401119 - Unaccounted airmen - 19-11-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of and/or what were the places of death registration for:

Cpl Francis G. GILES - 617858 - 5 BC, 911 (Balloon) Sqn, West Bromwich - killed on active service;
LAC Kenneth HEMS - 633521 - 5 BC, 913 (Balloon) Sqn, Sutton Coldfield - killed on active service;
AC1 Frederick S. KILBY - 701026 - same unit as LAC Hems - killed on active service, and
AC2 Ernest S. YATES - 1160752 - same unit as LAC Hems - not found Flight archives.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Giles,21, Hems,20, Francis S Kilby,22 and Yates,27, are all registered in Birmingham. W Bromwich in the N W and Sutton Coldfield in the N E are virtually part of Birmingham and it is entirely possible that Balloons from units in those places would be spread into the city of Birmingham.(more UK geography)
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dick.
Enjoy the weekend, although very wet over here.
Henk.

[jonny]

Both Balloon Sqn ORBs confirm that all four men were killed 'by enemy bombs'. The 913 lads were all 'D' Flight.

[jonny]

More info recently received from AHB:

617858 Corporal Francis George GILES of 911 (Balloon) Squadron - Employed as a Balloon Operator. He was killed as a result of bombing (card notes - 'buried under debris') at 2105 hrs on 19 Nov 40 at King Edward Sports Ground, Trinity Road, Handsworth. Born Bedford 12 Sep 19.

633521 Leading Aircraftman Kenneth HEMS of 'D' Flight, 913 (Balloon) Squadron - Employed as MT Mechanic. Died at Ward End, Birmingham on 19 Nov 40 as a result of bombing. Born Birmingham 10 Jan 20.

701026 Aircraftman First Class Frederick Samuel KILBY of 'D' Flight, 913 (Balloon) Squadron - Employed as D/MT. Died at Ward End, Birmingham on 19 Nov 40 as a result of bombing. Born Northampton 17 Jun 18.

1160752 Aircraftman Second Class Ernest Stewart YATES of 'D' Flight, 913 (Balloon) Squadron - No employment listed on Casualty Card. Died at Ward End, Birmingham on 19 Nov 40 as a result of bombing. Born Northampton 26 May 13.

Rgds

Jonny

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

401119 - Unaccounted Airmen - 19-11-1940

From Henk's List -
CANADA
BOYD, Joseph Arthur William - Lac - R/54977 - RCAF.
Montreal (Notre Dame dea Neiges) Cemetery, Quebec, Canada.
Killed when he was hit by a propeller of a Fairey Battle at Jarvis.

UK
KILBY, Frederick Samuel - AC1c - 701026 - RAFVR - 913 Balloon Sqn.
YATES, Ernest Stewart - AC2c - 1160752 - RAFVR - 913 Balloon Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Northampton (Billing Road) Cemetery, Northamptonshire.
HEMS, Kenneth - Lac - 633521 - RAF - 913 Balloon Sqn.
King's Norton ( St.Nicholas) Churchyard, Warwickshire.
These three airmen were killed during the bombing of Birmingham.

GILES, Francis George - Cpl - 617858 - RAF - 911 Balloon.
Westoning ( St.Mary Magdalene) Church Cemetery, Bedfordshire.
Killed as a result of bombing of Handsworth.

From CWGC -

CANADA
WATT, Robert Samuel - Lac - R/52694 - RCAF.
St.Catharines ( Victoria Lawn ) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
WHALEN, John Harold - Lac - R/53924 - RCAF.
Ottawa (Pinecrest) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
These two airmen were crew of Northrop Nomad - "NX-N48" - 3521 - RCAF.

Following the invasion of France, the USA released 93 Northrop A-17AS's "Nomad's". They were ferried ( codes NX-N?? ) to Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation on the French Carrier "Bearn" but she had already departed. Eventually 61 were sent to the UK while 32 were taken into the RCAF as 3490 to 3521. "NX - N48" became 3521 RCAF. ( ref: Walkers RCAF serial numbers).

