RAFVR Sergeant

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by Buteman, Nov 7, 2008.

  1. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I am carrying out research into the names of the fallen in my village from WW1 & 2 and am trying to find out which unit the following gent served with:-

    Name: MARTIN, FREDERICK VICTOR
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Obs.
    Service No: 1375907
    Date of Death: 10/09/1941
    Age: 25
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Grave Reference: Grave 186.
    Cemetery: EYNSFORD (ST. MARTIN) CHURCHYARD
    Additional Information: Son of William Thomas Martin and Mary Jane Martin, of Eynsford.

    Any help would be appreciated in where to look for this info.
     
  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    10 September 1941.

    25 OTU. B Flight.
    Wellington IC X9872
    Op: Training.

    Crew.
    F/L. D J. Bassett +
    Sgt. F V. Martin +
    Sgt. W G. Kilsby +
    Sgt. G F. Large +
    F/S. T. Highton DFM +
    Sgt. M J. Byrne +

    Took off Finningley for night bombing training. At 2145 hrs flew into farm buildings near Southrey, a fenland village some 4 miles NW of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.

    All are buried in cemeteries within the UK.

    BCL's - W R. Chorley.

    Hope this is a help.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  3. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Peter

    Many, many thanks for your help. This man lived in my village and is buried in the graveyard of St Martins, Eynsford, a Norman church. A beautiful setting.

    That's the amazing thing about this Forum. There are so many helpful people who belong to it who are able to share their knowledge so quickly.

    Robert
     
  4. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Good result :)
     
  5. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I am looking for details on what happened to another 5 RAF casualties if anyone can help. See below:-

    Name: BOWERS, CHARLES WILLIAM
    Initials: C W
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 524 Sqdn.
    Age: 30
    Date of Death: 04/03/1945
    Service No: 56414
    Additional information: Son of Josiah and Phyllis Bowers; husband of Muriel Beatrice Bowers, of Gillingham, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 268.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Name: GIGGER, DERRICK JOHN
    Initials: D J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 625 Sqdn.
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 16/03/1944
    Service No: 173328
    Additional information: Son of John Henry and Elsie Winifred Gigger, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row B. Grave 2. Cemetery: DANNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    Name: INSTON, JOHN
    Initials: J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flying Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 106 Sqdn.
    Date of Death: 30/01/1944
    Service No: 151635
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 207.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Name: MAJOR, PETER ANTHONY
    Initials: P A
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Unit Text: 602 Sqdn.
    Age: 24
    Date of Death: 17/05/1942
    Service No: 33352
    Additional information: Adopted son of John Lewis Major and Constance Theodora Major, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 21. B. 15.
    Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY

    Name: OVENDEN, FREDERICK GEORGE
    Initials: F G
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Leading Aircraftman
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 06/12/1944
    Service No: 1626444
    Additional information: Son of George and Lucy Ovenden; husband of Phyllis Violet Ovenden, of Dartford, Kent, England.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 3. Column 3.
    Memorial: OTTAWA MEMORIAL

    Many thanks - Robert
     
  6. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: GIGGER, DERRICK JOHN
    Initials: D J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 625 Sqdn.
    Age: 21
    Date of Death: 16/03/1944
    Service No: 173328
    Additional information: Son of John Henry and Elsie Winifred Gigger, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row B. Grave 2. Cemetery: DANNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY


    P/O. Gigger was lost on 15-16 March 1944 when Lancaster I W4833 CF-J was lost on a raid to Stuttgart. The aircraft was presumed to have crashed in the sea off the coast of France.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: INSTON, JOHN
    Initials: J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flying Officer
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 106 Sqdn.
    Date of Death: 30/01/1944
    Service No: 151635
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 207.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    F/O. Inston was lost on 30-31 January 1944 with the loss of Lancaster III ND336 ZN-Q on a raid to Berlin. The aircraft crashed in the North Sea.

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  8. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: MAJOR, PETER ANTHONY
    Initials: P A
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Unit Text: 602 Sqdn.
    Age: 24
    Date of Death: 17/05/1942
    Service No: 33352
    Additional information: Adopted son of John Lewis Major and Constance Theodora Major, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: 21. B. 15.
    Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY

    F/L. P Major was lost on 17 May 1942 with the loss of Spitfire Vb BM426 on a Ramrod 33 sortie. he was picked up dead from the sea off Cap Gris Nez

    Regards
    Peter
     
    Buteman likes this.
  9. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Peter - Thank you again for that information. For the casualty P A Major, what was a Ramrod 33 sortie. A reconnaisance flight maybe?

    Regards - Robert
     
  10. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Peter - Thank you again for that information. For the casualty P A Major, what was a Ramrod 33 sortie. A reconnaisance flight maybe?

