELL 630069 Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) 30/05/1940
DOLAN, JOHN 902515 Sergeant (Air Gnr.) 30/05/1940


38 Squadron
Wellington IC R3162 HD-H
Op. Diksmuide

Took off 2225 hrs Marham. Crashed at Veurne (West Vlaanderen) 25 km S of Oostende, Belgium.

[FONT=&quot]BCL Chorley

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AYRE, GEORGE DESMONDE 90330 Flying Officer (Pilot) 30/05/1940


609 Squadron
Spitfire I L1086

Lost returning from patrol. Crashed in bad visibility at Oakley, Essex

FCL Franks

 

TOWNSEND, ALBERT ALLEN 580215 Sergeant 30/05/1940
HAMMOND, WILLIAM NEWELL 43136 Pilot Officer 30/05/1940
BARTLETT, ALBERT VICTOR NORMAN 78669 Pilot Officer 30/05/1940




269 Squadron
Hudson I N7335
Op. Reconnaissance

Took off 1115 hrs Wick and set course for the Norwegian coast. Shot down at 1430 hrs by Fw R. Menge of 5/JG77 near the battery at Hellesto Island off Stavanger, Norway.

CCL McNeill

 

WHEELWRIGHT, IRVINE SYME 91003 Pilot Officer 30/05/1940
JOHNSON, HERBERT WILLIAM 521711 Sergeant 30/05/1940
GILES, FRANK HOWARD 812052 Leading Aircraftman (W.Op.) 30/05/1940
SOPER, RUSSELL GEORGE THEOPHILUS 903332 Flight Sergeant 30/05/1940


500 Squadron
Anson I N5227
Op. Shamrock Patrol

Took off 1512 hrs Detling. Last seen on the surface of the sea in position VXWY 1357 near destroyer T61 at 1800 hrs.

CCL McNeill

 

BOYD, THOMAS 516716 Sergeant (Pilot) 31/05/1940

213 Squadron
Hurricane I P3419

Shot down (No other details)

FCL Franks.
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CHAMBERS, GRAHAM LAMBERT 90343 Flying Officer 31/05/1940

610 Squadron
Spitfie I N3274

Shot down by Me109.

FCL Franks
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CHAMBERS, RICHARD DOUGLAS CLUTTERBUCK 39494 Flying Officer (Pilot) 31/05/1940

500 Squadron
Anson I R3389
Op. Night Patrol

Took off Detling 2338 hrs for a night patrol off North foreland, Kent. Undershot the landing and hit trees at 0115 hrs before crashing into a filed adjacent to the airfield. The Anson caught fireand one bomb exploded. The cause of the crash was blamed on lack of Knowledge of the approach to the aerodeome foe a night landing.

CCL McNeill
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COOKE, NICHOLAS GRESHAM 37652 Flight Lieutenant 31/05/1940 DFC
LIPPETT, ALBERT 348039 Corporal 31/05/1940 DFM




264 Squadron
Defiand I L6975

Lost in combat with He111s and Me109s over Dunkirk.

FCL Franks

 

HICKMAN, GUY LEWIS 42225 Pilot Officer (Pilot) 31/05/1940
FIDLER, ALFRED 743039 Leading Aircraftman (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 31/05/1940

264 Squadron
Defiant I L6968

Shot down by Me109 off Belgium coast.

FCL Franks

 

GILBERT, JOHN CHARLES 90327 Flying Officer 31/05/1940

609 Squadron
Spitfire I L1081

Shot down (No other details)

FCL Franks
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GRAY, WILLIAM NAPIER 40108 Flying Officer (Pilot) 31/05/1940

213 Squadron
Hurricane I P3361 'D'

Shot down in combat. (Body washed ashore on 17 August 1940)

FCL Franks

 

JOHNSON, STANLEY BERNARD 747782 Sergeant 31/05/1940

264 Squadron
defiant I L6980

Baled out after colliding with Defiant I L6961.

FCL Franks
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JOYNT, DUDLEY PERSSE 90322 Flight Lieutenant 31/05/1940

609 Squadron
Spitfire I N3202

Shot down in combat with He111s

FCL Franks
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STEWART, GORDON MCKENZIE 41625 Pilot Officer 31/05/1940

242 Squadron
Hurricane I P2732

Shot down by Me109.

FCL Franks
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WILSON, Sir ARNOLD TALBOT 75684 Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) 31/05/1940 KCIE, CSI, CMG, DSO
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37 Squadron
Wellington IC L7791 LDF-
Op. Nieuwpoort

Took off 2135 hrs Feltwell. Crashed near Eringhem (Nord) 11 km south of Dunkirk, France. The death of Sir A T. Wilson at the age of 56, probably identifies the oldest most decorated airman to be killed on bomber operations.

