401215 - Unaccounted airman - 15-12-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of and/or what was the place of death registration for LAC (Pilot u/t) Ernest D. CLARKE - 1251069 (from Irish Republic), killed on active service.
Proposed aircraft losses for this day:
Master I - N7602 - 8 FTS - flew into high ground Hill of Fingrey, Kincardineshire.
Wellington II - W5369 - De Havilland - crashed on test flight (SOC 2-1-1941).
Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[thorne83]

Not registered in England (checked spelling for both Clarke and Clark) so maybe in Scotland to tie in with the Master?

Cheers, Tom

[thorne83]

Thinking about this one again Henk, i'm pretty sure i have a copy of an aviation archaeology magazine at home that i read recently talking about this crash and the pilot was Clarke. I'll check when i get home this evening.

Tom

[Andy Ingham]

The death of Ernest Edward Downing CLARKE (Pupil Pilot, RAF ) aged 20 was registered at Strachan, Kincardine. His body was found on Hill of Fingrey, Kincardineshire on the 24th.
That would confirm a link with Master I - N7602 - 8 FTS.
Regards
Andy

[alclark]

Who ever was writing the entries for the 8 FTS ORB at the time didn't record anything about crashes in that period but where his death was registered would fit with the crash location.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks friends for all your help and support.
Regards,
Henk.

[jonheyworth]

Ronald Charles Alexander 991446, attached to SAAF Cape Town, drowned in a bathing accident in Cape Town

[jonheyworth]

Bernard James Trewin 932348 , attached to Number 2 SOTT , was injured in a road accident on 22 July and was admitted to Victoria hospital, Blackpool and died of a fractured skull in Wharncliife hospital, Sheffield

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

401215 - Unaccounted Airmen - 15-12-1940

From Henk's List -

SOUTH AFRICA
ALEXANDER, Ronald Charles - AC2c - 991446 - RAFVR.
Cape Town (Plumstead) Cemetery, Western Cape, South Africa.
Accidentally drowned while bathing.

UK
TREWIN, Bernard James - AC2c - 932348 - RAFVR.
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, London.
Involved in a Road accident on the the 22nd July. Died in Wharncliffe Hospital, Sheffield.

From CWGC -

NETHERLANDS
DENNIS, Walter Frederick - Sgt - 974127 - RAFVR.
Texel (Den Burg ) Cemetery, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
Whitley V - P5012 - 102 Sqdn.

UK
CLARKE, Ernest Dowling - Lac - 1251069 - RAFVR.
Montrose (Sleepyhillock) Cemetery, Angus.
Master I - N7602 - 8 FTS.

WILLIAMS, Cyril - Sgt - 818161 - RAF (AAF).
Topcliffe Church Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Whitley V - T4138 - 77 Sqdn.

BEATTIE, Joseph - Sgt - 745372 - RAFVR.
CAMPBELL, John Erik - Sgt - 937405 - RAFVR.
FOX, Alfred Russell - Sgt - 971467 - RAFVR.
SVENSON, Neil Anzac - P/O - 43049 - RAF.
WILSON, Edward Frank - Sgt - 742942 - RAFVR.
These five airmen were crew of Whitley V - T4292 - 77 Sqdn.

ALLARDICE, Kenneth Gordon - Sgt - 748744 - RAFVR.
CLEMETT, John Alfred - Sgt - 751589 - RAFVR.
HANNAH, Kenneth Thomas - F/Lt - 42123 - RAF.
SEDGLEY, Alan - Sgt - 621033 - RAF.
These four airmen were crew of Whitley V - P5012 - 102 Sqdn.

The above nine airmen are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

POCOCK, Bernard Cyril - Lt(A) - HMS Condor - RNVR.
Enfield Crematorium Middlesex.
JONES, Harold Vaughan - LA - HMS Condor - FX.79222 - RN.
Arbroath Western Cemetery, Angus.
ODHAMS, Peter Kenneth Lynch - Lt - HMS Excellent - RN.
Mickleham (St.Michael and All Angels) Churchyard, Surrey.

These three Naval Airmen were crew of Swordfish - K5959 - 767 Sqdn - FAA, RN.

Alex

[Andy Marden]

CLARKE, Ernest Dowling - Lac - 1251069 - RAFVR.
Montrose (Sleepyhillock) Cemetery, Angus.
Master I - N7602 - 8 FTS.

Interesting to note that AIR81/4605 gives his date of death as 14 Dec 40: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16688703
I'm unable to find any evidence either way.

[Ross_McNeill]

F1180 has original date of 14th scored out and 15th added - this alteration has been initialled. Time of event given as 16:00 Original descriptor a/c missing also scored out.

His death certificate viewable on Scotlands People is dated 15th Dec but says found dead on 24th. Cause of death fractured skull, multiple injuries.

Ross