Air training crash of Halifax 10 Squadron Nov 1942

Hi,
Trying to understand what happened to training flight W7871 a type 2 Halifax on 30 November 1942.
Flight Sgt Edward WIllmott was killed on that flight and trying to find out where it happened and why if possible.
Willmott is on the local church memorial and I am trying to slowly find out as much as I can on each man named.
Any help appreciated.

 

30 November 1942.

No.10 Squadron.
Halifax II W7871. ZA-C.
Training.

Crew.
F/S. E J. Willmott +
S/L. G S. Barrett +
Sgt. D A D. Soggee +
Sgt. A F. Flower +
Sgt. F. Clarke +
Sgt. E A. Marchant +
Sgt. D A. Bellerby +

Aircraft took of Melbourne (Near York). Dived from 300 feet and crashed at Laytham Grange Farm, one mile SW of the airfield and burst into flames.

RAF Bomber Command Losses. Vol 3 W R. Chorley.

 

Thanks Peter,
Was there any further explanation to why the Halifax crashed. mechanical / electrical failure ?

 

Thanks Peter,
Was there any further explanation to why the Halifax crashed. mechanical / electrical failure ?

Sorry to say Chorley gives no reason for the crash.

 

Ok thanks Peter,
Could you by chance help with another man ?
Pilot Officer Ian George Elwin 148 Sqdn died 14/11/1942 and on the Alamein memorial

 

I presume you mean this chap?

Name DAVIDSON, IAN GEORGE ELWIN Initials:I G ENationality:United KingdomRank:Pilot Officer Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 148 Sqdn.Age: 24Date of Death:14/11/1942 Service No:116742 Additional information:Son of Lt.-Col. E. H. Davidson, C.B.E., M.C., and Yvonne Davidson. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference: Column 248.Memorial:ALAMEIN MEMORIAL


13-14 November 1942.

No.148 Squadron.
Wellington IC. AD637. E.
Op: Benghazi.

Crew.
P/O. W G. Sharpe RAAF +
P/O. I G E. Davidson +
Sgt. J M. Jones +
W/O2. H M. Lane RCAF +
F/S. J L M. Thomson RAAF +
Sgt. R E. Swift +

Took off 1933 hrs LG 106, detailed to bomb shipping and harbour facilities at Benghazi. Failed to return. All are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

RAF Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean. Gunby - Temple.

Landing Ground 106 was to the west of El Alamein.

Regards
Peter

 

Thanks Peter,
I am trying to research my local Parish Church war memorial to try and complete a short book for this years remembrance service. RAF not my strong point, hence questions.

Not that I wish to offend you, but any chance of one last look up for WW2 ?
Edward Guy Simonds was a flying officer 47783 died 20/5/1943.
No idea of Sqdn or where this took place. Recorded on the Runnymede memorial.

Would your reference book cover RFC in WW1 by any chance
Many thanks

 

There is no chance of offending me, I'm only too pleased to help.

At the moment I have nothing on Simonds, nothing in Bomber Command Losses or Fighter Command Losses, but that doesn't mean all is lost just yet, I've post this request elsewhere, with luck we will get a result.

I have no records covering WWI.

Regards
Peter.

 

GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
To be Plt. Offs. (tempy.) on being employed with the R.A.F. 24th Jan. 1942:

Edward Guy SIMONDS, Lt. (tempy. Capt.) R.A. (47783).

He was orginally LG'd as 2nd Lt in the Royal Artillery in 1937.


1 OADU
Blenheim V
EH464

F/O E G Simonds
Sgt SK Newham
Sgt G J Holt

Ferry, RAF Portreath, Took off 08:42

Shot down by Lt W Gutermann of 14/KG40 in position PLQ 14W8835 at 12:00 hrs on flight between Portreath and North Front, Gibraltar.


Supplied by Amrit / Ross. rafcommands.

 

Peter, very impressed with your knowledge. Hope you dont mind me 'jumping on the bandwagon' I have been told that a relative (same name) of John Tompkins was killed in an RAF training Flight in may, 1939. I believe he was a pilot oficer aged about 19 years.

I have tried looking him up on the Commonwealth war graves website but no luck, maybe because he died before war was declared he is recorded elsewhere. ny idea's ? Thanks John

 

Hi John, hope this is your man

Fairy Battle K9469 of 35 Squadron. Dived in ground at Cottesmore 5/5/1939. PO GL Cooper, Sgt JF Tompkins and AC2 J Sweeney all killed.

Thanks to members of rafcommands for their help.

Regards
Peter.