BCL Chorley
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Hi Peter , my name is Luc Swinnen ( Belgium ) ,
In May 1940 there was brought down in my town a Bristol Blenheim IV L9175 , Gordon Reginald Grattan and Frederick John Allam where killed , Thomas Patterson also on board was taken PoW,
After the War , the CWGC made a mistake because a certain G.Johnson (AC1)Servicenumber 569099 was recorded as death in the place of G.R.Grattan , I can only assume that the G. Johnson was probably taken PoW and that he served with 110 Squadron because I can't find his name in the CWGC lists.Perhaps you can help me ?
Thanks in advance
Luc

 

Luc,

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I am sure that Peter will respond the next time he logs on.

Regards
Tom

 

Hi Peter , my name is Luc Swinnen ( Belgium ) ,
In May 1940 there was brought down in my town a Bristol Blenheim IV L9175 , Gordon Reginald Grattan and Frederick John Allam where killed , Thomas Patterson also on board was taken PoW,
After the War , the CWGC made a mistake because a certain G.Johnson (AC1)Servicenumber 569099 was recorded as death in the place of G.R.Grattan , I can only assume that the G. Johnson was probably taken PoW and that he served with 110 Squadron because I can't find his name in the CWGC lists.Perhaps you can help me ?
Thanks in advance
Luc


Hi Luc,

Not sure if I can help with this but I can offer the following.........

From 'The Bristol Blenheim' - Warner.

11 May 1940

110 squadron
Blenheim IV L9175

Failed to return. Shot down near Brabant by Me109 of JG27. F/O. Grattan (Pilot0 and 20 year old LAC F. Allam DFM (Wop/Ag) killed and buried at Kaggevine. Sgt. T. Patterson (Obs) captured and became POW.

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From BCL Vol.1 - Chorley

11 May 1940

110 squadron
Blenheim IV L9175 VE-
Op. Maastricht

F/O. G R. Grattan +
Sgt. T. Patterson pow
LAC. F J. Allam DFM +

Took off 1450 hrs Wattisham. Shot down near Kaggevinne (Brabant) 2 km south west of Diest, Belgium.


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

Casualty details for F/O. G R. Grattan
CWGC :: Casualty Details


Casualty details for LAC. F J. Allam
CWGC :: Casualty Details

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Sgt. Patterson is listed as a pow but the camp in which he was held is not listed.


I cannot find a G. Johnson listed as a pow for 110 Squadron

 

59 Squadron
Blenheim IV R3664

Failed to return from reconnaissance sortie, shot down by flak near Dunkirk.

The Bristol Blenheim Warner



28/05/1940

Blenheim TR-D
Recco
Up: 1600
Down: 1635

Tanks observed in battle approx. 15 miles south of DUNKIRK. Considerable light AA fire encountered, aircraft became uncontrollable and rolled onto its back. Crew descended by parachute. Soldiers reported although three persons left aircraft only two parachutes seen to open.

It is thought that the Air Gunner (Sgt J Finlayson) was either previously wounded or else struck his head in leaving the aircraft thus failing to open parachute. The Observer (Sgt T McDonagh) may have drifted further and fallen into enemy hands. Shots were fired at pilot (P/O J Peters) during descent, one bullet ripping sector of his parachute, thereby making descent more vertical and rapid.

On striking ground, pilot was rendered unconscious but on recovery made his way by foot and on a tank to DUNKIRK. Here he went aboard HMS PANGBOURNE and arrived at MARGATE following morning. The pilot was unable to trace wreckage of aircraft owing to proximity of enemy fire.

AIR 27/554 - Form 541 - By P/O JFH Peters

 

Hi Peter,

I've just been contacted by a chap who's looking for information on a 59 Sqn Blenheim lost on this date... and also on Sgt CA Morgan, who is the only death noted on this day. The Sqn ORB simply notes that one P/O Murdoch went missing on this date (no crew details) and makes no further note of him (or other crew) being found alive.. I guess it is possible he and one other crew member survived, became a POW's and weren't known of until after the war.. as there is no mention of Murdoch and anon' other crew member on the CWGC..

This site makes note of a loss to 59 Sqn on this date with the possible aircraft serial code as L4859.. are you able to confirm this? ---EDIT--- The ORB notes that 59 flew a sortie with L4856 on the 11th of May, so this could have been the aircraft lost on the 15th... Actually I just re-checked my notes and L4856 was abandonned on the 19th after extensive battle damge...

Any help appreciated, thanks B)