400815 - Unaccounted airmen - 15-8-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of following airmen, killed on active service:

Cpl George BAGE - 355733 - 26 Sqn (Lysander - West Malling, Kent), buried South Shields (Harton) Cem., Durham County (UK414);
LAC George D. HULSE - 936159 - 26 Sqn, buried Wolverhampton Borough Cem., Staffordshire (UK6647), and
AC2 Harold E. HURLEY - 913596, buried Kingswood (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Gloucestershire (UK7116).

No proposed aircraft losses save Lysander R2624 however assigned to the Free French (Engine cut while low flying, stalled and hit the ground, 2 miles S of South Warnborough (Hampshire or Surrey ??).

Hawkinge, Lympne, Driffield (6 dead), Martlesham, Rochester, Worthy Down, Middle Wallop, and Croydon (5 dead) were attacked by the Luftwaffe. I've following casualties for Driffield and Croydon:

Driffield, Yorkshire:
LAC Bertram ASH - 944309 - 102 Sqn
AC2 Arthur S. DAWS - 752795 - 77 Sqn
ACW2 Marguerite H. HUDSON - 882414
LAC Kenneth E. NEW - 567295 - 77 Sqn
AC2 Eric OFFORD - 948296 - 77 Sqn
AC1 John W.M. WUNDLE - 752773 - 77 Sqn

Croydon, Surrey:
AC2 Samuel ADAMS - 978511 - 111 Sqn
AC1 Alfred G. COWLING - 749792 - 111 Sqn
LAC John W. DELL - 610506 - 111 Sqn
LAC Peter H. HALLEY - 517019 - 111 Sqn
AC1 Bernard W. MILLS - 749734 - 111 Sqn

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
George Bage,36, and George D Hulse,24 are both registered at Malling in Kent and W Malling is close by. It looks as though Harold E Hurley might be a 6th victim at Croyden as that is where his death is registered.
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dick for info on these three airmen.
Regards,
Henk.

[Mark Hood]

QUOTE Henk Welting

"No proposed aircraft losses save Lysander R2624 however assigned to the Free French (Engine cut while low flying, stalled and hit the ground, 2 miles S of South Warnborough (Hampshire or Surrey ??)."


Hello Henk

This Lysander RAF serial R2624 has also cropped up in other paperwork at Warnborough. I was wondering where you had noted it from, please? I presume the information originated from a Flying Accident Card. I could not find any reference in Robertson's "Lysander Special".

RV [Friendly], Red & Amber Flares [Forced Landing signal], at Q1961 [Binsted near Froyle area, Hampshire] recorded by Winchester O.C., 15th August 1940. Which I presume is the Lysander, 2 miles S of South Warnborough.

Regards Mark

[Henk Welting]

Mark,

The information on Lysander R2624 came from Air Britain's Aeromilitaria (Aircraft losses UK WW2):
15.8.40 - Lysander I - R2624 - FFAF - 2 m S of S Warnborough, Surrey - FIG (flew into ground),
confirmed by Air Britain's serial book P1000 - R9999 on page 112:
R2624 - 613/FFAF - Engine cut while low flying; stalled and hit ground 2m S of S Warnborough, Hants., 15.8.40.

Now see that Air Britain is talking of a S Warnborough "Surrey" and "Hants". !

Regards,
Henk.

[Mark Hood]

Henk
Thanks for the book source.
Regards Mark

[Mark Hood]

Henk
Thanks for the info. I attach the following for anyone following this thread.

According to the AM 1180 and RAF Odiham ORB the Pilot was Lt. Ezano who was unhurt on 15.8.1940. According to the AM 1180 the Unit was indeed the FFAF, the accident card blames the accident on a low flying contra. [contravention] and the Station to whom he was attached or flying from, banned him from further flying at that station.
However, Lt. Ezano was carrying out circuits and landings according to the duty, so he would be low flying at times. This accident must have happened in Hants / Hampshire.

Accident 2
The 613 Squadron ORB Form 540 is missing for August 1940? However, the 613 Sqn Appendices confirms a separate Lysander crash on 16th August 1940.
16.8.1940
"Area A Donna Nook to Wash"
"Area B Filey to Withernsea"
"In Area B, No Enemy movement seen"
"In Area A, plane not yet returned, last report by W/T, no movement seen"
"It has been reported that a Lysander crashed in this area."
"Phoned to Corps at 0800 hrs and to Northern Command for repetition to GHQ at 0800hrs"

Regards Mark


Mark,

The information on Lysander R2624 came from Air Britain's Aeromilitaria (Aircraft losses UK WW2):
15.8.40 - Lysander I - R2624 - FFAF - 2 m S of S Warnborough, Surrey - FIG (flew into ground),
confirmed by Air Britain's serial book P1000 - R9999 on page 112:
R2624 - 613/FFAF - Engine cut while low flying; stalled and hit ground 2m S of S Warnborough, Hants., 15.8.40.

