430822 - Unaccounted airmen - 22-8-1943

[Henk Welting]

What were the places of death registration of:

A - Died of wounds or injuries received on active service:
F/O (Pilot) Patrick E. FALKNER - 151131, and
Sgt (Pilot) Donald V. FENTIMAN - 1393209.

B - Not found in Flight Magazine:
LAC James C. KELLETT - 1528300.

C - Proposed aircraft losses:
Master I - N7720 - 5 (P)AFU - crashed in forced landing Highway Farm, Peplow, Staffordshire.
Beaufighter I - T4721 - 9 (C)OTU - flew into ground near Corry House, Toppin Castle, Warwick Bridge, Cumberland (already as a casualty on this aircraft: Sgt [Pilot] Kenneth PUMPHREY - 1503809).
Mustang I - AG447 - 170 Sqn - crashed in forced landing near Crondall, Hampshire.
Tiger Moth II - DE936 - 10 FIS - aircraft abandoned Shiplake, Oxfordshire.
Martinet I - HP166 - 7 OTU - crashed on approach Crindle, near Limavady.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[alclark]

Falkner and Fentiman are recorded inthe No.5 (P)AFU ORB as being involved in a fatal accident on 21-08-1943, Fentiman as instructor and Falkner as Pilot u/t.

James C Kellett is recorded as Barrow-in-Furness, Vol.83 Page 782.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Looks as though Al might have Falkner and Fentiman associated with N7720 but their deaths are both registered in Lichfield,Staffordshire and the only Peplow that I could find(on Google Maps) is in Shropshire and some way from Lichfield. 5(P)AFU seems to have been at Ternhill and that is close to Peplow.If memory serves, deaths around Ternhill seem to get registered at Whitchurch.
The different dates 21 and 22/8 might allow for transfer to a Hospital but between Peplow and Lichfield is Birmingham and Cosford is not very far away.
Regards
Dick

[thorne83]

Unfortunately I don't have the serial for Fentimen and Falkner's aircraft but I have N7720 as crash-landing at Highway Farm, near Keele (not Peplow). The pilot was Sgt R A Shannon (R156972), RCAF, who was KIA 10th December 1944.

Cheers,

Tom

[alclark]

Henk put up Master N7943 for 21-08-43, crashed on overshoot at Lichfield. Two deaths registered as Lichfield and a Master from No.5 (P)AFU crashing at Lichfield seem to tie together. My guess would be crashed during night flying from the night of the 21st.

There is nothing in the No.27 OTU orb for the 21st/22nd to comfirm this.

[malcolm_raf]

Just to add confusion NOIZET, JEAN JOSEPH ALBERT (143485) RAFVR; age: 28 is listed as being with 5 (P) AFU and also killed/dying on 22 Aug but registered in Wellington, Shropshire.

Malcolm

[alclark]

No, he was with No.61 OTU, killed in Spitfire P7304 in collision with Spitfire P7444, this is what the No.61 OTU ORB had to say:

August 22nd 1943, “One fatal accident today, involving Spitfire P7304 and Spitfire 7444, mid-air collision, Spitfire P7304 piloted by No.143485 Pilot Officer Noizet J.J.A. (Belgian) and Spitfire P7444 piloted by No.151928 Pilot Officer Goldsmit H.M. (Belgian), Pilot Officer Noizet killed, collision due to error of judgement by pilots during fighter attack exercises.”

[malcolm_raf]

Al

Thanks for confirming that one

Malcolm

[Henk Welting]

Malcolm,
I've NOIZET on Spitfire IIA serial P7304 of 61 OTU. Crashed 'Hincks Plantation' near Lilleshall, 3 miles SW of Newport (near aerodrome High Ercall).
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks friends for your support. For the time being will add serial N7943 to FALKNER/FENTIMAN was date 21/22-8-1943.
Regards,
Henk.

[jonheyworth]

George Jovanovitch, 339766, a pilot, attached to Number 3 ADU, Was seriously injured at 16:30 hours on 11th August in a flying accident at Agnone landing ground whilst a passenger in Baltimore AG 915. He was admitted to Number 25 mobile field hospital where he succumbed to his injuries

[jonheyworth]

Benjamin Batty 1004672 , attached to 355 WU , accidently drowned at Gilchar

[jonheyworth]

James Casson Kellett 1528300 | attached to RAF Deford | was admitted dangerously ill to the Hughes College Military hospital in Oxford on 13 February and was transferred to home where he died of a cerebral abscess and bronchitis