Bedfordshires Unaccounted Aircrew

[simfrank]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster!
I’m doing a bit of research into Bedfordshires RAF wartime casualties and these are the last few names on my list that I can’t find any info on. What i’m looking for are the circumstances of their deaths, aircraft type serial number, squadron etc. I would be most grateful for any help given.
Many thanks
Simon

Surname Name Rank Number DoD Cemetery/Memorial

Adams Anthony Lawrence LAC 1038976 30/11/1944 Brussels Evere Vlam- Brabant
Bailey J F/o No further info
Barker A T P/o No further info
Bastick Norman Arthur Albert Sgt 1389174 17/12/1942 Royal Oak Victoria Canada
Bowerman Bevill Cyril Cpl 1198140 30/12/1943
Bull John Sgt 750482 05/03/1944 Runnymede
Chellew Thomas William F/sgt 507533 23/11/1946
Christy Peter McMartin AC2 3008938 22/09/1944
Compton John Frederick LAC 1151558 15/06/1947
Conisbee Gordon Hubert Charles Sgt 1601080 30/09/1944
Cornhill Boris Frederick Sgt 1197358 16/04/1943
Craig John Donald Flt 128700 23/04/1946
Darlow John Michael F/lt 168713 07/08/1945 Kirkee, India
Darnell James Herbert AC1 1173578 17/04/1944 Ambon, Indonesia
Deverell John Edward Steadman Cpl 619819 29/05/1943 Kirkee, India
Dickens Emily Marjorie ACW1 2021702 09/06/1944
Dolan Robert Alfred Henry Sgt 1186524 24/07/1942 Runnymede
Elliot(t) pilot u/t Kenneth George Herbert AC2 1397073 10/07/1943
Fitch Isaac John Air/com 22162 25/07/1944 Bourail, New Zealand
Gill Ernest Hector Cpl 1258560 20/02/1944 Malta Memorial
Goodwin Thomas Joseph LAC 1467928 16/02/1943 Ottawa,Canada
Harpur Frederick John W/o 352665 09/02/1944 Chester, Blacon
Harris Norman Clifford P/o 138121 26/02/1943 St George Rural, New Brunswick
Hayley Douglas Andrew Ross AC2 1380998 12/02/1942 Singapore
Hewitt Arthur Herbert Cpl 815203 08/03/1945 Longbenton,Northumberland
Hitchens Ivor James Sgt 1862823 03/04/1945 Ramleh, Israel
Huckvale Walter W/o 358388 29/09/1942
Lain Charles Simmons F/lt 62199 28/06/1944 Kirkee, India
Lincoln Reginald Ernest AC1 1286535 14/02/1942 Singapore
Livermore Eric John Sgt 748650 13/03/1941 Khartoum, Sudan
Orlebar Augustus Henry AVM 04/08/1943
Parker BEM Alfred Morgan W/o 362121 09/04/1942 Illogan, Cornwall
Payne Arthur John LAC 1144434 13/07/1945 Roxton, Bedfordshire
Payne William Henry Bertram AC1 1101426 09/07/1944 Ambon, Indonesia
Reeve Norman John William F/o 167304 17/10/1946 Karachi, Pakistan
Ross Donald Brownlee W/o 565767 12/10/1942 Delhi, India
Salmond Hugh Austin Bentinck F/lt 80653 20/10/1943
Saunders John Henry F/sgt 964825 23/10/1944
Sharp Stanley Charles Cpl 1212227 05/05/1944 Aston Clinton, Bucks
Shotbolt Reginald Arthur John LAC 1246403 07/04/1942 Montgomery Oaks, Alabama, USA
Simpson Derek Arnold LAC 932901 08/11/1945 Madras Chennai, India
Smith Reginald Thomas LAC 1154861 25/04/1943
Summerfield Samuel Kenneth AC2 1219208 07/09/1944 Maulden, Bedfordshire
Swaffield Noel George Sgt 610989 29/11/1943 Singapore
Swannell Bertram George LAC 962065 29/10/1945
Taylor O S P/o
Tillman Charles Frederick W/o 805639 10/06/1944 George Cem. Western Cape, South Africa
Trotter Alexander Murray LAC 948784 15/06/1945 Jakarta,Indonesia
Underwood Frank G Cpl 551200 23/09/1942 Khayat Beach, Israel
Warren Dennis John AC2 2222334 05/01/1946 Normanton, Derbyshire
Wykes Geoffrey Francis Sgt (pilot) 1627761 25/12/1945 Elstow, Bedfordshire
Witt a/g u/t Walter Frederick AC2 1802703 28/06/1944
Cox Kenneth George AC1 1046922 21/12/1943
Taylor Leonard Wells Sgt 1165278 27/02/1941 Pioneer Cem. Harare Zimbabwe

