400816 - Unaccounted airmen - 16-8-1940

[Henk Welting]

Most - if not all - undermentioned names may have been killed in air raids. A place of death registration probably may connect their names to an aerodrome/naval airbase that was bombed. Main Luftwaffe targets for this day were Tangmere (12 dead), Lee-on-Solent and Gosport (7 dead) and Harwell.

A - Not listed Flight archives:
LAC Percy C. ANSCOMBE - 747143
AC2 William F.G. WEST - 813222

B - Killed on active service (while engaged on non-operational flying duties or on the ground through enemy action):
AC2 Richard E. AUSTIN - 1350800
AC2 Stanley COUTTS - 981318

C - Died of wounds or injuries received on active service:
AC2 Arthur W. COLLINS - 1356479
AC2 Archibald B. YOUNG - 973820

D - "Missing" believed killed on active service (while engaged on non-operational flying duties or on the ground thrtough enemy action):
Sgt Owen J. WEEKS - 370398 - Runnymede Panel 20 (FAA 758 Sqn - may not be in the FAA-book)

E - Killed on active service:
Cpl George ATKINSON - 565463
LAC Albert E. GAINEY - 356359
LAC Ronald O. HEWLETT - 614759
LAC Arthur J. HOARE - 342664
Cpl Walter H. LEWIS - 350025
LAC Terence J.MORTIMER - 639246
AC2 Jonathan SHEASBY - 948500
Cpl Ronald SMITH - 1356692
Cpl Allan J. STEWART - 334962
AC2 Robert T. YATES - 919260

Proposed aircraft losses in case killed in an aircraft accident:
Lysander II - L6861 - 613 Sqn - flew into ground Friskney Flats, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire
Tiger Moth II - N6471 - 10 EFTS - dived into ground 2½ mile NW of Marlborough, Wiltshire

F - Already on file as being killed in air raid:

Gosport, Hampshire:
AC2 Norman Q. CHARLTON - 996363

Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire:
Ldg Airman Bernard A. COOKE - FAA/FX.76323 - HMS Daedalus

Harwell, Berkshire:
AC1 Ernest N. PITT - 906866 - 15 OTU
AC2 Edward J. SAUNDERS - 702278 - 15 OTU

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
I can find death registrations for your A,B,and C Lists at Chichester together with Walter Lewis and Jonathan Sheasby from the E List.Also at Chichester are an E Gainey and a Hewlett but with no detail other than that they were male. From the E list Hoare, Mortimer, Stewart and Yates are registered at Gosport. I cannot find any entry for Atkinson and Smith.At Lee-on Solent you have Ldg Airman Bernard A Cooke. I believe his is a Naval rank and not RAF although at this point in WW2 the RAF were still providing substantial support for FAA Sqns and did so until early 1941
Regards
Dick

[Amrit]

Cooke is listed as Dying of Wounds after bombing (and yes, it is a Fleet Air Arm rather than a RAF number):

http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1940-08AUG.htm

A

[Amrit]

Cpl George ATKINSON - 565463
Cpl Allan J. STEWART - 334962
AC2 Robert T. YATES - 919260

killed in air-raid - full details for the attack and other non-RAF casualties can be read here:

http://www.gosport.info/History/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/Anns_Hill_Cemetery_War_Graves_/anns_hill_cemetery_war_graves_10.html

A

[Amrit]

LAC Albert E. GAINEY - 356359
LAC Ronald O. HEWLETT - 614759
Cpl Walter H. LEWIS - 350025
Cpl Ronald SMITH - 1356692
AC2 Archibald B. YOUNG - 973820

All apear to be linked to RAF Tangmere:

http://www.tangmere-airfield.co.uk/rollfr.html

A

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Amrit and Dick for your help. Suppose that death registration at Chichester was for Tangmere casualties ?
Also collect info on FAA-casualties.
Regards,
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
I think Chichester for the Tangmere casualties is a reasonable conclusion just on the death register but any confirmation on the site that Amrit posted should clinch it.The problem, of course, is that being a victim of bombing did not always leave an individual in an identifiable condition and many names must be on lists purely because they were known to be on the scene but failed to answer a roll-call afterwards hence the odd ones who are registered just by surname(Male) but the body count tallies with the losses.
Regards
Dick

[Amrit]

Just found out that Hewlett and Gainey are confirmed casualties of the bombing of Tangmere. They were both from 49 MU. Details from Hadaway's "Missing Believed Killed"

A

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Amrit; will amend my files.
Regards,
Henk.

