410823 - Unaccounted airmen - 23-8-1941

[Henk Welting]

What were the places of death registration for:

LAC Samuel BALLANCE - 636996 - 40 Sqn (Alconbury, Hunntingdonshire), and
Sgt (Airgunner) Alan THOMPSON - 1379144.

No proposed aircraft serial lost this day..
Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Henk,

'Appendix C - Deaths or Injuries from other causes.

23 August 1941.

LAC S Ballance - Killed.

Road accident outside Alconbury Aerodrome. LAC Ballance is buried in Great Walsingham, Norfolk'.

See: Sweeping the Skies
Gunby,David
Durham:Pentland Press,1995.
p.388

Col.

[dennis_burke]

There is a Samuel E Ballance age 29 in Huntingdon district. And Flight have him Died on Active Service.

Can't see an Alan Thompson on the England Wales register for Q3, maybe Scotland. Flight possibly has him listed as

Missing believed Killed on Active Service (While Engaged on Non Operational Flying Duties or on the Ground through Enemy Action). He would seem to be the only Sgt Alan Thompson killed that year. That was the November 6th 1941 Flight magazine. In the January 15th 1942 issue I think he is confirmed Killed on active service. I don't see a 30 year old Alan Thompson in the England wales register in Q4 or Q1 1942.

Dennis

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Col and Dennis for your help.
Regards,
Henk.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk

Sgt Alan Thompson was onboard Wellington R1622 of No.20 OTU.

Regards
Ross

[Henk Welting]

Hello Ross,
Thanks for waking me up ! He indeed was in Chorley's Vol.7 on page 68. Apparently didn't delete his name from the 'unaccounted' list; have to check better; sorry for the inconvenience.
Regards,
Henk.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Henk,

Re: 1379144 Alan THOMPSON.

Whilst the A705 of AUS402661 Richard Lyle KILLEN RAAF, is presently undigitised, in the meantime , the A705 (NAA: 163/126/46 p.69 of 97) of AUS404104 John Franklin JAMES RAAF, provides the following incidental information :-

'Confirmation received AUS/ 402661 Sergeant Killen R.L. body recovered near Helmsdale on or about 26/11 taken to RAF Station Evanton. Obtaining and will forward further details of above and as to burial'.

Col.

[Henk Welting]

That's interesting Col ! KILLEN died 23-"8"-1941 where JAMES (404104) died 13-"6"-1941; he lies buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) Gen. Cemetery.
Regards,
Henk.

[COL BRUGGY]

No direct connection between deaths of AUS402661 Killen and AUS404104 James(other than both members of the RAAF).

Killen only mentioned (in signal, dated 1/12) incidentally, in James' A705

Col.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Col for clarification.
Regards,
Henk.

[xrayx]

Hello,

I'm researching the crash of Whitley Z6489 of which John Franklin James, 404104 was a crew member.

DO you have more info on him pherhaps?

Thanx

Ray

[dennis_burke]

have you seen his digitised service record and casualty files on the australian national archvies?

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=1058010

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=5539171

Not sure that those links will work but go to their Record search function and search for his serial number.

Dennis

[xrayx]

THis is good information, Thanx!

The rest of the crew were british RAF members. Is it possible to get this kind of info on them too?

Ray