Introducing myself -Researching Air Force casualties buried at Adegem, Eeklo and Maldegem

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by FrankR, Aug 31, 2014.

  1. FrankR

    FrankR New Member

    Hi all my name is Frank Raeman and I am researching the air force casualties who are buried at the Adegem Canadian War cemetery, the Eeklo Town cemetery and the Maldegem Communal cemetery. I have started doing that intensely from 1996 onwards and the research will be published in September 2015. My idea of the book is not to write in large about the operations in which the airmen were killed but largely about the airmen self. Who were they, where did they came from, how did they looked like, .... I want to make sure that they are not forgotten but allso that people can put a face on the head stone whilst visiting those three cemeteries.

    So I allready have a lot of information and photgraphs but there are still a few missing links so by this I would like to ask for your help. And be sure, I am more then willing to exchznge info rtc.

    Kind regards,

    Frank
     
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  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Hello and welcome to the forum
     
  3. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hello Frank, welcome to the forum.

    Regards

    Peter.
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Frank,

    Welcome, and I hope members here can assist with your project.
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Welcome to the forum
     
  6. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    A warm welcome Frank.

    Best wishes,

    Lee
     
  7. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Frank,

    There are two Aussies at Adegem.

    JOHNSTON, ROBERT Sergeant 402360 82sq RAF 8/12/1941 26 Royal Australian Air Force Australian III. AA. 11. ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

    SHAILER, SIDNEY ALAN Sergeant 411406 14 O T U RAF 1/08/1942 19 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Coll. grave XII. H. 6-8. ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

    This will show the composition of the crews and you can use some or not! Let me know if you have all this information already!
    402360 Sergeant JOHNSTON, Robert
    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/129/145 Micro Film No 463 OAFH,
    Commonwealth War Graves records, W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses
    of the Second World War, Page 189, Volume 1941.
    Aircraft Type: Blenheim
    Serial number: V 5876
    Radio call sign: UX – J
    Unit: ATTD 82 SQN RAF
    Summary:
    Blenheim V5876 took off from RAF Bodney at 2342 hours on the night of 7/8th
    December 1941, detailed to bomb the docks at Oostende, Belgium, from a height of
    10,000 feet. . Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to
    base. Eight other aircraft made attacks on the same target over a period of about 20
    minutes.
    Crew:
    RAF PO Wilson, T McS Captain (Pilot)
    RAAF 402360 Sgt R Johnston, (Observer)
    RAF Sgt F C Hubbard, (Wireless Air Gunner)
    All the crew of V5876 are buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Locality
    Maldegem, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

    Service Record
    Name
    JOHNSTON, ROBERT
    Service
    Royal Australian Air Force
    Service Number
    402360
    Date of Birth
    24 May 1915
    Place of Birth
    BANKSTOWN, NSW
    Date of Enlistment
    19 Aug 1940
    Locality on Enlistment
    Unknown
    Place of Enlistment
    SYDNEY, NSW
    Next of Kin
    JOHNSTON, TERESA
    Date of Death
    8 Dec 1941
    Rank
    Sergeant
    Posting on Death
    82 Squadron
    WW2 Honours and Gallantry
    None for display
    Prisoner of War
    No
    Roll of Honour
    TURRAMURRA NSW

    411406 Sergeant SHAILER, Sydney Allen
    Source:
    AWM 237 (65) NAA : A9301 Barcode 5523915 Digitised Commonwealth War
    Graces records W R Chorley : RAF Bomber Command Losses Operational Training
    Units 1939-1947, Page 140, Volume 7.
    Aircraft Type: Hampden
    Serial number: P 1185
    Radio call sign:
    Unit: ATTD 14 OP TRAINING RAF
    Summary:
    Hampden P1185 took off from RAF Cottesmore at 0003 hours on the night of 31st
    July/1st August 1942, detailed to bomb Dusseldorf, Germany. Nothing was heard from
    the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base.
    Crew:
    RCAF WO2 N E McGowan, Captain (Pilot)
    RCAF PO McLean, D G (Observer)
    RAAF 411406 Sgt SA Shailer (Wireless Air Gunner)
    RCAF Flt Sgt G T Bloomer, (Wireless Air Gunner)
    It was believed that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Leffinge,
    (West Vlaanderen), a village on the south side of Oostende airport. Three of the crew
    were killed and WO2 McGowan was a POW.
    Those killed are buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium.