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1484 1940 Jan 01 - 1940 Dec 31
Aircraftman 2nd Class R E N Austin,
Leading Aircraftman P C Anscombe,
Aircraftman 2nd Class S Couts,
Aircraftman 2nd Class J Sheasby,
Aircraftman 2nd Class R Smith and
Corporal W Lewis:
report of deaths in an enemy air raid on RAF Tangmere, Sussex, 16 August 1940

Martyn

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1469 1940 Jan 01 - 1941 Dec 31
Corporal G Atkinson and Leading Aircraftman J Hoare:
report of deaths. Sergeant R B Parham: injured in an enemy air raid on Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, 16 August 1940

Martyn

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1460 1940 Jan 01 - 1948 Dec 31
Corporal A J Stewart,
Aircraftman 2nd Class R T Yates,
Leading Aircraftman T J Mortimer
and Aircraftman 2nd Class N Q Charlton:
report of deaths in an enemy air raid on RAF Gosport, Hampshire, 16 August 1940

Martyn

[jonheyworth]

Harold Phillips 1054826 , attached to RAF Wyton, died in RAF Hospital Ely of an intestinal obstruction following a laprotomy

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

400816 - Unaccounted Airmen - 16-08-1940

From Henk's List-

UK
ATKINSON George - Cpl - 565463 - RAF.
Gosport (Ann's Hill) Cemetery, Hampshire.
HOARE, Arthur John - Lac - 342664 - RAF.
Peters Field Cemetery, Hampshire.
WEEKS, Owen James - Sgt - 370398 - RAF - 758 Sqn.
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
The above three airmen were Killed in an Air Raid on RNAS Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire.

CHARLTON, Norman Quentin - AC2c - 996363 - RAFVR.
Boldon (Whitburn) Cemetery, Durham.
MORTIMER, Terence Joseph - Lac - 639246 - RAF.
Newport (St. Woolos) Cemetery, Monmouthshire.
STEWART, Allan James - Cpl - 334962 - RAF.
YATES, Robert Terrance - AC2c - 919260 - RAFVR.
These two airmen rest at Gosport (Ann's Hill) Cemetery, Hampshire.

The four airmen named above were Killed in an Air Raid on RAF Gosport, Hampshire.

PITT, Ernest Neville - AC1c - 906866 - RAFVR.
Hastings Cemetery, Sussex.
SAUNDERS, Edward John - AC1c - 702278 - RAFVR.
Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, London.
These two airmen were Killed in an Air Raid on RAF Harwell.

AUSTIN, Richard Ernest - AC2c - 1350800 - RAFVR.
ANSCOMBE, Percy Clarence - Lac - 747143 - RAFVR.
COUTTS, Stanley - AC2c - 981318 - RAFVR.
GAINEY, Albert Edward - Lac - 356359 - RAF.
HEWLETT, Ronald Oliver - Lac - 614759 - RAF.
LEWIS, Walter Harry - Cpl - 350025 - RAF.
SMITH, Ronald - AC2c - 1356692 - RAFVR.
WEST, William Frederick George - AC2c - 813222 - RAF (AAF).
YOUNG, Archibald Bruce - AC2c - 973820 - RAFVR.
These nine airmen rest at Tangmere (St.Andrew) Churchyard, Sussex.
All killed in an air raid on Tangmere

COLLINS, Arthur William - AC2c - 1356479 - RAFVR.
Enfield (Lavender Hill) Cemetery, Middlesex.

SHEASBY, Jonathan - AC2c - 948500 - RAFVR.
Napton-On-The-Hill Church Cemetery, Warwickshire.

