421108 - Unaccounted airmen - 8-11-1942

[Henk Welting]

What were the places of death registration for:

A - Killed on active service:
F/O (Obs) Eric O. SHARDLOW - 120600 (1206743);
Sgt (WOp/Ag) Charles K. St.JOHN - 1258468, and
Sgt (Pilot) William D. THOMAS - 1138486.

B - Not found in Flight archives:
AC2 Arthur BECKETT - 1689370;
LAC Herbert CROSS - 1861995 - age 48;
S/Ldr David B. GRAY - OBE - MC - 75618 - age 58, and
AC2 Ian MACKENZIE - 1361427 - 281 Sqn (Ouston, Durham).

C - Proposed aircraft losses:
Master II - W8718 - 5 (P)AFU - crashed; no further details.
Oxford I - P1921 - 3 FTS - crashed on take-off South Cerney.
Anson I - DG756 - 7 (C)OTU - flew into ground Llangybi, Caernavonshire.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[alclark]

The first three on the list were onboard DG756, it was recorded by the medical officer from No.9 (O)AFU. Note the name given for the pilot, against the correct service number.

November 8th 1942, “Telephone message received notifying crash of an aircraft at Llangybi (about 7 miles away). MO and orderly proceeded to the scene of the crasg in the ambulance arriving 30 mins after notification. The machine was an Anson from Limavady N.I. and the pilot No.1138486 Sgt Holmes and 2 other members of the crew (1206743 P/O Shardlow and 1258468 Sgt St John) were found to be dead. The fourth member No.1709017 AC1 Roberts was suffering from (1) scalp wound (2) concussion – he was conveyed to the C&A Infirmary, Bangor, N. Wales. The remaining members of the crew were collected in the second ambulance from SSQ and conveyed to the mortuary RAF Penrhos.”

The 7 (C)OTU ORB recorded the pilot as Thomas.

November 8th 1942, “Accident to Anson aircraft No.DG756 on passage from Wales, aircraft struck a mountain near Llangybi (Capt) Sgt Thomas, P/O Shardlow, Sgt St John were killed and AC2 Roberts was injured. Aircraft was destroyed. Accident believed due to low flying.”

[AlanW]

Henk,

Beckett,.....Don Valley, Sheffield
Gray........Winchester.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Beckett,33, registered at Don Valley, W Yorkshire
Cross,48, registered at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk,
Gray,58, registered at Winchester, Hampshire
Mackenzie didn't come up but 281 Sqn had a detachment at Drem in S Scotland(from Jefford's RAF Squadrons) and he may have died there
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks all for your much appreciated help.
Regards,
Henk.

[dennis_burke]

There is an AC2 M Roberts listed as WOUNDED OR INJURED ON ACTIVE SERVICE. in the same magazine as the DJ756 crew, just to give him an initial. It's likely him.

there is an Ian MacKenzie age 21 in the Strathbrock district of West Lothian.

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Dennis

I can't find a corresponding AC2 M Roberts on CWGC for 1942, the nearest candidate being AC1 Joseph Roberts on 28 Nov 1942

Malcolm

[dennis_burke]

He was only injured in that listing so I doubt he died in the end. His service number does not show up in Geoffs database etc.

I only pointed him out to give him a first initial.

[malcolm_raf]

Sorry Dennis, misrerad it as Died of Injuries or wounds

[dennis_burke]

AC2 I McKenzie is listed DOAS in June 3rd 1943 magazine. it is the only I Mac/McKenzie on CWGC that I think matches.

I can make no inroads on finding Beckett, Cross or Gray in Flight magazine.