1940 Unaccounted Airmen Database Reconciliation

[jonheyworth]

Hi Jagan

"1940-05-26 614699 Ac1 McLEAN, Charles M UK He was possibly killed whilst flying Tiger Moth II, N9202 of No 2 CPF, which flew into high ground on Ladyland Moor, Ayrshire in cloud"

His death is registered in Aylesbury so not likely to have occurred in Scotland.

Malcolm

Well spotted , I'm very close to finishing 1940 , just working on November and December now, so, if anyone has any other 1940 potential anomalies such as this one, I'd appreciate knowing so I can try to sort them out . I'll check on McLean

[dennis_burke]

10 B&GS is the unit listed for McLean on the ancestry.com airmen database.

[paulmcmillan]

From Kenley Revival Facebook page

Not all the deaths of RAF Kenley related personnel were due to enemy action. One such was the tragic death of Leading Aircraftman William Spirrell in Devon on 7 June, 1940.

A member of 615 (county of Surrey) Squadron, William was going to a party in Plymouth with his fiancée, Phyllis West, but had decided to have a swim at The Point, Turnchapel, before they went.

Phyllis described the events at the inquest, recorded in the Daily Mirror:

"He said the water was cold when he first went in and I told him not to go too far out. He did not answer and then his arms stopped moving. I shouted: All right I am coming in and jumped into the water. Just as I got hold of him, he went down. I grabbed his leg and then managed to get to a boat where I held him until help came."

A naval surgeon-commander attending the inquest said there was nothing to explain Spirrell’s sudden death. The verdict of the inquest was accidental death.

More about William John Spirrell here:

https://www.kenleyrevival.org/conten...-john-spirrell

Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.

#kenleyrevival Kenley Common

[paulmcmillan]

Aircraftman 1st Class Richard Sidney NAPPER (10188A) 1940-03-09 Canada Hamilton (Woodland) Cemetery

"Killed when he walked into a running propeller of an aeroplane at the Air force Station at Vancouver (prob 119th Bomber Sqn)"

I have not seen this record on Ancestry before and it provides some circumstances of death - All Canada accounted for but..... a little more detail on this - it has aircraft involved

Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948


for Richard Sidney Napper

Killed when struck by the airscrew of a Norseman No 697 on 9th March 1940 at
RACAG Station, Vancouver

Serving No. 119 (BR) Squadron

Norseman No 697 was assigned to RCAF Station Vancouver at the time.

[paulmcmillan]

Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948 Looks like it only covers physical burials in Canada (so no one on a memorial appears to be included)