EGYPT
BLACKBURN, William Reay - Lac - 539168 - RAF.
BANFIELD, Francis Harold - Sgt - 581430 - RAF.
GIVAN, Ronald Owen Stock - P/O - 84995 - RAFVR.
These three airmen are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.
They were crew of Blenheim IV - L9458 - 203 Sqn.

HEATH, Peter Ronald - Sqn/Ldr - 87 - RAAF.
Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt.
Gladiator II - N5750 - 3 Sqn.

UK
BRACE, Patrick Lewis - Sgt - 745496 - RAFVR.
Islington Cemetery and Crematorium, Middlesex.
BRADLEY, Sidney - Sgt - 749429 - RAFVR.
Mickleover (All Saints) Churchyard, Derbyshire.
MOSS, John Herbert - Sgt - 905501 - RAFVR.
Great Bircham (St.Mary) Churchyard, Norfolk.
SKEATS, Herbert Arthur - F/O - 72003 - RAFVR.
Cambridge Crematorium, Cambridgeshire.
These four airmen were crew of Hudson I - N7300 - 206 Sqn.

BARR, Richard Burls - Sgt - 741009 - RAFVR - MiD.
Hove New Cemetery, Sussex.
CROCKER, Gordon Edward - Lac - 812067 - RAF (AAF).
Maidstone Cemetery, Kent.
SANDERSON, Leslie Ernest - F/O - 90014 - RAF (AAF).
Cambridge Crematorium, Cambridgeshire.
These three airmen were crew of Anson I - R3435 - 500 Sqn.

GUNDLACK, Fritz - GAF.
GOEHLER, Heinz - GAF.
LEUCHTENBERG, Albert - Dr - GAF.
PHILIPPS, Hannover- GAF.
Von SCHWERIN, Albert - G.
These five German Airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

Alex

[malcolm_raf]

Hi
Additional details: -

19-Nov GILES, FRANCIS GEORGE Cpl He was serving with No 911 Sqn as a Balloon Operator and was killed at King Edward Sports Ground, Trinity Road, Handsworth during an air raid.
19-Nov HEMS, KENNETH LAC He was serving with 'D' Flt, No 913 Sqn as an MT Mechanic and died at Ward End, Birmingham as the result of an air raid.
19-Nov KILBY, FREDERICK SAMUEL AC1 He was serving with 'D' Flt, No 913 Sqn as a as Driver/MT and was killed at Ward End, Birmingham during an air raid.
19-Nov YATES, ERNEST STEWART AC2 He was serving with 'D' Flt, No 913 Sqn and was killed at Ward End, Birmingham during an air raid.

Malcolm

[Andy Marden]

CANADA
WATT, Robert Samuel - Lac - R/52694 - RCAF.
St.Catharines ( Victoria Lawn ) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
WHALEN, John Harold - Lac - R/53924 - RCAF.
Ottawa (Pinecrest) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
These two airmen were crew of Northrop Nomad - "NX-N48" - 3521 - RCAF.

Following the invasion of France, the USA released 93 Northrop A-17AS's "Nomad's". They were ferried ( codes NX-N?? ) to Halifax, Nova Scotia for embarkation on the French Carrier "Bearn" but she had already departed. Eventually 61 were sent to the UK while 32 were taken into the RCAF as 3490 to 3521. "NX - N48" became 3521 RCAF. ( ref: Walkers RCAF serial numbers).

Alex,
Something is not right here. The remains of 3521 are now at the RCAF Museum at Trenton. It was lost in Dec40 according to:
https://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/northrop-nomad-a-17a-recovered-canada.html
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/165248
I think 3491 was the machine lost on 19 Nov 40.
Andy

[Andy Marden]

GUNDLACK, Fritz - GAF.
GOEHLER, Heinz - GAF.
LEUCHTENBERG, Albert - Dr - GAF.
PHILIPPS, Hannover- GAF.
Von SCHWERIN, Albert - G.
These five German Airmen rest at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.

Crew of He111H-5 3539/1H+AH of 1./KG26, which struck balloon cables during an attack on London.