440308 - Unaccounted Airmen - 8-3-1944

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

440308 - Unaccounted Airmen - 8-3-1944

From Henk's list -

EGYPT
HILL, Charles (Charles Frederick - CWGC)- Cpl - 1138447 - RAFVR - Fayid, Egypt.

Republic of IRELAND
GOUGH, Gerrard - F/L - 108865 - RAFVR - Inchicore (Golden Bridge), Republic of Ireland.

ITALY
SUGDEN, Harold - LAC - 543086 - RAF - Sangro River, Italy. [CWGC - 80 Sqdn).

LIBYA
WILLIS, John Charles - Sgt (Pilot) - 1621067 - RAFVR - Tripoli, Libya.

From CWGC & Geoff's sites -

BANGLADESH
JONES, Albert Thomas Leslie - AC1c - 1444524 - RAFVR - Chittagong, Bangladesh.

INDIA
STRAWBRIDGE, Robert James - LAC - 1318503 - RAFVR - Calcutta (Bhowanipore), Kolkata, India.

UK
BELL, Joseph William - Sgt (Pilot) - 1495200 - RAFVR - Darlington North, Durham.

USA
DURSTON, John Reginald - LAC - 1605740 - RAFVR - Mesa City, Arizona, USA.

Alex

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

EGYPT
HILL, Charles (Charles Frederick - CWGC)- Cpl - serving with 2 TARU.

Republic of IRELAND
GOUGH, Gerrard - F/L - not Eng/Wales?.

LIBYA
WILLIS, John Charles - Sgt (Pilot) - probably killed whilst flying in Hurricane IV, LB647 of No 2 ADU, which flew into the ground near Tarhuna in Italy in bad weather.

BANGLADESH
JONES, Albert Thomas Leslie - AC1 - serving with 175 Wing.

INDIA
STRAWBRIDGE, Robert James - LAC - serving with 'B' Flt, 22 AACU.

UK
BELL, Joseph William - Sgt (Pilot) - killed whilst flying in Hurricane I, W9209 of No 63 OTU, which crashed near Kenilworth.

USA
DURSTON, John Reginald - LAC - serving at 4 BFTS.

Malcolm

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

EGYPT
HILL, Charles (Charles Frederick - CWGC)- Cpl - serving with 2 TARU.

Republic of IRELAND
GOUGH, Gerrard - F/L - not Eng/Wales?.

LIBYA
WILLIS, John Charles - Sgt (Pilot) - probably killed whilst flying in Hurricane IV, LB647 of No 2 ADU, which flew into the ground near Tarhuna in Italy in bad weather.

BANGLADESH
JONES, Albert Thomas Leslie - AC1 - serving with 175 Wing.

INDIA
STRAWBRIDGE, Robert James - LAC - serving with 'B' Flt, 22 AACU.

UK
BELL, Joseph William - Sgt (Pilot) - killed whilst flying in Hurricane I, W9209 of No 63 OTU, which crashed near Kenilworth.

USA
DURSTON, John Reginald - LAC - serving at 4 BFTS

Malcolm

[Jagan]

INDIA
STRAWBRIDGE, Robert James - LAC - serving with 'B' Flt, 22 AACU.

Very likely this

B Flight of 22 AACU, Target Towing Vengeance AP132 crashed at Tollygunge, Calcutta, killing a number of civilians. Cause - petrol leak in front cockpit. The pilot baled out, but the passenger remained with the aircraft and was killed. The aircraft was completely burnt out.

[dennis_burke]

F/Lt Gough died of natural causes in Belfast Emergency Hospital
He was ADMINISTRATIVE AND.SPECIAL DUTIES BRANCH. ON his 1924 Irish wedding cert he is listed as being a 'Soldier'.

[Robertherrod]

Robert James Strawbridge was my Mothers Brother and I am looking for as much information as I can about him,My Mother is in her Nineties and would like to visit his grave as no family member has been. I was named after him and also feel a strong need to visit as well.Finding this thread about him has given us such hope.Many thanks and if there is any more that you can add to this it would be so appreciated

Very likely this

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Gough - He was serving in Ayr but died in the Belfast General Hospital, Ballydollaghan from a malignant cerebral tumour.

Malcolm

[Jagan]

Robert James Strawbridge was my Mothers Brother and I am looking for as much information as I can about him,

Hi Rob,

On our site his page is here http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=43760 As mentioned he was lost in the Vengeance Crash.
Really cannot add much - the original ORB notes do not include either crew name - its only by matching unit and the description of a British OR losing his life that we concluded its your uncle.

22 AACU stands for No.22 Anti Aircraft Co-Operation Unit, a large unit based in India at Drigh Road in Karachi, but with multiple flights spread out all over. In this case B Flight was operating at Calcutta when the Vengeance was lost.

you can find some information about the unit here http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/10679.php

[Robertherrod]

Many thanks ,I will keep looking