Moved this already posted thread on advice of Qzzy16 . Tricky Dicky posted info on DOB etc. Need a few pointers where to look just started researching my Uncle Charles Burnikell In later life he cut himself off from family so only partial knowledge. He is not showing up at various places I have tried. I know Service records will be required eventually. What I do and do not know. Charles Burnikell Born East End (Bethnal Green?) Service number not known DOB unknown Died 60's? Rear Gunner Awarded DFM or DFC (Not to sure about that might be family legend) Shot down and survived date unknown Talked about DZ's White City and Piccadilly Circus (Burma?) Said they were a shambles (Gliders?) If he was active in Burma in Bomber Command it might help if I can find what Squadrons were Operating there. Any help appreciated . England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Charles William Burnikell Death Age: 64 Birth Date: Oct 1916 Registration Date: Dec 1980 Registration district: Ealing Inferred County: Greater London Volume: 12 Page: 0175 TD
Hard to be precise here of course, but if Charles dropped to Piccadilly (1943) then he might have been with, 31 or 194 Squadron. White City was a Chindit jungle stronghold active in March-April 1944. This was supplied by 194 Squadron mainly, but not exclusively.
Service records are the only way to go - link for forms - Request records of deceased service personnel If the death details are not him then let me know there were others but the details I posted seemed to match best TD
Have fun - RAF Third Tactical Air Force - Wikipedia, but also remember that some of the resupply operations were I believe carried out by USAAF aircraft/squadrons which may or may not have had British crew on baord to help - hence why service records are vital TD
Thank you TD . I am fairly certain that the dates are OK He was my father's ( who was born 1912) younger brother. We had no knowledge of him after the 50's and not notified when he passed , Not sure about the awards if true , think as aircrew he was probably a Sgt ,and would of got a DFM but later in war were all aircrew given commissions to get better treatment?. bamboo 43 Thank you I will try getting Squadron nominal rolls.. Were Gliders landed in any Dz/Lz's in Burma? I have vague memory of him mentioning them but not in which context.
Seems there were Gliders in the far East but have not found any operations involving them. Glider Pilots were seconded to RAF.31 Sqn. and used as second pilots flying Dakotas on re supply missions (Para data)
Chindits 2nd Campaign 1944 TD The plan was for a first wave of gilders to land troops to secure the site. A second wave would land more troops and American engineers with their equipment to construct an airstrip so that C47 Dakotas could bring in the remaining troops and equipment.
To be honest I would strongly suggest obtaining service records before you go much further otherwise you might be going way off track Even outside of operation Thursday most of the Army fighting in Burma through 1944 and 1945 were supplied by air until the port of Rangoon was captured in April/May 1945, and by supply that meant everything from toilet rolls to ammunition TD
redtop Noticed this as an attachment to one of Bamboos posts was the same in Burma and the sites you mention in that bull dozers were flown in to clear airstrips for Dakotas to come in with supplies and take wounded out TD