Now see that Air Britain is talking of a S Warnborough "Surrey" and "Hants". !

Regards,
Henk.

[wwrsimon]

An update for BAGE 355733 and HULSE 936159. The 26 Sqn ORB Form 540 has the following for August 15th 1940:

38 enemy aircraft carried out high level bombing attack. New buildings damaged, aerodrome cratered. Men’s quarters damaged. Two airmen killed.

Regards

Simon

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1454 1940 Jan 01 - 1941 Dec 31
Aircraftman 2nd Class H E Hurley:
report of death in an enemy bombing raid on RAF Croydon, 15 August 1940

Martyn

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1451 1940 Jan 01 - 1940 Dec 31
Leading Aircraftman G D Hulse:
report of death in an enemy air raid on RAF West Malling, Kent, 15 August 1940

Martyn

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1445 1940 Jan 01 - 1940 Dec 31
Corporal G Bage:
report of death in an enemy air raid on RAF West Malling, Kent, 15 August 1940

Martyn

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

400815 - Unaccounted Airwoman and Airmen - 15-08-1940

From Henk's List -

WAAF
HUDSON, Marguerite Hester - ACW2c - 882414 - WAAF.
Sheffield (Wisewood) Cemetery, Yorkshire.
This Airwoman was killed during the bombing of RAF Driffield.


HUSSEY, Hugh Stanley - F/Sgt - 364847 - RAF - 264 Sqn.
Colchester Cemetery, Essex.
Cause of death, involved in a Road accident at Spitalgate.

ASH, Bertram - Lac - 944309 - RAFVR - 102 Sqn.
Dinnington Church Cemetery, Yorkshire.
DAWS, Arthur Sydney - AC1c - 752795 - RAFVR - 77 Sqn.
Hull Northern Cemetery, Yorkshire.
NEW, Kenneth Eric - Lac - 567295 - RAF. - 77 Sqn.
Bridlington Cemetery, Yorkshire
OFFORD, Eric - AC2c - 948296 - RAFVR - 77 Sqn
Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire.
WINDLE, John William Morgan - AC1c - 752773 - RAFVR - 77 Sqn.
Hull Eastern Cemetery, Yorkshire.
The above five airmen were killed during an Air Raid on RAF Driffield

ADAMS, Samuel - AC2c - 978577 - RAFVR - 111 Sqn.
HALLEY, Peter Harland - Lac - 517019 - RAF - 111 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Whyteleafe (St.Luke) Churchyard, Surrey.
COULING, Alfred George - AC1c - 749792 - RAFVR - 111 Sqn.
Abney Park Cemetery, London.
DELL, John William George - Lac - 610506 - RAF - 111 Sqn.
Greenford Park Cemetery, Middlesex.
HURLEY, Harold Edward - AC2c - 913596 - RAFVR.
Kingswood (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Gloucestershire.
MILLS, Bernard William - AC1c - 749734 - RAFVR - 111 Sqn.
Woodgrange Park Cemetery, Eastham, Essex.
The above six airmen were killed during an Air Raid on Croydon Aerodrome.

BAGE, George - Cpl - 355733 - RAF - 26 Sqn.
South Shields (Harton) Cemetery, Durham.
HULSE, George Dean - Lac - 936159 - RAFVR - 26 Sqn.
Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery, Staffordshire.
These two airmen were killed during an Air Raid on RAF West Malling.

From CWGC -

AUSTRALIA
DOWN, Victor Eric - Cpl - 3148 - RAAF - 76 Sqn.
Woronora General Cemetery, Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia.
Died in Rosemont Military Hospital Brisbane, following an illness.

CANADA
COULSON, William George Allen - Sqn/Ldr - 29237 - RAF.
Winnipeg (Elmwood) Cemetery, Manitoba, Canada.
Hudson I - T9320 - 1(C) OTU.

MALTA
O'DONNELL, Roy - Sgt - 740193 - RAFVR.
Malta Memorial, Malta.
Hurricane I - N2716 - 261 Sqn.

UK
BARLOW, John - Sgt - 901973 - RAFVR.
COWIE, Douglas Borthwick - Sgt - 645452 - RAF.
DAVIS, Albert Percival - P/O - 41261 - RAF.
FROUD, Arthur Martin - Sgt - 637289 - RAF.
IMMELMAN, Roy Hoole(South African) - F/O - 39530 - RAF.
TAYLOR, Alexander - AC2c - 951883 - RAFVR.
These six airmen rest at Fawley (All Saints) Churchyard, Hampshire.
They were crew of Hudson I - T9320 - 1(C) OTU.