The eleven airmen named above were all Killed in an Air Raid on RAF Tangmere, Sussex

COOKE, Bernard Albert - LA - FX.76323 - HMS Daedalus - RN.
Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.
Died of wounds.

PHILLIPS, Harold - AC2c - 1054826 - RAFVR.
Wheatley Carr ( Inghamite) Churchyard, Lancashire.
Died in Hospital following an operation.

STEED, Anthony Grant - Lac - 529407 - RAF.
Wick Cemetery, Caithness-Shire.
Died from gunshot wounds to the head.

From CWGC -

CANADA
HURLEY, Andrew Joseph - Lac - P/9797 - RCAF.
Ottawa Memorial, Ontario, Canada.
LAY, Peter Everett - F/O - C/1071 - RCAF.
Regina Cemetery, Saskatchewan, Canada.
RAYMOND, Gerald Robert - Lac - 22015A - RCAF.
Bloomfield Station (Christ Church) Cemetery, New Brunswick, Canada.
These three airmen were crew of Delta - 682 - 8 Sqn RCAF.

FRANCE
PYMAN, Lawrence Lee - P/O - 72586 - RAFVR - 65 Sqn. .
Spitfire Ia - K9915 - 65 Sqn.
GREENSHIELDS, Henry Lafone - S/Lt(A) - HMS Daedalus - RNVR.
Spitfire I - N3240 - 266 Sqn RAF.
These two airmen rest at Calais Southern Cemetery Pas-de-Calais, France

GERMANY
HUGHES, William Arthur (Northern Ireland) - Sgt - 563882 - RAF.
WAKE, Robert Leslie - Sgt - 580685 - RAF.
These two airmen rest at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
They were crew of Hampden I - P4291 - 144 Sqn.

ITALY
HIGSON, Kenneth Hesketh - F/O - 70305 - RAF (RAFO).
Milan War Cemetery, Italy.
Whitley V - N1497 - 10 Sqn.

PAKISTAN
HAPPEL, Arthur Short - AC1c - 611357 - RAF.
TURNBULL, Roy Wilde - F/O - 40577 - RAF
These two airmen rest at Karachi War Cemetery, Pakistan.
They were crew of Audax(India) - K4853 - 28 Sqn(20 Sqn?).

UK
BOWEN, Nigel Greenstreet - P/O - 41984 - RAF.
Wallingford Cemetery, Berkshire.
Spitfire Ia - N3095 - 266 Sqn.

DRANE, Douglas - S/Lt(A) - HMS Daedalus - RNVR - 816 Sqn FAA.
Paisley (Hawkhead) Cemetery, Renfrewshire.
Shark - K8471 - TTU.

FERRIS, Henry Michael - F/Lt - 40099 - RAF - DFC.
Chislehurst (St. Mary) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Kent.
Hurricane I - R4193 - 111 Sqn.

GILES, Edwin David - Lac - 922869 - RAFVR.
Looe Cemetery, Cornwall.
Cadet - G-ADTR - 3 EFTS.

GWYNNE, John Draper - Sgt - 742137 - RAFVR.
West Quantoxhead (St. Ethecdreda) Churchyard, Somerset.
MUNRO, William Campbell - Sgt - 755916 - RAFVR.
Ayr Cemetery, Ayrshire.
These two airmen were crew of Defiant -L7010 - 5 OTU.

KING, Martyn Aurel - P/O - 42845 - RAF.
Fawley (All Saints) Churchyard, Hampshire.
Hurricane I - P3616 - 249 Sqn.

WILKINSON, Rodney Levett - Sqn/Ldr - 26192 - RAF.
Margate Cemetery, Kent.
Spitfire Ia - R6768 - 266 Sqn.

BROWNE, Dennis Owen Matthew- P/O - 41234 - RAF.
Hurricane I - R4075 - 1 Sqn.
LARICHELIERE, Joseph Emile Paul - P/O - 42849 - RAF.
Hurricane I - P3091 - 213 Sqn.
SHANAHAN, Martin Michael - Sgt - 741623 - RAFVR.
Hurricane I - P3043 - 1 Sqn.
WARNER, William Henry Cromwell - F/Lt - 90344 - RAF (AAF) - 609 Sqn.
Spitfire Ia - R6802 - 610 Sqn
These four airmen are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

SAUNDERS, Edward John - AC1c - 702278 z RAFVR.
Nunhead (All Saints) Cemetery, London.
Killed in an Air Raid on RAF Harwell.

