No.60 Sqn Harvard - Missing 13-6-1945

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Need some help in positively identifying a No.60 Sqn Harvard that went missing in the Far East, on 13-6-1945. The occupants were as follows:

181247 F/O David Charles Martin ELIAS RAFVR
576820 F/Sgt Andrew John COLEMAN* RAFVR

Both are commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

* F/Sgt Coleman was a 40th Entry, Old Haltonian.

http://www.oldhaltonians.co.uk/pages/rememb/ROH/C.htm

The Harvard was possibly in the FSXXX series, but l'm not sure of that.

Any assistance appreciated.

Col.

[Errol Martyn]

Col,

Colin Cumming's 'The Price of Peace' has FE298 Harvard IIB. Coleman and Elias as you have, with the former as pilot.

Narrative reads:

The aircraft was en-route from Thedaw to Ramree and was lost without trace, either in the sea or the Arakan Forest. The weather and the terrain made it impossible to mount an effective search and not trace of the aircraft or its crew was found. Although an Accident Card could not be found, there is some information that a second Harvard aircraft crashed on this day in similar circumstances.

Errol

[COL BRUGGY]

Errol, G'Day.

Thanks for that. The serial quoted in the reference l used, reads like FS.288, but it's a bit blurred. Of course, FS288 was a Kittyhawk IV serial.

Nice to clear it up. Thanks to CC, as well.

I'll re-read the sheets and see if there is any mention of the other Harvard incident.

Col.

[COL BRUGGY]

Errol,

A long-shot !

The only incident l can find that vaguely resembles the other Harvard lost on 13-6-1945, is as follows:

3-6-1945
No.17 Sqn. (?)
Harvard IIB FE789

Missing between Akyab and Thedaw, Burma.

178975 F/O Frederick David IRVINE RAFVR + (No.17 Sqn.)
63386 S/L Robert William Stanley MARSHALL M.B.,B.Ch.,B.A.O. (Hons.), Queen's University, Belfast. RAFVR + (Att. No.909 Wing).

Both commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

Is this incident mentioned in 'The Price of Peace'?

Col.

[Oldduffer]

Hi Col,

Yes it certainly is recorded and as you have recorded. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anymore information about where it was going and so the record is fairly light on detail.

Colin Cummings

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Colin,

Thanks. I can't add anything to the loss on 3 June 1945. What l've posted, is all l have. l'll keep my eyes open for mention of the other Harvard loss on 13 June 1945, it might be recorded under an incorrect date.

Col.

[Litcham_Lad]

Col et al,

From ABS

Harvard IIb FS695 of 60s - Missing of Arakan (Rakhine) coast 13-Jun-45 - no other details

dg

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi dg,

Nice find ! Now, if only we could marry that loss up with a pilot.

It would be of interest to see which unit is quoted for 560600 F/Sgt Clifford James FRITH RAF in the GRO RAF War Deaths. The CWGC quote his unit as "721 Sqn" ! He was "Killed on Active Service", on 12-6-1945, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

Col.

[Litcham_Lad]

Col,

I suspect your idea of F/Sgt Clifford James FRITH is a non-starter, as the GRO list also cites him as belonging to 721s, which lost Vengeance IV {HB546} in the Admiralty Islands on 12-Jun-45 (Lt H Kirby) - as per Sturtivant's FAA Aircraft 39-45

dg

[COL BRUGGY]

dg,

Thanks. That eliminates Frith.

Col.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I had never heard before of FAA Vengeance in the Admiralty Islands, so I googled it after reading this thread. For those interested to learn a little more, 721 Sqn or 721 Fleet Requirement Unit (not sure it became a squadron) lost England in March 1945 with six Vengeance TT.IV (TT for target tug, I guess) and was later based at the British Pacific Fleet rear base at Manus, Admiralty Islands.

Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6409395991/
http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/BEGUM.htm

As for 13 June 1945, there is also a Flt Sgt Frederick George Clarke RAFVR (no unit given) commemorated on Singapore memorial.