400525 - Unaccounted Airwoman and Airmen - 25-05-1940

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AIR 81/1128 1940 Jan 01 – 1941 Dec 31
Aircraftman 2nd Class E J Bray:
report of death in action in France, 25 May 1940

Martyn




Author: Henk Welting (Guest)
Time Stamp:
14:52:00 19 October 2007
Post:
What caused the death of:


AC2 Ernest J. BRAY - 9400071 - whose name I can't find in The Times and Flight Global archives, commemorated on Panel 26 of the Runnymede Memorial, and


Sgt (Pilot) Frank E. BUCKLAND - 741093 - 54 Sqn (Spitfires - Hornchurch, Kent) - missing (Flight Global), commemorated on Panel 12 of the Runnymede Memorial.


Regards and thanks for your help.

Henk.


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: JohnE
Time Stamp:
16:18:44 19 October 2007
Post:
I have Frank Buckland in Spitfire N3096: "Missing from escorting Swordfish to Gravelines."


/john


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: mcmillan_p
Time Stamp:
16:24:32 19 October 2007
Post:
54 Sqn lost 3 Spitfires this day:


N3096

N3103

N3188


The pilots of 2 were P/O JL ALLEN (rescued) and F/Lt DG GRIBBLE (safe, returned UK by ship) - Upto now I did not have a name for the third. It looks like it is Frank Buckland


The only issue, now is who was in what Spitfire


I previously had GRIBBLE (not Buckland) in N3096

? in N3103 - So could this be Buckland or GRIBBLE ???

ALLEN in N3188


Paul




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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: Henk Welting (Guest)
Time Stamp:
17:15:20 19 October 2007
Post:
Thanks John & Paul. Perhaps another 54 Sqn 'specialist' has the answer.


Regards,

Henk.


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: DaveW
Time Stamp:
18:21:08 19 October 2007
Post:
Victor Bingham's 'Blitzed has


N3096 Buckland

N3188 Allen

N3103 Gribble


Regards


DaveW


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: Finn Buch (Guest)
Time Stamp:
18:27:40 19 October 2007
Post:
Hello Henk,


AC2 Ernest J. Bray, 9400071 - (20 ASP)


Air Stores Park?


Regards


Finn Buch


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: Henk Welting. (Guest)
Time Stamp:
09:20:14 20 October 2007
Post:
Thanks Dave & Finn.

Regards and good weekend,

Henk.


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: errol.martyn@xtra.co.nz (Guest)
Time Stamp:
09:56:28 20 October 2007
Post:
Henk/Finn,


From Air-Britain's RAF Training & Support units since 1912:


No.20 Air Stores Park

Formed 1.3.40 at HENLOW to at least 1.4.40; To Norway for 'X' Force; 1.6.40 sailed form Harstad in SS Royal Scotsman...


So Bray possibly died at sea?


Errol


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RE: 'Unaccounted' airmen 25-5-1940
Author: Henk Welting (Guest)
Time Stamp:
12:31:08 20 October 2007
Post:
Errol,

The book you refer to was delivered yesterday but had not yet been unpacked. Bray indeed may have died on board a ship and committed to the deep.

Thanks and regards,

Henk.

[jonheyworth]

Gwendolyn Mary Heard 885746 , attached to RAF Helensborough , reported sick whilst at home on leave on 26 March and was admitted to Gateshead general hospital where she died of tuberculosis

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

400525 - Unaccounted Airwoman and Airmen - 25-05-1940

From Henk's list -

WAAF
UK
HEARD, Gwendolyne Mary - ACW2c - 885746 - WAAF.
Gateshead ( Saltwell ) Cemetery, Durham, UK.
Cause of death ?

BRAY, Ernest James - AC2c - 9400071 - RAF.
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK.
Cause of death ?

From CWGC -

BELGIUM
CLEAVER, Donald Vincent - Lac(Wop) - 548680 - RAF - 21 Sqn.
KEATES, Arthur Knightley Roland - Sgt(Obs) - 528054 - RAF - 21 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Moorsele Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
They were crew of Blenheim IV - L8734 - 21 Sqn.

