400822 - Unaccounted Airmen - 22-08-1940

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

400822 - Unaccounted Airmen - 22-08-1940

From Henk's List -

UK
CANHAM, Albert Edward - AC1c - 770416 - RAFVR.
Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Died in Hospital of Heamet Emesis.

EDWARDS, John Anthony - S/Lt(A) - HMS Raven - RNVR.
Lower Peover(St.Oswald) Churchyard, Cheshire.
Died as a result of a Road accident.

From CWGC -

FRANCE
KEYMER, Michael - Sgt - 748504 - RAFVR.
Bazinghen Churchyard, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Spitfire Ia - K9909 - 65 Sqn.

NETHERLANDS
COLLETT, George Richard - Sgt - 745500 - RAFVR.
Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.
Spitfire Ia - R6708 - 54 Sqn.

SUDAN
MATTHEWS, Albert Harry Walter - Sgt - 534629 - RAF.
Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan.
Wellesley - K7767 - 14 Sqn.

UK
DAVIS, William Norman - Sgt - 918024 - RAFVR.
Portsmouth (Kinston) Cemetery, Hampshire.
Tiger Moth - T7032 - 2 EFTS.

CHAMBERS, Hunter - Sgt - 632993 - RAF.
ROBSON, Angus - P/O - 41471 - RAF.
WILMOT, Arthur Alexander - Sgt - 751064 - RAFVR.
WINGATE, David Leslie - P/O - 33470 - RAFVR.
These four airmen are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
They were crew of Hampden I - P4360 - 144 Sqn.

KRUCZINSKI, Werner Hank's- GAF.
KUHWEIDE, Willi - GAF.
These two German airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

Alex

[alieneyes]

UK
CANHAM, Albert Edward - AC1c - 770416 - RAFVR.
Ely Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
Died in Hospital of Heamet Emesis.

Haematemesis. Vomiting blood.

[cozzy711]

Uffz Werner Hans KRUCZINSKI
Gunner on Ju88 ‘4D+1S’ of 8./KG 30 shot down by a Hurricane of 302 Squadron at Westlands Plantation near Ottringham, Hull. Died from injuries two days later at Hull hospital.


Ogefr Willi KUHWEIDE
Radio Operator of Ju88A-1 ‘7A+AL’ shot down by a Spitfire of 152 Squadron over Filton, England. Crashed at Upcott Farm, Beaford, Devon, He bailed out too low and was killed, The remaining crew, though injured were all captured and held as POW.

Chris

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

UK.

41471 P/O (Pilot) Angus 'Gus' ROBSON RAF, was an Australian, from Woollahra, New South Wales. He was also the holder of a Distinguished Flying Cross. You have duplicated the service number of Sgt WILMOT 751064. P/O WINGATE should read (33470).

Col.

[Andy Marden]

Wellesley K7767 doesn't appear to have had any connection with 14 Sqn - Air Britain show it as 76/47/117, crashed Asmara 15.8.41. Could be an error in AIR81/2723.
One other trivial correction, the cemetery in Portsmouth is Kingston

[COL BRUGGY]

Wellesley K7767 doesn't appear to have had any connection with 14 Sqn - Air Britain show it as 76/47/117, crashed Asmara 15.8.41. Could be an error in AIR81/2723.
One other trivial correction, the cemetery in Portsmouth is Kingston

Hello,

A-B's K File/Halley/A-B,1995/p.410, records:

Vickers Wellesley I K7767.

Deld 14.9.37 to 76 Sqn.
Undercarriage collapsed in heavy landing, Finningley.
1.3.38 ROS.
20 MU 9.8.39.
AD Aboukir 11.9.39 for 48 Sqn.
14 Sqn .7.40.
47 Sqn 11.40.
117 Sqn.
Swung on down-wind landing and undercarriage collapsed, Asmara, 15.8.41.
DBR.

Michael Napier, in his history of No.14 Squadron, relates the following:

The Squadron also visited Massawa on 9 August (1940), (five aircraft led by Flt Lt Robinson) and 15 August (again, five aircraft this time led by Sqn Ldr Selway). Robinson also led a raid on naval facilities on Dahlak Kehir, the largest of the Dahlak islands on 22 August. At the head of five aircraft* he headed for Nocra, at the mouth of the large lagoon on Dahlak Kehir. Unfortunately, the weather over the southern Dahlak was poor, and unable to find the buildings he was tasked against, Robinson instead led his flight to Harmil. Here the formation dropped to 1,000 feet to strafe and bomb troops, expecting little opposition. But they were surprised when the Italians put up a spirited resistance and one burst of machine gun fire ripped into Willitts' aircraft instantly killing his gunner Sgt A H W Matthews**. Another burst hit one of the other aircraft smashing its windshield, with the result that three aircraft had to divert to Aqir for makeshift repairs before coming home. Harmil would have to be treated with more respect in the future. (p.176).

*
Flt Lt Robinson (K7722), Plt Offs Illsley (K7725), Willitts (K7767), LeCavalier (L2710) and Sgt Morren L2676. (fn p.196).

**
Albert Matthews from Sussex was 24 years old. (fn p.196).

Appendix 1 - Aircraft operated by 14 Squadron 1915-45.
Type: Wellesley Mk I.
Serial No.: K7767.
Sqn Code: -
Date On: 6 Jul 1940.
Date Off: 31 Nov 1940
Comments: (A/c hit by AA fire bombing Harmil Island on 22 Aug 1940).
Crew: (Plt Off R J Willitts OK, Sgt A H W Matthews killed - 22 Aug 1940). (p.302).

See:
Winged Crusaders The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-1945.
Napier,Michael.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword Aviation,2012.
pp.176, 196 & 302.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Col, yes, K7767 , that is where I got it from, the K File.
Happy New Year, I hope you don't play tennis 😉
Alex

[COL BRUGGY]

Alex,

Tennis!? What a racquet - Overpaid, Overrated and Over here!

HNY.

Col.

[Andy Marden]

Col,
Thanks for correcting me. I only have the original K-serials book, which made no reference to 14 Sqn.
Andy