Casualty query: Robert Renaut 11/09/1943

[Richard Cawsey]

Can anyone help with the circumstances of the death of Warrant Officer (Pilot) Robert Renaut on 11/09/1943 ? . .

[dennis_burke]

His death is registered in the Cirencester district of Gloucestershire in the 3rd Quarter of 1943.

Also named on the same page of the death register is

Barrie Barkworth, age 21 matching a F/O Barrie Barkworth age 21 listed on CWGC, he was a Bomb Aimer Instructor

They were found on freebmd.org.uk, then googling both names which are fairly unique gives this google hit:
http://www.smilodon.plus.com/WarMems/littlerissington.html

An Airspeed Oxford from No. 6 Service flying Training School crashed at Eastleach. Other crew killed were: 137210 P/O Barkworth, and 1067824 W.O. Renault.
Source: Wings over Gloucestershire; this reproduces a photograph of Cadet Stone on p.182

Also killed was 16 year old ATC cadet
163 CADET 1ST CLASS
G.E.K. STONE
AIR TRAINING CORPS
11TH SEPTEMBER 1943 AGE 16

Stones name is also on the death index register on the pages after Renauts name.

Further googling gives this
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/united-kingdom/27287-air-training-corps-roll-honour.html

Airspeed Oxford DF277

1525 BAT Flight, crashed at Eastleach at 16.50 hours after collision with Oxford MP402. 737270 P/0 Barkworth (k). 1067824 WO. Renault (k). 163 Cadet 1st Class Stone ATC (k). Airspeed Oxford MP402 1539 BAT Flight, see above. F/Sgt. J. G. Hayes, Sgt. I. W. Stewart

Someone might eb able to clean up that data to make it cleaner?

[Richard Cawsey]

Thanks for the reply, that's everything I needed to know (and show's it's all there on the www if you know where to look. . .)

[ViviennePeters]

In doing a search for my family's genealogy, I goggled Robert Renaut and saw the enquiry made by Richard Cawsey on this website.

My mother, Bob's sister-in-law, has told me as much as she can remember of this family tragedy.

Bob, as he was called by family and friends, had just returned from Canada where he had been training pilots. He was on a course for night flying and therefore was flying 'blind' when a mid-air crash occurred with another bomber. This is to my mother's best recollection.

You may be interested to know that his wife, Beulah Renaut, was two months pregnant at the time. In April she was safely delivered of a son whom she named Robert William Renaut. He went on to be a leading sportsman and photographer and spent most of his life in South Shields. Both Beulah and Robert Junior are sadly now deceased.

Vivienne Peters

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Just an update on this one, 'Clipped Wings' Vol 3 states that the F1180 shows the three killed were in MP402 not DF277.

Malcolm

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Just an update on this one, 'Clipped Wings' Vol 3 states that the F1180 shows the three killed were in MP402 not DF277.

Malcolm

Hi Andy

I appear to have accidentally deleted your post but this is my reply: -

Colin Cummings in Clipped Wings states that there is confusion over the 'ownership' of MP402 on the F1180 but the three dead were recorded in that aircraft.

Malcolm

[Andy Marden]

OK, but I still had the query about the units, which I'll now have to go and look up again.
I'm a bit confused though - how could you delete my post?!

[malcolm_raf]

OK, but I still had the query about the units, which I'll now have to go and look up again.
I'm a bit confused though - how could you delete my post?!

I'm also a moderator

[Andy Marden]

OK, let's try again...
Looking at the units of the two aircraft involved:
DF277 - reported as 1523 Flt (Air-Britain serials and our database) and 1525 Flt (in this thread)
MP402 - reported as 3 PAFU (Air-Britain serials and our database) and 1539 Flt (in this thread)
Which is correct please?

[Ross_McNeill]

F1180 - 11/9/43
DF277 - 1523 Bat Flight
MP402 - 1539 Bat Flight crossed out No.3 AFU added

Ross