AC1 Harry Clack - the RAF's youngest casualty of WW2 - Died 25 October 1940

[Tom Allett]

Hello,
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the accidental death of the RAF's youngest casualty of WW2, AC1 Harry Clack (16), of 54 MU.
He was electrocuted by overhead powerlines while helping to recover wreckage from a crashed Dornier 215 at Eaton Socon, which is now part of Cambridgeshire.
During the removal of the wreckage, the crane jib touched an overhead power line, which electrocuted Harry Clack and at least one other another airman.
Does anyone know the name of the other airman?
I have heard it suggested that there were in fact three fatalities from this tragedy, but most sources only mention two.
Thanks,
Tom

[alieneyes]

Hi Tom,

It recently came up.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...503#post150503

Aircraftman 1st Class Harry William CLACK (575235) RAF

Regards,

Dave

[Roy Nixon1]

A candidate for youngest RAF flying pilot death in WW11 must be Sgt Geoffrey Arthur Painting VR-1264156. MIA 30-9-41 while on 118 in Spitfire Vb sqn, W3849. E/Guernsey disappeared in sea fog. Commemorated on Allied Aircrew Memorial, Guernsey.
Does anyone have is DOB and location and W3489 a/c code letters please.
God bless him.
Roy

[Roy Nixon1]

A candidate for youngest RAF flying pilot death in WW11 must be Sgt Geoffrey Arthur Painting VR-1264156. MIA 30-9-41 while on 118 in Spitfire Vb sqn, W3849. E/Guernsey disappeared in sea fog. Commemorated on Allied Aircrew Memorial, Guernsey.
Does anyone have is DOB and location and W3489 a/c code letters please.
God bless him.
Roy

He gave all for us.

[Tom Allett]

Many thanks ae,
I'm surprised that nothing relevant came up when I searched the site before posting late on yesterday.
What a terrible tragedy...

[Don Clark]

Sgt Geoffrey Arthur Painting 1264156 RAFVR

Birth registered Dec qtr 1923, Gravesend, mother's maiden name Kings.

Service no from block
1250001 to 1299800 issued from May 1940 onward (Uxbridge to Nov 1940, Gloucester and Penarth)

Sources
Freebmd search https://www.freebmd.org.uk
Air Britain RAF Service nos list

Resmoroh is a wizz at these and may be able to tease out more, when he sees Roy Nixon's posts.

[Resmoroh]

Don/Roy (et al)
Best I can do (mathematically) for this one (1264156) is 31 Jan 1941 if issued at Penarth, 16 Dec 1940 if Gloucester, and 22 Jun 1940 if Uxbridge. The problem is that I do not know which recruiting centre was issuing which bits of that block - and when!
Sorry not to be more helpful!
Jonny may have a better analogue date?
HTH
Peter Davies

[Resmoroh]

DoB looks like:-
Births Q4 1923 Painting, Geoffrey A(rthur), MMS Kings, Reg Gravesend 2a 1053
d. 30 Sep 41 Age given as 17.
HTH
Peter Davies

[Tom Allett]

It occurred to me that despite knowing about the youngest casualty, I have no idea who the oldest RAF fatality of WW2 was.
Any ideas?

[alieneyes]

Hi Tom,

A quick look shows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Wilson

Regards,

Dave