Lancaster JB353 OL-F 2/3 Jan 1944 Berlin

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Helen Theron, Mar 7, 2021.

  1. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Hi. I am searching for descendants of Squadron 83. In particular,:-
    Ian Godfrey Allan 151061
    Joseph Banks 1091782
    John Mcintyre Dunlop 1559306
    William Horace Dyke 132869
    Denis Charles James McKendry 155542
    Ernest Blaire Stiles J/18139
    Patrick Traynor 614985
    It's in regards to an old weathervane we have, [​IMG] bearing the inscription of the Lancaster lll JB453 -F, that they lost their lives in on 02/01/1944.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  3. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Helen,

    Probably not a good idea to post your request more than once.

    TD, the photo and story are on that social media site you don't visit.

    I can tell you that pilot J18139 P/O Ernest Blair Stiles had three siblings. I will edit details in later.

    Be a shame for members to not see what Helen found and it's potential provenance.

    Regards,

    Dave

    83 squadron weather vane.jpg
     
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  4. CL1

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

    was the house occupied by one of the casualties or family ?
     
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  5. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Helen,

    J18139 P/O Ernest Blair Stiles, son of the Revd. William Pierce Stiles (1884-1977) and Jessie Annie, nee Lutes, Stiles had three siblings. Unfortunately all three have passed away, one less than a year ago. However, with the obituaries posted there is enough to find family. I'd recommend emailing the funeral home, tell them what you're doing and ask them to forward your message. I did that and 30 years after the man had died, the funeral home sent my email to his daughter.

    Obituary of Kenneth Ivan Stiles | Serenity Funeral Home

    Annabel Mina Conrad Obituary - Lunenburg, NS | ObitTree™

    Donald Stiles 1931 2020, death notice, Canada

    Regards,

    Dave
     
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  6. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    That's the problem. This is one of those rare cases where family data is not included on the CWGC for the majority of the crew.

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Casualty Details | CWGC (family listed)
    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Casualty Details | CWGC family listed)
    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Casualty Details | CWGC

    Really unfortunate that ancestry did not think that scanning the telegram from squadron to Air Ministry with names and addresses of the next of kin of those lost would not be a good idea, from a genealogical standpoint.

    Regards,

    Dave
     
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  7. CL1

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

    ah thanks Dave

    I assume the op doesnt want to state address for security reasons

    local area would have memorial or such and could narrow it down
     
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  8. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Hello Helen,

    What an interesting memento and good luck with your quest. I can’t assist with the dependents, but I have a photo which was passed to me as being of 83 Pathfinder Squadron:
    upload_2021-3-7_21-1-36.jpeg

    At least four of the men here were on an aircraft shot down on a Berlin mission later in January 1944 - and had joined 83 Squadron at Wyton within the previous 4 months - so the crew you are interested in may possibly also be amongst their ranks? Someone may be able to confirm or deny or otherwise expand.
     
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  9. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Hi. Thanks for replying.
    I have been given the crew names when the plane went down. I have alot of info on the pilot Stiles but very little on the rest of the crew, other than the details of the group grave in Germany. IMG20210225101444.jpg
     
  10. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    No. This is our current home. The weathervane was bought at a reclamation yard in 2009 and put up on the roof of a previous home. It's only when we moved that we noticed the inscription.
     
  11. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    That's a great photo. Would it be possible to have a copy please?
     
  12. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    This is a great lead Dave. Thanks
     
  13. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

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  14. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Thank you Quarterfinal.
     
  15. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Do you have any idea when the photo was taken?
     
  16. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    If it is 83 Squadron, it would have to have been taken between August 1943 - January 1944.

    The Canadian Virtual War Memorial might welcome a photo of the weathervane and could offer additional options for your quest.
     
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  17. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I would think that a search of the British 1939 Register might include the names of those who were still living under the head of their respective households before they joined the RAF.
     
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  18. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

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  19. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Thanks
     
  20. Helen Theron

    Helen Theron Member

    Thanks
     

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