410207 - Unaccounted Airmen - 07-02-1941

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

410207 - Unaccounted Airmen - 07-02-1941

From Henk's List -

UK
HUGHES, Derek Wingett - AC2c - 987425 - RAFVR.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (St.Andrew's and Jesmond) Cemetery, Northumberland.
Proctor I - P6234 - 1 Signals School.
See AIR 81/5042.

PURDY, Thomas Gordon - Lac - 945632 - RAF.
Peterborough (Eastfield) Cemetery, Northamptonshire.
This airman was involved with Proctor I - P6234 - 13 EFTS.
AIR 81/5042 ? Ref: "Clipped Wings" vol 1 page 225.

From CWGC -

NEW ZEALAND
HANRAHAN, Desmond Thomas Francis - Lac - 404869 - RNZAF.
Ashburton Cemetery, Ashburton District, New Zealand.
Tiger Moth - NZ 705 - 1 SFTS.

UK
BARING - GOULD, Benjamin Gordon - P/O - 88441 - RAFVR.
Worcester (Astwood)Cemetery, Worcestershire.
Tiger Moth - T7160 - 2 EFTS.

FENTON, Richard Ernest - Sgt - 646171 - RAF.
Huddersfield (Edgerton) Cemetery, Yorkshire.
MOXHAM, Swain - F/O - 40413 - RAF - DFC.
Willesden New Cemetery, Middlesex.
These two airmen were crew of Hampden I - P1302 - 16 OTU.
See AIR 81/5039.

JAMES, Harry - Sgt - 943703 - RAFVR.
Upper Heyford Cemetery, Oxfordshire.
Hampden I - P1149 - 16 OTU.

DOLEZAL, Frantisek (Czech) - Sgt - 787687 - RAFVR.
FIALA, Oldrich (Czech) - Sgt - 787694 - RAFVR.
These two Czech Airmen both rest at Cirencester (Chesterton) Cemetery.
They were crew of Battle I - P2248 - 7 FPP.
See AIR 81/5040.

VOCETKA, Frantisek - P/O - 82585 - RAFVR.
Cranwell (St.Andrew) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Proctor I - P6234 - 1 Signals School.
See AIR 81/5042.

Alex

[davew]

Alex

Dolezal and Fiala should be associated with Magister P2448. Battle P2248 was presumed lost in Framce 1940

DaveW

[Andy Marden]

Proctor P6234 is a little confusing. The Casualty File:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C16689140
only mentions Vocetka and Hughes in connection wit this incident.
How has Purdy come to be associated with it?

[Andy Marden]

Dolezal and Fiala should be associated with Magister P2448. Battle P2248 was presumed lost in Framce 1940

Dave,
Thanks for pointing this out. Yet another instance of the TNA file description containing the wrong serial.
I have amended our database: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=P2448
Andy

[Andy Marden]

NEW ZEALAND
HANRAHAN, Desmond Thomas Francis - Lac - 404869 - RNZAF.
Ashburton Cemetery, Ashburton District, New Zealand.
Tiger Moth - NZ 705 - 1 SFTS.

The Tiger Moth involved was NZ717. From the Air-Britain production list:

3640 (Gipsy Major #80265) CofA 6142 issued 30.11.37 to Dominion of NZ. Regd ZK-AGA (CofR 118) 18.2.38 to Western Federated Flying Club, New Plymouth (based Wanganui); renamed Wanganui Aero Club 12.38. Impressed as NZ717 25.11.39 (cost £1,100). Toc 1 EFTS, Taieri 10.39. Dived into ground after collision on landing circuit at 300 ft with Tiger Moth NZ873 over Taieri 7.2.41; LAC Desmond Hanrahan killed.

NZ705 on the other hand survived to be civilanised:

3936 (Gipsy Major #81579) CofA 6543 issued 13.4.39 to The Air Survey & Transport Co Ltd. Regd ZK-AHG (CofR 161) 9.6.39 to Middle Districts Aero Club, Palmerston North (and deld 10.6.39). Impressed as NZ705 6.10.39 [cost £1578.7.0]. Toc by 1 EFTS Taieri 19.10.39-[9.41]. To 2 EFTS Ashburton [43-44]. To Taieri. Sold 17.2.47 to MB Youngman. Regd ZK-AQG 27.7.47 to MB Youngman, Greendale. Regd 8.6.50 to CA Wornall, Christchurch. Regd 6.50 to Aerial Sowing (Canterbury) Ltd, Christchurch. CofN to Auster Air Services Ltd. Regd 10.11.53 to East Coast Air Services Ltd, Gisborne. Stalled and crashed topdressing Tolaga Bay 20.4.54; pilot Charlie Forbes badly injured. Regn cld 23.7.54.

[davew]

Andy

Thomas Purdy is listed in 'Airmen Died in the Second World War' (via FindmyPast ) as are Hughes and Vocetka, in connection with the loss of the Proctor. They also appear on the same page of the Sleaford death register.
Does anyone have the crash card to be certain?

DaveW

[wwrsimon]

Hello

With regard to Thomas Gordon PURDY, his funeral was reported in the Peterborough Standard of Friday February 14th 1941:

Funeral
L/AC T. Purdy, St. John's Street
Leading Aircraft Thomas Purdy, of 133, St. John's Street, passed away at a hospital on Friday, aged 23. He was the youngest son of Mrs. M. West and the late Mr. Purdy, and he leaves a widow and a daughter, Louisa Caroline, seven weeks old. Before he joined the Air Force at the beginning of the war he was a lorry driver for the London Brick Co.
Many friends and neighbours attended the interment at Eastfield on Tuesday, following a service at the Parish Church, conducted by the vicar. The plane in which L/AC Purdy had last flown only a month ago, dipped in tribute as his remains were being lowered into the grave. Last Post was sounded, and three volley shots were fired.

The Peterborough Standard of February 21st 1941 printed a photo of him, with the following caption:

Leading Aircraftman Thomas Purdy, of St. John's Street, has died in a military hospital.

Regards

Simon

[Andy Marden]

Thanks both. It seems from the Peterborough Standard entry that he was not linked to the Proctor incident. It sounds as if he died of injuries from an earlier incident "last month"?

[wwrsimon]

A desperately sad follow-up story to the report of LAC Purdy's death appeared in the Peterborough Standard, August 13th 1943:

CHILD'S DEATH - The death occurred suddenly on Sunday of Caroline Purdy, aged 2 and a half, daughter of Mrs. L. Purdy, 132, St. John's St. She was ill only eight hours and was the daughter of L/Ac Thomas Gordon Purdy, V.R., who died in a military hospital in 1941. There were 22 wreaths at the funeral.

Regards

Simon