[Errol Martyn]

Simon,

That's rather a formidable list, but I can assist with one of the names.

From my trilogy 'For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998)':

Supplementary notes section:

An RAF officer buried at Bourail, New Caledonia.

With the exception of a member of the British Army, two of the Royal Navy, two of the RAF and two of the Fijian military, all graves in the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery belong to New Zealanders. The two RAF men are LAC W B Blackhall and Air Commodore Isaac John Fitch. Blackhall died in the South Pacific while attached to the RNZAF; details of his fate may be found in the main text under 13 June 1943. Forty-year old Fitch had no connection with the RNZAF, but was employed as air officer commanding Tarawa (a British possession). He died as the result of an accident to the American aircraft (identity unknown) in which he was travelling from Tarawa to Guadalcanal on 25 July 1944.

And Vol Three (Biographies & Appendices):

Amendments:

FITCH, I J – died when Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express 41-11706, operated by Consairways under contract to Air Transport Command, flew into a 750-foot high hilltop on Florida Island on approach to Carney Field when 22 miles/25 degrees distant, at 2145. The five crew, nine Americans and two British Army officers also died, there being no survivors.
Fitch was first buried in the US Army-Navy-Marine Cemetery at Lunga.

Errol

[alclark]

I've checked what I have for F.J. Hapur (09-02-1944), his death was registered in the Wenlock District, from previous discussions on here many Wenlock registrations tended to be from the RAF Hospital at Cosford.

[alclark]

I am fairly positive that Barker A T P/O is Allan Trevor Barker, Flying Officer, died 28-02-1945 buried at Bari War Cemetery. The only Allan T Barker that FreeBMD returns for 1900 to 1930 is in the September Quarter, 1922, in the Biggleswade district.

EDIT:

I've found the death registration information for the following:

Bowerman, North Kesteven
Chellew, Swansea
Christy, Bedford
Compton, Cambridge
Conisbee, Barrow-in-Furness
Cornhill, Redruth
Dickens, Aylesbury
Elliot, Stratford
Hewitt, Northumberland South
Huckvale, Aylesbury
Orlebar, Westminster
Parker, Redruth
Payne, Westminster
Salmond, Bedford
Saunders, Luton
Sharp, Grantham
Smith, Kerrier
Summerfield, Bedford
Swannell, Bedford
Wykes, Abingdon

AVM Orlebar has been discussed a few times on other forums, he died following a short illness.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Re: Darlow John Michael F/Lt 168713.

17-8-1945
No.353 Sqn.
Dakota III FL603

Took off Santa Cruz/Bombay 0725, on routine transport flight to Mauripur. The aircraft crashed near Dahanu (19.50N 72.55E), 70 miles N of Santa Cruz airfield. It is believed the port wing became detached in flight followed by the loss of the port engine and nacelle. The crew of three and six passengers were killed.

Crew:

J/29198 F/O (Pilot) Samuel Driffield WOODMAN RCAF +
AUS418186 W/O (Nav./B) Joseph Patrick SHANAHAN* RAAF +
1375918 W/O (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Phillip William WILLIAMS RAFVR +

Pass:

108416 F/Lt Arthur Leonard LEMAN RAFVR +
168713 F/Lt John Michael DARLOW RAFVR +
1183468 LAC John James JONES RAFVR +
1535754 LAC Anthony CAFFERTY RAFVR +
328379 F/Sgt George Edward GAZZARD RAF + (353 Sqn.)
EX/1021 Cpl Ronald Henry TURNER Royal Marines +

All buried Kirkee War Cemetery, India.