BENNETT, John Keith - P/O(Pilot) - 40664 - RAF - 49 Sqn.
PARSONS, George Rene Joseph - Lac(Rad/Op) - 547309 - RAF - 49 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Adegem Canadian Cemetery, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
They were crew of Hampden I - P1318 - 49 Sqn.

FRANCE
BLOOMER, Peter - Sgt - 580567 - RAF - 15 Sqn.
GORDON, James Hamilton ( Northern Ireland ) - P/O - 43157 - RAF - 15 Sqn.
HARRIMAN, Douglas Sidney - P/O - 41846 - RAF - 15 Sqn.
These three airmen rest at St. Inglevert Churchyard, Pas-de-Calais, France.
They were crew of Blenheim IV - P6913 - 15 Sqn.

HARDING, Benjamin Morgan - Cpl(Wop) - 550526 - RAF - 18 Sqn.
MILLER, Frank - Sgt(Obs) - 364705 - RAF - DFM - 18 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
They were crew of Blenheim IV - R3598 - 18 Sqn.

ALEXANDER, Jack Leslie - Sgt(Obs) - 562397 - RAF - 40 Sqn.
GOFFE, Dennis - Lac(Wop) - 551547 - RAF - 40 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Rety Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
They were crew of Blenheim IV - P4920 - 40 Sqn.

GERMANY
BAYBUTT, Thomas - Cpl(Rad/Op) - 551819 - RAF - 144 Sqn.
SMYTH, John Alexander - Sgt(Pilot) - 565748 - RAF - 144 Sqn.
WOODHOUSE, Colin - Sgt(Obs) - 526291 - RAF - 144 Sqn.
These three airmen rest at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
They were crew of Hampden I - L4172 - 144 Sqn.

UK
AUSTIN, Ronald William - Lac(A/g) - 615205 - RAF - 15 Sqn.
East Sheen Cemetery, Surrey, UK.
Blenheim IV - R3614 - 15 Sqn.

CLARK, John Taverner Wilson - First Officer (Pilot) - ATA - 3 FPP.
Yeadon Cemetery, Yorkshire, UK.
Botha I - L6160 - 3 FPP.

MAIN, George - AC2c - 632772 - RAF - 102 Sqn.
Ayr Cemetery, Ayrshire, UK.
Whitley V - N1500 - 102 Sqn.

BUTLER, Peter Saumarez - F/O - 33182 - RAF - 49 Sqn.
HARRISON, John - Sgt - 580653 - RAF - 49 Sqn.
These two airmen were crew of Hampden I - P1318 - 49 Sqn.

BUCKLAND, Frank Edwin - Sgt - 741093 - RAFVR - 54 Sqn.
Spitfire 1a - N3096 - 54 Sqn.

BUSHELL, John Merrett - P/O - 43059 - RAF - 151 Sqn.
Hurricane I - P3326 - 151 Sqn.

IVES, Frederick Allen - F/Lt - 37782 - RAF - 151 Sqn.
Hurricane I - P3319 - 151 Sqn.

The five airmen listed above are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UK.

Alex

[wwrsimon]

Alex

WAAF
UK
HEARD, Gwendolyne Mary - ACW2c - 885746 - died due to acute peritonitis and Koch's Bacillus (TB), her death being registered at Gateshead.

Regards

Simon

[Andy Marden]

Alex,
Might be worth noting that the actual loss of Whitley N1500 was on 1 May 40.
P3326 (Bushell) should read P3323.
Andy

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Bray - He was serving with No 20 ASP and is presumed to have died at sea.

Malcolm

[Alex Smart]

Hello Andy, re N1500.
Main was a crewmember and was injured. So most probably died of injuries received.
Re P3326 (Bushell), - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502207

[Andy Marden]

Hello Andy, re N1500.
Main was a crewmember and was injured. So most probably died of injuries received.
Re P3326 (Bushell), - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502207

Alex,
Yep. My point about N1500 was that someone reading the post might assume that N1500 was lost on 25 May 40, so it might be worth adding a footnote when the date of death differs to the date of the incident - entirely your call of course.
Irrespective of what the National Archives say, P3323 was the aircraft involved. P3326 does not exist.
Regards,
Andy