AIR81 Errors

[Alex Smart]

Air81/1055
Pilot Officer J W Garton: report of death; Spitfire G6705 in air operations, 9 July 1940
Details are incorrect.

aircraft serial number is wrong.

Correct details are -

9 July 1940
GARTON, Jack Wallace - P/O - 70887 - RAF.
Margate Cemetery, Kent, UK.
Spitfire Ia - R6705 - 54 Sqn.

Perhaps the a/c in Squadron letter was "G" ?

Alex

[Jagan]

Hi Alex, the AIR81 files have many such wrong entries.. Serials incomplete, Six Character serials (With an extra number or letter thrown in, etc etc too many infact..

Whereever there is a file related to a Casuality entry and the serial doesnot match, I have updated the AIR entry against the casuality record/ POW record as the case maybe. eg you will note the AIR81/1055 entry against Garton's page in the DB. http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=74245

Might be worthwhile for me to add a field to the table with the corrected serial that can come up in searches.

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Jagan, I think that is a great idea.
But only if you have some spare time ;(

[abiermann]

The following entry is linking a Fortress incident on 14 August 1942 at Thetford to No. 342 Lorraine Squadron.

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/....php?qname=342 squadron&qnum=&qdate=&qunit=&qcntry=&qmem=&cur=0

This is wrong however as the unit was US 342nd Bombing Squadron.

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/...y/Aug1942O.htm

All the best

Andreas

[paulmcmillan]

Reference: AIR 81/17206
Description:
Sergeant J G Holstiene: killed; Staff Sergeant F M Wallace, Captain J Galin, Lieutenant K Jones, Sergeant Gibhadt: injured; Lieutenant F X Schwarzenbeck, Sergeant J Dolence, Sergeant K Laud, Sergeant W T Lynch: uninjured; Fortress B17E 9115, 342 Squadron, aircraft accident, Thetford aerodrome, Norfolk, 14 August 1942


420815 B-17E 41-9115 342BS 97BG RAF Grafton-Underwood, ENG FLEF 5 Schwarzenbek, Francis X ENG Thetford, ENG


Date wrong on https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/...y/Aug1942O.htm

On 14 August 1942, a fire in B-17E #41-9115 forced crew to bail out during a training flight. All Returned to Duty (RTD) ...https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/23777

Do not know why AIR 81 as no apparent RAF Crew


John G Holstine
MILITARY | SERGEANT | TAIL GUNNER | 97TH BOMB GROUP
14 August 1942, a fire in a/c B-17E-BO 41-9115 forced crew to bail out during a training flight. Holstine only reported death.

[dennis_burke]

Thats an interesting one, was a member of the crew from the RAF?

Two more USAAF ones here
AIR81/17424 Second Lieutenant D A Walter (USAAC): died of injuries; Second Lieutenant R S Starks (USAAC): injured; Sergeant J M Hughes (USAAC), Sergeant W E Schimke (USAAC), Sergeant J C Simmons (USAAC), Sergeant W A Adams (USAAC), Sergeant R T Nalley (USAAC), Second Lieutenant E Sconiers (USAAC), Second Lieutenant H Spire (USAAC): uninjured; Flying Fortress 19089, 414 Bombardment Squadron, aircraft engaged by the enemy over Norfolk, 21 August 1942. C17479627

AIR81/17477 First Lieutenant C Gutheridge (USAAF), Sergeant H S Haag (USAAF), Sergeant H J Watson (USAAF): injured; Second Lieutenant C W Lipsey (USAAF), Second Lieutenant D Howard (USAAF), Second Lieutenant D M C Corble (USAAF), Sergeant P D Drain (USAAF), Sergeant H W Warren (USAAF), Sergeant H W Warren (USAAF), Sergeant C A Travinele (USAAF), Sergeant V F Peltier (USAAF): uninjured; Fortress19175, 340 Bombardment Squadron USAF, aircraft was engaged by the enemy over Margate, Kent, 24 August 1942. C17479680

[jossleclercq]

Hello

I've noticed several items in the last tranche who are clearly USAAF. For example
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C17479256 or
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g.../r/h/C17478211

Joss

[Jagan]

anyone know what the actual serial for this is? It says Whitley but it doesnt exist.?

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=L8985

[Ross_McNeill]

Whitley K8985

Ross

[abiermann]

AIR81/5473Flying Officer T O Walker, Sergeant E Collingborn, Sergeant B Lee: missing believed killed; aircraft failed to return from operational flight between Sirte, Libya and Mechina, Palestine, Blenheim T1995, 55 Squadron, 18 March 1941. Note: Related file: 5021

Typo in the original Air81 entry, as this should be Mechili, Libya, not Mechina, Palestine.

T1995 was downed by Axis AA fire, confirmed by Italian sources.

All the best

Andreas