420227 - Unaccounted airmen - 27-2-1942

**Henk Welting** · 21st April 2009, 14:10

What were the places of death registration for:

A - Died on active service:
AC1 Henry PICKERING - 1115333 - age 25 and
Cpl George SIVEWRIGHT - DCM - MM - 342598.

B - Killed on active service:
P/O (Pilot) James M. ROSS - 107459 - CWGC: 223 Sqn (sqn.numbering doubtful as 223 Sqn at that time was based in the Middle East).

C - Not found Flight archives:
AC2 Harry TRANTER - 1541372 (has a special memorial on his grave Cradley Heath [St.Luke] Churchyard, Rowley Regis).

D - Proposed aircraft losses:
Hector I - K9783 - 2 AACU - crashed on take-off Roborough.
Hurricane IIB - Z3387 - TFPP - overshot landing at Kemble.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

**Ross_McNeill** · 21st April 2009, 14:31

Hi Henk,

May be off beam but BB900 Havoc from No.23 Sqn crashed into the sea off Margate. The RNLI report lists the Sgt Gunner as missing. Wonder if your P/O was the pilot and died later from injuries.

FEBRUARY 27TH. - MARGATE, KENT.
At 3.40 P.M. an aeroplane crashed in the sea about two miles N.E. of the life-boat station, and life-boatmen standing by at the boat-house saw part of it above water. Seven minutes later the motor life-boat The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched. A light E. wind was blowing and the sea was smooth. The life-boat found three airmen clinging to two rubber dinghies, rescued them and gave them brandy. She then searched for a missing sergeant gunner, but could not find him, and returned to her station at 4.35 P.M. Two air-sea rescue boats also searched, but the missing man was not found. - Rewards, £7 12s.
(Source: RNLI Records of Service 1939-46)

Regards
Ross

**Henk Welting** · 21st April 2009, 16:31

Thanks Ross. Havocs most times flewn by a crew of four. Three were rescued by the Margate life-boat. I've as missing F/Sgt James G. SHANDLEY - 950923, commemorated on Panel 76 of the Runnymede Memorial.
Regards,
Henk.

**Dick** · 21st April 2009, 17:40

Hi Henk
Pickering,25,registered at Nuneaton, Warwickshire
I have 2 James Ross's both with the middle initial M and both registered in Essex. The one closest to CWGC is aged 21(who also have the M), registered at Maldon Essex. The other one is age 26 and registered at Colchester, Essex.
Tranter,18, registered in Birmingham.
Sivewright did not come up but I note from CWGC that his parents and wife came from Dundee in Scotland and he is buried there.
of your 2 a/c Roborough has become the airport for Plymouth, Devon and Kemble is in Gloucestershire
Regards
Dick

**Henk Welting** · 22nd April 2009, 08:06

Thanks Dick. A correct unit number for ROSS probably will bring us a bit closer.
Regards,
Henk.

**dennis_burke** · 22nd April 2009, 09:46

George Sivewright appears to be on the Scottish register twice, age 53.

Once on the Service Returns of Minor Records set and also
Rosskeen district of Ross and Cromarthy district.

James Melville Ross does not turn up in Scotland but strangly I'd searched for those two christians names before but can't recall when. "James Melville" was in my history on internet Explorer at work, I searched the forum but the combination does not appear elsewhere.

**COL BRUGGY** · 22nd April 2009, 10:12

Hello Dennis,

Your "James Melville", probably relates to - James Melville Dundas IRVINE 39988.

Col.

**dennis_burke** · 23rd April 2009, 19:52

Good one Col, should have clicked on that one!

Henk,

AC2 H Tranter is DOAS in FLight mag 4th June, scanned as II. Tranter but the highlighting appears a few lines below his name.

**Tim Bishop** · 20th September 2009, 18:31

Henk,

Bit of a tardy response but for the record Hector K.9783 of No.2 A.A.C.U. 'C' Flight experienced engine failure at 10' during take off. F/O FH James (42608) uninjured.

Kind regards,

Tim