KLUMB, Edmund - GAF.
WAECHTER, Anton - GAF.
These two German airmen rest at Tonbridge Cemetery Kent.
Cause of death ?

BRANDENBURG, Hans-Juergen - GAF.
KOCH, Johann(Hans) - GAF.
HIRSCH, Kurt - GAF.
GENTER, Eugen- GAF.
GOLOB, Johann - GAF.
REINICKE, Gerhard - GAF.
SABLER, Wladimir - GAF.
HATTENDORF, Anton - GAF.
HOLLEKAMP, Erdist - GAF.
SCHURK, Richard - GAF.
LEMMER, Walter - GAF.
MOORFIELD, Johannes - GAF.
MUELLER, Ernst - GAF.
MAGERHANS, Walter - GAF.
SZYMANOWSKI, Albin - GAF.
SCHMIDTKE, Erich - GAF.
WITT, Willi - GAF.
WEBER, Albert - GAF.
MESSERSCHMIDT, Rudolf - GAF.
LINSE, Paul - GAF.
These twenty German airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

Alex

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

AUSTIN, Richard Ernest - AC2 - 1350800 - RAFVR.
ANSCOMBE, Percy Clarence - LAC - 747143 - RAFVR.
COUTTS, Stanley - AC2 - 981318 - RAFVR.
GAINEY, Albert Edward - LAC - 356359 - RAF.
HEWLETT, Ronald Oliver - LAC - 614759 - RAF.
LEWIS, Walter Harry - Cpl - 350025 - RAF.
SMITH, Ronald - AC2 - 1356692 - RAFVR.
WEST, William Frederick George - AC2 - 813222 - RAF (AAF).
YOUNG, Archibald Bruce - AC2 - 973820 - RAFVR.

All killed in an air raid on Tangmere

HAPPEL, Arthur Short - AC1 - 611357 - RAF.
TURNBULL, Roy Wilde - F/O - 40577 - RAF
Overstrand - K4553 - 28 Sqn. was actually an Audax

Malcolm

[Alex Smart]

Hello Malcolm, thank you, I missed out with the "All killed in an air raid on Tangmere" entery in my first post. It is now edited.
In regard to K4553, according to the "K File" it was a Boulton-Paul Overstrand. However it has the following -
"Deld to 101 Sqn 20.1.36 coded Y, later K; 3ASU; 27 MU; SOC 5.39.
So I assume that you are saying that not only the K4553 is wrong but also that it was not an Overstrand that was involved, but that the aircraft involved was was an Audax.
I will have another look to see what I can find.

Looks like you are correct. I found the following -
"K4853 Audax(India), Deld to R & J Parks 13.9.35; AD Drigh Road 15.10.35; 20 Sqn; CF Lahore; 28 Sqn coded BF-J; 20 Sqn. Stalled and crashed after message drop Isha, 16.8.40; DBF; 2 killed; SOC 17.2.41".
Thanks for the highlight .
Alex

[Andy Marden]

Alex,

SHANAHAN, Martin Michael - Sgt - 741623 - RAFVR.
Hurricane I - P3043 - 1 Sqn.
>> This loss was on 15 Aug 40.
Confirmed by 1 Sqn ORB and summary of events:
AIR 27/1/19: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8406073
AIR 27/1/20: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8406074
For some reason the CWGC has the wrong date (I will submit a correction). It probably comes from AIR 81/1450: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502872
Some more background information at: http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Shanahan.htm

Andy

[Andy Marden]

Alex,

LARICHELIERE, Joseph Emile Paul - P/O - 42849 - RAF.
Hurricane I - P3091 - 213 Sqn.
>> This one is interesting. Sadly the 213 Sqn ORB only lists codes, with no serials, so we only know that his aircraft was coded R.
The casualty file at AIR 81/1462: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502884 states that it was indeed P3091.
The relevant Air-Britain serials book just states 213 Sqn, SOC 31.8.41
However, our db: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=P3091
records P3091 as being lost with 59 OTU on 23 Jan 43
So something is wrong. Can anyone confirm the 59 OTU details? It seems likely that another aircraft was involved.

