410425 - Unaccounted airmen - 25-4-1941

[Henk Welting]

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

W/O William G. CRADDOCK - 505535;
LAC (Pilot u/t) Roy V. NELSON - 1109155, and
P/O (Pilot) Martin W. RIVERS - 62015.

Proposed aircraft losses for this day:

Battle I - V1240 - 8 BGS - crashed in forced landing Shandwick Bay, Ross & Cromarty.
Beaufort I - L4458 - 3 OTU - crashed in forced landing 15 miles N of Ashburton, Devon.
Blenheim I - L1523 - 54 OTU - crashed in forced landing near Church Fenton.
Hurricane I - N2522 - 55 OTU - spun into ground Linhope, near Amble, Northumberland.
Master I - N7672 - 8 FTS - spun into ground Kinnell.
Spitfire I - K9972 - 57 OTU - crashed in forced landing Rhyl, Flintshire.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[RockHound]

Hello Henk,

I have

William G CRADDOCK, Age 42, death registered at Ulverston, Cumbria
Roy Vivian NELSON, Age 19, death registered at Kinnell, Arbroath
Martin W RIVERS, Age 24, death registered at Northumberland N. 2nd

The last two could be Master N7672 and Hurricane N2522 respectively. 8FTS was based at Montrose which is near Kinnell and 54OTU was at Usworth which fits with Amble.

Regards,

David

[alclark]

Nelson was killed in N7672 while with 8 FTS.

April 25th 1941, “No.110955 LAC Nelson, R.V. (31 Course) killed in N7672. He spun into
the ground off a turn and caught fire. Investigation held by Wing Commander Simpson on
29th April.”

The 55 OTU ORB confirms Rivers are flying N2522.

April 25th 1941, “P/O M.W. Rivers killed in accident to Hurricane N2522 at Linhope.”

I haven't got any information about Craddock.

[JimCorbett1977]

A litte more on N2522, the actual crash location is Meggrims Knowe, Linhope and small parts of the aircraft still exist.

Jim

[Henk Welting]

Thanks all. Sometimes heavy-hearted when I look at my long list of airmen/-women unaccounted for, but info like this from you and many other friends pep me up to continue.
Regards,
Henk.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk,

Sgt C C N Bailey was the pilot of L4458. No note in my files of any other casualties.

Regards
Ross

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Ross for info on Bailey. May have been W/O Clarence Charles Nelson BAILEY - 928619 (fm S.Africa) who was killed 10-1-1943 flying with 39 Sqn and commemorated on Column 269 of the Alamein Memorial. Closest aircraft loss in my Beaufort File is DD952 ditched 10 miles S of Suez Bay (Air Britain however mentions 13-1-1943).
Regards,
Henk.

[Kevin]

Hello Henk,

Just like Ross said there were no casualties on L4458. In fact it is the same Bailey you mention. He was killed on Beaufort X8934.

Best regards

Kevin

[dennis_burke]

W/O Craddock is a DOAS listing, June 26th magazine

Nelson and Rivers of course are KOAS, same list June 12th publication of Flight.

Henk, no need to acknowledge this post unless further discussion/questions.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Kevin for info on serial Beaufort BAILEY.
Thanks Dennis for info on cause of death CRADDOCK.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Hello Henk,

Just like Ross said there were no casualties on L4458. In fact it is the same Bailey you mention. He was killed on Beaufort X8934.

Best regards

Kevin

Hello Kevin,
Air Britain W1000-Z9999 (latest edition) has for X8934: 47 Squadron (was at Shallufa, Egypt); 39 Squadron was at Shandur, Egypt). Bailey 39 Sqn attd 47 Sqn or X8934 47 Sqn on loan 39 Sqn ? Please advise.
Regards,
Henk.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk,

F1180 for L4458 has been amended to go from 5 injured to 4 injured & 1 died later.

Pilot confirmed to have survived to be killed later so one of the others must have died later.

Regards
Ross

[phill jones]

Henk , Spitfire K 9972 ,57 OTU 25/4/41 , Non Fatal Crash 11.05 Cat C, Formation RECCE dog fighting practise ,at 25,000ft.
e/f , F/l In Feild , u/c raised , STRUCK sheep , A/c caught fire 10 Mins after Landing , SGT KB CHISHOLM 402150

Rgs Phill Jones

[dennis_burke]

Note the 4xxxxx number is an Australian one, Keith Bruce CHISHOLM
discharged 1946, from 38 Sqn
awarded Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal

check the AEM nominall Roll, incase you hadn't.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dennis & Phill for info on CHISHOLM and Spitfire K9972.
Regards,
Henk.

[dennis_burke]

See
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?15037-F-Sgt.-(WOP-AG)-Douglas-Harry-Proudman-635790&p=88709&posted=1#post88709

Proudman is probably the airman from L4458

Fracture of the base of the skull accidentally and by misadventure sustained through an aeroplane crashing at Furse Park field, Luscott Farm in the parish of Ashford in the county of Devon, on the 25th April, 1941

[Graham Moore]

See
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?15037-F-Sgt.-(WOP-AG)-Douglas-Harry-Proudman-635790&p=88709&posted=1#post88709

Proudman is probably the airman from L4458

Fracture of the base of the skull accidentally and by misadventure sustained through an aeroplane crashing at Furse Park field, Luscott Farm in the parish of Ashford in the county of Devon, on the 25th April, 1941


Confirm Proudman was killed in this accident, he lived just over a day before passing away

[Graham Moore]

After much detective work, I now have the names of the crew for CCN Bailey, William Augustus Hughes-Hughes, Michael Duncan Young and Herbert Reginald Stillman, who all survived the accident for L4458
A group of us is going to visit the crash site tomorrow, advised by a local farmer
I have already been in touch with Stillman's daughter

[jonheyworth]

Desmond Edward Thomas Cotterell 625938 and

John Francis Foxall 949168 and

Gordon Alfred Taylor 933298

Were all reported missing during the fall of Greece

[jonheyworth]

Clifford Wilsson Brant 1152623 , attached to 260 AMES, died in Number 19 General hospital of typhoid fever

[jonheyworth]

William George Craddock 505535 , attached to Number 2 BGS, was admitted to the Conishhead Priory EMS hospital, Ulverston where he died the same day of a perforated gastric ulcer