430418 - Unaccounted airmen - 18-4-1943

[Henk Welting]

A - What was the place of death registration of Sgt Edward M. PHILPOTT - 523909, who died on active service.

B - Looking for the GRO-listing of LAC Albert BRIGGS - 1104265 - age 25 - DOAS, who lies buried in the Medjez-el-Bab War Cem., Tunisia.

C - Also looking for the unit and possible cause of death of Sgt Leonard E. SMEDLEY - 1208507, missing and his name commemorated on Panel 165 of the Runnymede Memorial.

D - Proposed aircraft losses for this day:
Defiant I - N1630 - 10 AGS - overshot landing Barrow.
Beaufighter VI - X8087 - 9 (C)OTU - crashed in forced landing near Leither Bridge, Cumberland.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Philpott,28, registered at Redruth, Cornwall
Regards
Dick

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Henk

Briggs - No 15 Wireless Unit
Smedley - RAF Hurn

Malcolm

[dennis_burke]

Sgt L E Smedley turns up in Flight magazine thusly
Missing July 1st 1943 magazine
Previously reported missing now beleived killed in Action. March 9th magazine

So Hurn and Killed in Action?

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of F/Sgt Robert H. MALCOLM - RAAF 407718 - probably from 11 Sqn (Feni, India) and buried Maynamati War Cem., Bangladesh. NAA-file not digitized.
Regards and thanks,
Henk.

[dennis_burke]

Nominall Roll does list 11 Squadron.

his name is listed DOAS on July 1st 1943 Fligth magazine.

[Henk Welting]

Please ignore this thread; my failure. Was Malcolm R. HAYDON - RAAF 407718, who walked into a rotating propeller and was killed. Apologize inconvenience.
Regards,
Henk.


What caused the death of F/Sgt Robert H. MALCOLM - RAAF 407718 - probably from 11 Sqn (Feni, India) and buried Maynamati War Cem., Bangladesh. NAA-file not digitized.
Regards and thanks,
Henk.

[COL BRUGGY]

Henk,

Re: AUS407718 F/Sgt Robert Haydon MALCOLM RAAF.

On the 18th (April 1943), the Blenheims of No.11 Squadron at Feni were being moved into their blast pens when Flight Sergeant R.H.Malcolm, navigator to F/Sgt P.N.Ewing (AUS406523), walked into a whirling propellor and was killed.

See:
Hurricanes Over The Arakan.
Franks,Norman L R
Wellingborough:P.S.L.,1989
P.192

Malcolm originally buried Feni Military Cemetery, Row I. Grave 18. Reburied Maynamati War Cemetery, Comilla, Pakistan 23.1.1946. Now located in Bangladesh.

Col.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk

No.9 (C)OTU ORB records no accident on 18th and states Bad weather all day, night flying cancelled, but on 19th has:

Sgt Regan and Sgt Smith in Beaufighter X8087 force landed owing to inability to maintain height. Aircraft written off Pilot and Nav seriously injured - in City & General Hospital.

Regards
Ross

[Henk Welting]

Thanks again Ross. Will add this to my files.
Regards,
Henk.

[davew]

Has anyone discovered the location of 'Leither Bridge'?

DaveW

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Dave


It is a corruption of River Leith and Bridge.


There are numerous such bridges as the river winds round the Lowther estate so the exact location is not defined.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Leith


Regards
Ross

[jonheyworth]

David Mitchell Dimmer 647635 , attached to Number 2 FRD, died of poliomyelitis

[jonheyworth]

Edward Montague Phillpott 523909 , attached to RAF Portreath, was found found dead on the Portreath to Redruth Road