WHITTLE, Bernard Naylor - P/O - 40871 - RAF.
Manchester General Cemetery, Lancashire.
Hudson I - T9320 - 1(C) OTU.

DAWSON, Anthony Kyle - Sgt - 745180 - RAF.
O'BRIAN, John Barrie - Sgt - 550672 - RAF.
SWENSEN, Stanley Powell - F/O - 40328 - RAF.
TAIT, Richard Albert William - Sgt - 751664 - RAF.
These four airmen rest at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
They were crew of Whitley V - P4982 - 51 Sqn.

STUBBERFIELD, Laurence Paul - Sgt - 751322 - RAFVR.
Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery, Sussex.
Whitley V - P4982 - 51 Sqn.

BURROW, John - Sgt - 551597 - RAF.
DAVIES, Harold - Sgt - 632374 - RAF.
HOOD, Claude Lionel Geoffrey - Sgt - RAF.
MCGREGOR, Robert Butler - (Bobbie) - P/O - 41856 - RAF.
STENHOUSE, William Alan - F/O - 39904 - RAF.
These five airmen rest at Fawley (All Saints) Churchyard, Hampshire.
They were crew of Whitley V - P5044 - 77 Sqn.

CALE, Francis Walter (Australian) - P/O - 42104 - RAF.
Hanwell ( City of Westminster) Cemetery, Middlesex.
Spitfire Ia - N3168 - 266 Sqn.

FISHER, Basil Mark - F/O - 72382 - RAFVR.
Eton (St. John) Church Cemetery, Buckinghamshire.
Hurricane I - P3944 - 111 Sqn.

HIGHT, Cecil Henry (New Zealand) - P/O - 41924 - RAF.
Bournemouth East Cemetery, Hampshire.
Spitfire Ia - R6988 - 234 Sqn.

JOHNSTON, James Thomas (Canadian) - P/O - 43037 - RAF.
Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent.
Hurricane I - P3941 - 151 Sqn.

LOVELL- GREGG, Terence Gunion - Sqn/Ldr - 29244 - RAF
Warmwell (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Dorset.
Hurricane I - P3215 - 87 Sqn.

BOWERS, Henry - Sgt - 743077 - RAFVR.
GARVEY, Peter Kevin - Sgt - 741796 - RAFVR.
ROLLS, Henry - Sgt - 615888 - RAF.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim IV - R3770 - 15 Sqn.

ANDREAE, Christopher John Drake - F/O - 70018 - RAF.
Spitfire Ia - R6990 - 64 Sqn.

BUCHIN, Maurice Simon Henri Charles - P/O - 81626 -- RAF.
Hurricane I - V7227 - 213 Sqn.

COMELY, Peter Woodruff - P/O - 41831 - RAF.
Hurricane I - P2872 - 87 Sqn.

HAWLEY, Frederick - Sgt - 748286 - RAF.
Spitfire Ia - N3189 - 266 Sqn.

HALTON, Derick Wilson - Sgt - 748212 - RAF.
Hurricane I - P2801 - 615 Sqn.

BYRNE, Thomas Patrick Joseph - Sgt - 755885 - RAF.
SMITH, Frederick Leece - Sgt - 580384 - RAF.
TYLDESLEY, Harold Edward - Sgt - 741308 - RAFVR.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim IV - T1882 - 18 Sqn.

The eleven airmen listed above are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

RIMEK, Wilhelm - GAF.
STRAUCH, August Wilhelm - GAF.
These two German airmen rest at Tangmere (St.Andrew) Churchyard, Sussex.

ANDERS, Erhard - GAF.
MOELLER, Harald - GAF.
These two German airmen rest at West Thorney (St.Nicholas) Churchyard, Sussex.

ROHLEDER, Oscar- GAF.
Ramsgate Cemetery, Kent.

WEBER, Hermann - GAF.
Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent.

The following nineteen German airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.

AHRENS, Friedrich - GAF.
BEUDEL, Erich - GAF.
BIHR, Rudolf - GAF.
BIRNDORFER, Jacob- GAF.
DEPENHEVER, Herbert - GAF.
HENNESKE, Georg - GAF.
HOLFERT, Rudolf - GAF.
KRETZER, Ludwig - GAF.
KRINGLER, Heinz - GAF.
KUERSCH, Severin Guenther - GAF.
JORDAN, Otto - GAF.
LOHMANN, Bernhard - GAF.
NEUMEYER, Arnold Georg - GAF.
NEYMEYER, Theodor - GAF.
NIEDERMAIER, Friedrich - GAF.
POHL, Robert - GAF.
ROEHRICH, Rudolf - GAF.
RUBENSDOERFER, Walter - GAF.
SCHROERS, Paul - GAF.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1056-400815-Unaccounted-airmen-15-8-1940&p=5375#post5375

Alex

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

UK.

