1939 Unaccounted Airmen Database Reconciliation

[Jagan]

Sergeant Ralph Sunei Wallace CORDLE (565161) Pilot 1939-10-30 50 Sqdn United Kingdom Yoxford Cemetery
Aircraftman 2nd Class Leonard James PENTENY (624358) 1939-10-31 50 Sqdn United Kingdom Waddington (St. Michael) Churc
Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph Frank BURGE (612813) Wireless Operator 1939-10-31 50 Sqdn United Kingdom Liverpool (Anfield) Cemetery

From 50 Sqn ORB http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/D8451181

Hampden L4096 crashed at BRANSTON while night flying causing deaths of Cordle, Burge, and Penteny.


Also

For Corporal Archibald Mcdonald HENDERSON (565893) Hampden I L4034 1939-11-23 50 Sqdn United Kingdom Waddington (St. Michael) Churc

Cpl A M Henderson Killed when an aircraft of No.49 squadron crashed into Hangar and engine fell on him. Several airmen injured. Cpl Cooke 565863 and 629180 M Bastow serious injured

[wwrsimon]

Aircraftman 1st Class William Coulson MITCHISON (543380):

The Lincolsnhire Echo of December 22nd 1939 reported the following:

DIVED UNDER LORRY
Airman’s Suicide While Awaiting Discharge
A verdict of ‘Suicide while the balance of the mind was disturbed’ was recorded by Mr. E. C. Deal, Sleaford district coroner, at an inquest at Cranwell Hospital on William Coulson kitchison (27), R.A.F.
Evidence was given that Mitchison, with four companions, was walking on the road at Byard’s Leap, when a lorry overtook them. Mitchison, though told to look out, hesitated, turned round, stared at the lorry, and, just as the front wheels passed him, made a “dive” towards it with his arms extended. He fell, and the rear wheel passed over him. He died in hospital soon afterwards.
Hugh John Trenchard, medical officer, R.A.F., said Mitchison had been in hospital since October 20 for observation concerning his mental condition. He was below average intelligence, but there was no evidence of mental disease, and nothing to lead one to suppose he was likely to commit suicide. He was awaiting his discharge from the R.A.F. and seemed very disappointed when told he must leave the Service.

Regards

Simon

[Jagan]

Could these four fatalities in Canada for 29 Nov 1939

Pilot Officer John Gosnell LEE (C/979) 1939-11-29 Canada Highgate (Gosnell) Cemetery 89263
Pilot Officer Laurence Alleyne CLEMENTS (C/1008) 1939-11-29 Canada Nashwaaksis (St. John's Stone 63024
Pilot Officer Gregory Thomas MAHER (C/976) 1939-11-29 Canada North Bay (St. Mary's) Cemeter 91861
Leading Aircraftman Lawrence Sidney STEMPEL (9888) 1939-11-29 Canada Saskatoon (Woodlawn) Cemetery 112995

be related to

1509 Airspeed Oxford A.S.10
first date: 15 July 1939 - Taken on strength at Trenton
Assembled at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario. To Advanced Training Squadron at Trenton on 15 July 1939. To Camp Borden with this Squadron 17 July to 12 August 1939, then back to Trenton. Category A crash at Trenton at 11:45 on 29 November 1939. To stored reserve at Trenton on 16 January 1940. Had 244:35 logged time when struck off. Appears to be first RCAF Oxford loss.


last date: 12 March 1940 - Struck off, reduced to spares and produce

Source: http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_1500_1549_detailed.html

[wwrsimon]

Jagan

Maher's R.C.A.F. records confirm the four casualties on Oxford 1509 as Lee, Clements, Maher and Stemple.

Regards

Simon

[Jagan]

Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Musgrave McINNES () 1939-12-18 Australia
Flight Lieutenant Henry Parker FITZGERALD () 1939-12-18 Australia
Flight Lieutenant Hugh Vaughan HORNER () Wireless Op./Air Gunner 1939-12-18 Australia
Leading Aircraftman Leonard John KING (3891) 1939-12-18 Australia
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Moorehouse WATKINS () Air Gunner 1939-12-18 Australia


Possibly an air crash ? (Same day 18 Dec 1939 , varied trades, all in Australia)

And rather unusually all five have been commemorated in crematoriums (four of them)


EDIT - Found it

Avro Anson N4887 of 1 Flying Training School (1 F.T.S.) crashed on the Richmond Golf Course near Richmond, New South Wales at 0119 hours on Monday 18 December 1939 during a a night reconnaissance flight to Point Cook, Victoria.

https://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nsw48.htm

[paulmcmillan]

Jagan

Yes you are right

The Leader-Post from Regina, · 1

Publication: The Leader-Post i Location: Regina, CanadaIssue Date: Wednesday, November 29, 1939Page: 1


BELLEVILLE, Ont., Nov. 29. Four members of the Royal Canadian Air Force were killed Wednesday when a twin-engined Oxford bombing plane crashed a half-mile north of the Trenton air base, near Belleville. (One of the flyers (Lawrence Stempel) was a former Moose jaw and Saskatoon man.)

[paulmcmillan]

Find a grave reveals DL Banks as

Inscription

In Loving Remembrance Of
DAVID LAWRENCE BANKS (S.A.A.F.)
Second Son Of CLARA & JOHN BANKS
And Brother Of MARGARET & STANLEY.
Born 22 Febr. 1918.
Killed On Active Service On 7 Oct. 193

[paulmcmillan]

David Lawrence Banks died of a fractured skull and laceration of Brain as a result of an aeroplane crash in which he was an observer

He died in Volks Hospital in Cape Town on 7 Oct 1939

So the only outstanding question is what plane (probably SAAF) crashed on or around this date?

His death certificate is on FamilySearch

[paulmcmillan]

Pilot Officer George James OLSTEAD (C/862) 1939-10-14 Canada Neepawa (Riverside) Cemetery
Pilot Officer Horace Kenneth CORBETT (C/897) 1939-10-14 Canada Fredericton Sunny Bank Cemetery



http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...rash-in-Canada
Fairey Battle "No:1304" ex RAF P2173,

[paulmcmillan]

Squadron Leader Cyril THRIPP (21096)

Squadron Leader C Thripp: missing presumed dead; SS Yorkshire torpedoed on 17 October 1939

Loss of SS Yorkshire

https://www.lep.co.uk/news/lancashir...hire-1-8419069

https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14927

Yorkshire SS was a British Cargo Steamer built in 1920 and of 10,183 tons. She was on route from RANGOON for LIVERPOOL carrying passengers, paraffin wax and general cargo when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-37. 58 lost including 25 crew. She was owned by the Bibby Line Ltd.