* Shanahan RAAF, originally buried Bombay (SEWRI) Cemetery. Plot RC/NE/7. Row E. Grave 1. Reinterred Kirkee War Cemetery.

[paulmcmillan]

Some data for some of them

Overseas RAF Death Files

Has

Adams Anthony Lawrence LAC 1038976 30/11/1944 Brussels Evere Vlam- Brabant - Unit 34 Wing

Bailey J F/o No further info ??? - Need some more detail on this one

F/O Allan T. Barker #175637 of 70 Sqn registered 1945 therefore: http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2202999 - Died 28/02/1945 Allan Trevor Barker

Bastick Norman Arthur Albert Sgt 1389174 17/12/1942 Royal Oak Victoria Canada - Unit 32 OTU


Darlow John Michael F/lt 168713 07/08/1945 Kirkee, India - Unit 164 Sqn


Darnell James Herbert AC1 1173578 17/04/1944 Ambon, Indonesia - No Unit Listed


Deverell John Edward Steadman Cpl 619819 29/05/1943 Kirkee, India - Unit 255 Group

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

DARNELL, James Herbert - 1173578 - Unit not known - Held Java, Moluccas (Ambon) - Died Ambon (Liang) 17-4-1944 - Buried Ambon. (p.110)

PAYNE, William Henry Bertram - 1101426 - 153 MU - Held Java, Moluccas (Haruku, Ambon) - Died Ambon (Liang) 9-7-1944 - Buried Ambon. (p.196)

SWAFFIELD, Noel George - 610989 - RAF Kallang - Held Java - Moluccas (Ambon) - Died "Suez Maru" - 29-11-1943 - Named Kranji Memorial. (p.228)

TROTTER, Alexander Murray - 948784 - RAF Alor Star - Held Java - Sumatra (Pangkalan Bali, Palembang) - Died Palembang 15-6-1945. Buried Jakarta. (p.234)

See:
Unsung Heroes of the Royal Air Force:The Far East Prisoners of War.
Stubbs,Les & Pam.
Hough-on-the-Hill:Barney Books,2002.

Col.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Re:Harris Norman Clifford P/O 138121:

Friday, 26 February, 1943.

CANADA

Cross country formation flight.
34 Operational Training Unit, RAF (Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick - Eastern Air Command)
Ventura II AE911 - Piloted by Plt Off N C Harris, RAF. While flying with another Ventura below 1000 feet near Minto, some 90 miles NW of the airfield, suddenly swung towards the leader, apparently with engine trouble, and dived away out of sight at 1140. Despite extensive air searches and radio appeals over the following week, it was not until 21 November that the wreckage was finally found only 2 miles SW of Minto in the vicinity of Grand Lake. The four crew*, consisting of an airman each of the RAAF, RAF, RCAF and RNZAF, had died instantly in the crash. All but the Canadian were buried near the airfield at St George on the 26th.

WOpAg: NZ413220 Sgt Donald Stuart BATES, RNZAF - Age 21.

See:
For Your Tomorrow:A Record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915. Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998.
Martyn,Errol W.
Christchurch:Volplane Press,1999.
p.67

* Crew:

138121 P/O (Pilot) Norman Clifford HARRIS RAFVR +
AUS416901 Sgt (Nav./B) Evan WILLIAMS RAAF +
NZ413220 Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Donald Stuart BATES RNZAF +
R/161141 Sgt (Air Gnr.) Thomas Marshall OTTO RCAF +

Col.

[Dick]

Hi
Look on the thread 430804 - Unaccounted airmen - 4-8-1943 on this forum for some details of A V M Orlebar who died in Westminster Hospital on 4/8/43
Regards
Dick

[dennis_burke]

Frank,

ahve you checked the forum archives for all these guys?

you'll have to use google as the search engine I think is on the blink.

Search using this string:

orlebar site:rafcommands.com

substitute the serial numbers for name above as necessary.