Andy

[Andy Marden]

Alex,

I should have spotted this, but:
BROWNE, Dennis Owen Matthew- P/O - 41234 - RAF.
Hurricane I - R4075 - 1 Sqn.
is exactly the same as SHANAHAN. He was also lost on 15 Aug 40. Sources as before.

Andy

[Andy Marden]

The Germans:
KLUMB, Edmund - GAF.
WAECHTER, Anton - GAF.
These two German airmen rest at Tonbridge Cemetery Kent.
Cause of death ?
>> Crew of Do17Z-2 of 7./KG76, shot down Paddock Wood

BRANDENBURG, Hans-Juergen - GAF. >> Crew of Do17Z of 3./KG2, shot down Hornchurch
KOCH, Johann(Hans) - GAF. >> ditto above
HIRSCH, Kurt - GAF. >> ditto above
GENTER, Eugen- GAF. >> ditto above
GOLOB, Johann - GAF. >> Crew of Do17Z-2 of 3./KG2, shot down east of Canterbury
REINICKE, Gerhard - GAF. >> Ditto above
SABLER, Wladimir - GAF. >> Crew of He111P G1+LM of 4./KG55, shot down over Feltham
HATTENDORF, Anton - GAF. >> Crew of He111P of 6./KG55, shot down over Bramber
HOLLEKAMP, Erdist - GAF. >> Crew of Bf110C of 6./ZG2, shot down over Eastbourne
SCHURK, Richard - GAF. >> Ditto above
LEMMER, Walter - GAF. >> Crew of Bf110C of 5./ZG76
MOORFIELD, Johannes - GAF. >> Crew of He111P G1+FR of 7./KG55, shot down near Worthing. Note: surname is MOORFELD
MUELLER, Ernst - GAF. >> Crew of He111P G1+LM of 4./KG55, shot down over Feltham
MAGERHANS, Walter - GAF. >> Ditto above
SZYMANOWSKI, Albin - GAF. >> Ditto above
SCHMIDTKE, Erich - GAF. >> Ditto above
WITT, Willi - GAF. >> Crew of Ju87B T6+KL of 3.StG2, shot down during attack on Tangmere
WEBER, Albert - GAF. >> Crew of He111P G1+FR of 7./KG55, shot down near Worthing
MESSERSCHMIDT, Rudolf - GAF. >> Ju87B of 3./StG2, shot down during attack on Tangmere
LINSE, Paul - GAF. >> Ditto above
These twenty German airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

[Andy Marden]

Alex,

SHANAHAN, Martin Michael - Sgt - 741623 - RAFVR.
Hurricane I - P3043 - 1 Sqn.
>> This loss was on 15 Aug 40.
Confirmed by 1 Sqn ORB and summary of events:
AIR 27/1/19: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8406073
AIR 27/1/20: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8406074
For some reason the CWGC has the wrong date (I will submit a correction). It probably comes from AIR 81/1450: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502872
Some more background information at: http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Shanahan.htm

Andy

I have had a reply from CWGC. They will not be changing their record, for the reasons outlined.

"Thank you for your email and please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your submission regarding Sgt M.M. Shanahan. Your enquiry reached us at a particularly busy period, and we have been working to ensure all submissions are accurately reviewed. We're grateful for the records you have supplied, which have given us further information about the casualty.
However, whilst they show that Sergeant Shanahan was posted as missing on 15 Aug 1940, the official confirmation of his death occurred on 16 Aug 1940, which was the date provided to the Commission for his commemoration. A difference of one day between the last sighting of a casualty and their confirmed date of death is quite usual and does not indicate an error in either record. His family were informed that his date of death was 16 August and as such, we do not feel it appropriate to make a change to our records in this case."

So, we should not be surprised to see differences of a day.