    Regards - Robert


    Robert

    The definition of a Ramrod sortie =

    Ramrod - bomber raid escorted by fighters aimed at destruction of a specific target in daylight.

    -------------------------------------

    All these operations were numbered consecutively. so according to John Foreman (FC War Diaries Part 3) Ramrod 33 was flown on 17/5/42. The operation sustained heavy losses. (Steve Brooking)

    Regards

    Peter
     
  11. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,
    Great results for you Robert. Like you say, this forum is full of knowledgeable members and Peter has come up trumps.
    Hope you can soon complete your investigations.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  12. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Tom

    WW2 has been quite easy to find out about. WW1 looks like a much harder challenge. For quite a few of the names, I have found up 100 casualties for the same surname and initial. Quite sad when you think of it. A consult with my Local Village History Society is next on the Agenda.

    Robert
     
  13. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,

    That sounds like a very good move.
    Be careful, you may get abducted into the group!

    Regards

    Tom
     
  14. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I have a final request to find information on 2 airforce casualties. They are:-

    Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN
    Initials: A J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 14/01/1943
    Service No: 1254680
    Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Name: PEARSON, EDWARD HENRY
    Initials: E H
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 49 Sqdn.
    Age: 19
    Date of Death: 13/06/1943
    Service No: 1628361
    Additional information: Son of Edward H. and Rosina B. Pearson, of Wilmington, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 161.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

    Thanks in advance for any information.:poppy:
     
  15. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN
    Initials: A J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 14/01/1943
    Service No: 1254680
    Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    14-15 January 1943.

    Sgt Chester was lost on this day when Wellington HE152 HD-L was lost on a Gardening operation in the Nectarines Region (Frisian Islands) The aircraft was shot down by Kriegsmarine flak and crashed at 1742 hrs into the sea west of Ameland.

    Gardening was the aerial laying of mines in enemy waters, each area was given a code, ie. Anemones = Le Havre: Lettuces = Kiel Canal. and so on.
     
  16. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: PEARSON, EDWARD HENRY
    Initials: E H
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 49 Sqdn.
    Age: 19
    Date of Death: 13/06/1943
    Service No: 1628361
    Additional information: Son of Edward H. and Rosina B. Pearson, of Wilmington, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 161.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    12-13 June 1943

    Sgt. Pearson was lost on this day when Lancaster III ED584 EA-U was lost on a raid to Bochum. The aircraft crashed near Marienheem (Overijssel) a hamlet near Raalte, Holland.
     
  17. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN
    Initials: A J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 14/01/1943
    Service No: 1254680
    Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145.
    Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


    14-15 January 1943.

    Sgt Chester was lost on this day when Wellington HE152 HD-L was lost on a Gardening operation in the Nectarines Region (Frisian Islands) The aircraft was shot down by Kriegsmarine flak and crashed at 1742 hrs into the sea west of Ameland.

    Gardening was the aerial laying of mines in enemy waters, each area was given a code, ie. Anemones = Le Havre: Lettuces = Kiel Canal. and so on.

    This is one of the few occasions I have come across where there was not an Australian on a 466sq RAAF aircraft.

    F/S Stewart is buried in Vlieland General Cemetery; the rest have no known graves. This was the Squadron's first operational loss since its formation at Driffield 15Oct42.

    Sgt R.V.Babington KIA
    Sgt J.A.austin RNZAF KIA
    Sgt L.H.Tabner KIA
    F/S H.W.Stewart RCAF KIA
    Sgt M.Harris KIA
    Sgt A.J.Chester KIA "
     
  18. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Thanks again Peter for that information.

    Spidge - I see that 466 squadron's first operational mission was on the 13th January 1945. Sadly it did not take long for losses to occur. Thanks to you also for that useful information.

    It's amazing that of the 11 casualties commemorated on my village war memorial, 8 of them were in the Air Force. I shall stand at the Remembrance ceremony with other village members later this morning knowing a little of the sacrifice that these men made for their country.

    Robert.
     
  19. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I would again like to thank those members who provided me with a lot of information, particulary Peter Clare. Here is a photo of my Village War Memorial after today's Remembrance Service. It was well attended by about 200 people.:poppy:
     
  20. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks again Peter for that information.

    Spidge - I see that 466 squadron's first operational mission was on the 13th January 1945. Sadly it did not take long for losses to occur. Thanks to you also for that useful information.

    It's amazing that of the 11 casualties commemorated on my village war memorial, 8 of them were in the Air Force. I shall stand at the Remembrance ceremony with other village members later this morning knowing a little of the sacrifice that these men made for their country.

    Robert.

    Hi Robert,
    The date was 13th January 1943. Must have een a typo.

    466 Squadron RAAF: Australian War Memorial

    Cheers

    Geoff
     

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