430730 - Unaccounted airmen - 30-7-1943

[Henk Welting]

What was the place of death registration of F/Lt Harold A. HUNT - 81569, who died on active service.

Also looking for possible info on unit and aircraft of:
S/Ldr Henry de Gaspe DOMVILLE - 75034 - age 25 (RAF from Montréal, PQ, Canada) - MiD - 266 Wing - died 30-7-1943.
Went missing 1-2-1943, held PoW on Java and Moluccas (Ambon); died at Ambon (Liang) and lies buried in the Ambon War Cemetery.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Henk

Hunt was in Wenlock so possibly RAF Hospital Cosford

Malcolm

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Malcolm for info on HUNT.
Have one more for this date: What was the place of death registration of LAC Kenneth S. ARNOLD - 1527152, who died on active service.
Regards and thanks,
Henk.

[malcolm_raf]

There is a Kenneth (with no S) registered in Leicester

Malcolm

[thorne83]

Hi Henk, Malcolm is right re Hunt - he did indeed die in RAF Hospital, Cosford.

Cheers,

Tom

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Malcolm & Tom.

Henk.

[wwrsimon]

Hello

LAC Kenneth S. ARNOLD - 1527152 - the National Probate Calendar records that he died at The Royal Infirmary, Leicester.

The Skegness Standard of August 11th 1943 reported the following:

LOUTH AIRMAN KILLED
L.A.C. K. S. Arnold Dies From Injuries
We regret to report the sad news that L.A.C. Kenneth Sidney Arnold, of the R.A.F., has died from injuries received on active service somewhere in England.

Regards

Simon

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

In light of what Simon reported on LAC Kenneth Sidney ARNOLD, the following might be helpful:

ARNOLD, Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Sidney, Royal Air Force, (1527152), 29 Operational Training Unit, Bruntingthorpe, Leics, Bomber Command, 30 July 1943, Died, Louth, Lincs, Louth Cemetery, Lincs.

See: Failed To Return, Part 2, A-B/Hobson/N&MP/2019/p.205.

Checked BCL7OTU/Chorley, some training mishaps (no mention in BCL9RoH), nothing obvious. Anyone have access to the 29 OTU ORB?

Col.

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

No mention in the ORB but the Skegness Standard states that he died from injuries sustained on active service, 'somewhere in England' but other details given.

From this description I doubt he died in Louth, his home town

Malcolm

[COL BRUGGY]

Malcolm,

I can understand your misreading of what is meant by "Louth". A description of Hobson's fields of information (in Failed to Return), are as follows:

Surname, Forename(s), Service Number, Rank, Function, Service, Base, Command, Unit, Aircraft Type, Aircraft Serial Number, Date of Death, Cause of Death, Age at Death, "NATIVE OF", Place of Burial/Memorial, Honours and Awards, and Additional Notes. Thus, "Louth" indicates that Arnold was a "Native of Louth".

Thanks for checking the 29 OTU ORB. Re the Skegness Standard, I don't understand what is meant mean by, "but other details given". Maybe, "But NO other details given."?

Col.

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Col

My apologies, I did of course mean 'No other details', a case of brain faster than fingers and didn't realise that that column was 'Native of'

Malcolm

[jonheyworth]

Harold Reginald Hunt 81569 , attached to RAF Biggin Hill, died under anaesthesia during an operation at RAF hospital, Cosford

[jonheyworth]

Kenneth Sidney Arnold 1527152 , attached to 29 OTU, was admitted seriously ill to Leicester Royal Infirmary on 25th July, where he died of a Ruptured spleen