42104 P/O Francis Walter CALE RAF, was an Australian from Perth, Western Australia.

Col.

[AL90]

HOLFERT, Rudolf- Oberfeldwebel - Pilot
SCHROERS, Paul- Feldwebel- Gunner
The above were crew of HE-115c Werke Nu. 3251 S4+BH of 1/Küstenfliegergruppe 506. Crashed near Arbroath while on weather recon.
The Navigator, Leutnant zur See Hans Tonne survived, spent time in hospital in the UK, repatriated due to ill health in 1943, emigrated to Canada, died Vancouver 1992 or 1993. All were initially buried at Arbroath Eastern Cemetery.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

AUSTRALIA.

3418 Cpl Victor Eric DOWN RAAF.

3418 Cpl (Storekeeper) Victor Eric DOWN RAAF, was a founding member of No.24 (G.P.) Squadron RAAF, which was formed at Amberley, Queensland, on 17 June, 1940. He was admitted to the Rosemount Military Hospital, Brisbane on 9 July, 1940, but was flown to Sydney, at his own request, to be nearer his home in Bexley, a southern suburb of Sydney.

Cpl Down was medically boarded and found unfit for further service on 16 August, 1940, suffering from a rapidly advancing malignant disease. He was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, New South Wales, dangerously ill, on 17 August, 1940. Down died in the Prince of Wales Hospital on 2 October, 1940, from a Melanoma with secondary deposits.

Corporal Down died on war service and was struck off charge of the RAAF on 2 October, 1940.

A Committee of Adjustment was convened on 8 October, 1940.

Prior to his RAAF service, Victor Eric Down had previously served for 7 months with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. He also had an uncle who had a distinguished career in the RFC/RAF - Air Commodore Harold Hunter DOWN CBE, AFC, MiD. http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Down_HH.htm.

No.76 Squadron RAAF was formed at Archerfield, Queensland, on 14 March, 1942!

A few snippets:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17703365
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235598578

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Col, have edited my post above.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Col, Thank you for picking up on Eric Victor Down. I was a bit puzzled about this entery because Henk had hid date of death as 2nd October, Rosemont Military Hospital, Brisbane. But I went with CWGC entery.
So somhow their details will have to be corrected.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/search-results/

Alex

[Andy Marden]

Finishing off the Germans:

RIMEK, Wilhelm - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 L1+FM of 4./LG1
STRAUCH, August Wilhelm - GAF. >> shot down on 13Aug40 in Ju88 of Stab.II/KG54 - died of wounds on 15Aug40
These two German airmen rest at Tangmere (St.Andrew) Churchyard, Sussex.

ANDERS, Erhard - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./LG1
MOELLER, Harald - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./LG1
These two German airmen rest at West Thorney (St.Nicholas) Churchyard, Sussex.

ROHLEDER, Oscar- GAF.
Ramsgate Cemetery, Kent. >> shot down in Do17Z-2 5K+LP of 6./KG3

WEBER, Hermann - GAF.
Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent. >> shot down in Ju87 of 10./LG1

The following nineteen German airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.

AHRENS, Friedrich - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 1./KG2 on 14Aug40 - died of wounds on 15Aug40
BEUDEL, Erich - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110C-6 S9+TH of 1./Erpr.Gr.210
BIHR, Rudolf - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./KG30
BIRNDORFER, Jacob- GAF. >> shot down in Bf110 M8+BP of 6./ZG76
DEPENHEVER, Herbert - GAF. >> shot down in Do17Z-2 5K+LP of 6./KG3. Note: surname DEPENHEUER
HENNESKE, Georg - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 7./KG30
KRETZER, Ludwig - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110D S9+AB of Stab./Erpr.Gr.210
KRINGLER, Heinz - GAF. >> shot down in Do17Z-2 5K+LP of 6./KG3
KUERSCH, Severin Guenther - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./KG30
JORDAN, Otto - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110C-6 S9+TH of 1./Erpr.Gr.210
LOHMANN, Bernhard - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110C-6 of 2./Erpr.Gr.210
NEUMEYER, Arnold Georg - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./KG30
NEYMEYER, Theodor - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110 of Stab.II/ZG76
NIEDERMAIER, Friedrich - GAF. >> shot down in Bf109E-4 of 9./JG54
POHL, Robert - GAF. >> shot down in Ju88 of 4./KG30
ROEHRICH, Rudolf - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110 of Stab.II/ZG76
RUBENSDOERFER, Walter - GAF. >> shot down in Bf110D S9+AB of Stab./Erpr.Gr.210 (Gruppe Kommandeur)