    Service Record
    Name
    SHAILER, SIDNEY ALAN
    Service
    Royal Australian Air Force
    Service Number
    411406
    Date of Birth
    1 Feb 1922
    Place of Birth
    CAMPSIE, NSW
    Date of Enlistment
    28 Apr 1941
    Locality on Enlistment
    Unknown
    Place of Enlistment
    SYDNEY, NSW
    Next of Kin
    SHAILER, FREDERICK
    Date of Death
    1 Aug 1942
    Rank
    Sergeant
    Posting on Death
    14 OTU COTTESMORE
    WW2 Honours and Gallantry
    None for display
    Prisoner of War
    No
    Roll of Honour
    SYDNEY NSW


    Cheers

    Geoff
     
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  8. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    hello and welcome
     
  9. FrankR

    FrankR New Member

    Hey guys, thank you for the warm wellcomings great to hear thatc

    Spidge (Geoff), I had some of the information but not all so "handshake handshake".

    Like I said I will post some question BUT whenever I can help anyone just fire away the questions.

    Cheers,

    Frank
     
  10. FrankR

    FrankR New Member

    Hey guys, sorry for not replying any sooner but I am still recovering from a hell of a sickness. Things go better now but broke two ribs recently. Hope that from now on life will be better.

    Thank you all for welcoming me and the information for which I am very greatefull.

    If I can be of any help please feel free to contact me.

    Cheers,

    Frank
     
  11. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Belated welcome, glad you're on the mend Frank. Broken ribs ouch just don't laugh to much
     
  12. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Sorry to hear you've not been too well, if it's knocked you out for almost 10 months - or was it too many beers?
    Good luck with your research, Googling can often find a lot of links for you to help build the picture.
     
  13. Ken McKay

    Ken McKay New Member

    Hi Frank. You exchanged some correspondence with a relative of mine in 1991 regarding a Sgt. Edward Dugal who is buried in Adegam. At the time you asked for a picture and mentioned the possibility of writing a book. Sgt Dugal's nephew has asked me to contact you and to find out whether the book was ever complete. I would be grateful if you could let me know so I could forward the information back to him.
     
  14. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Frank, Good to see you are up and about.

    Thought these may have some use for your project for the two Aussies at Adegem. Adegem Johnston_Robert.JPG_Circular.JPG Adegem Canadian War Cemetery Shailer_SA_Circular.JPG
     
  15. mvdv84

    mvdv84 Well-Known Member

    DECEMBER 8, 1941:
    HUBBARD, FREDERICK CHARLES (age 20). United Kingdom. Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) (1256349). Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 82 Sqdn. Plot 3, Row AA, Grave 10.
    Full profile: HUBBARD, FREDERICK CHARLES | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    JOHNSTON, ROBERT (age 26). Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia. Sergeant (402360). Royal Australian Air Force, 82 (RAF Sqdn). Plot 3, Row AA, Grave 11.
    Full profile: JOHNSTON, ROBERT | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    WILSON, THOMAS MCSKIMMING. Pilot Officer (Pilot) (104525). Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 82 Sqdn. Plot 3, Row AA, Grave 12.
    Full profile: WILSON, THOMAS MCSKIMMING | Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem

    Blenheim V5876-UX-J took off from RAF Bodney at 2342 hours on the night of 7/8th
    December 1941, detailed to bomb the docks at Oostende, Belgium, from a height of
    10,000 feet. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to
    base. Eight other aircraft made attacks on the same target over a period of about 20
    minutes. The aircraft was hit my FLAK (German Anti Aircraft) and crashed in Zandvoorde, Belgium.
     

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