440614 - Unaccounted Airmen - 14-6-1944

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

440614 - Unaccounted Airmen - 14-6-1944

From Henk's list -

CANADA
McNEELY, Ainslie Morrison - F/S (Air Frame Mech) - 10149 - RCAF - Norwood Protestant, Ontario, Canada.

FRANCE
CLEAR, George William - Sgt (Groundcrew) - 1109556 - RAFVR - Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France.

UK
BATES, Francklin Blakiston - Sgt - 1314157 - RAFVR - Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
GRAY, John Fraser - F/O (Radio Mech) - C/18607 - RCAF - Brookwood Military, Surrey. [ CWGC = 14/15-06-1944].
HARDING, William John - LAC - 929014 - RAFVR - Barry (Merthyr Dyfan), Glamorganshire.
HILL, William Leslie - F/S - 1178438 - RAFVR - Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
STATE, Joseph Henry - LAC - 1610100 - RAFVR - South Weald (St. Peter) New, Essex.

From CWGC & Geoff's sites -

IRAQ
ETCHELLS, George Gerald - LAC - 1547707 - RAFVR - Habbaniya, Iraq.

UK
ANKERS, Edward - Sgt (Air Bomber) - 1507990 - RAFVR - Wardley (St. Mary's) R C, Lancashire. [ Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
BACKHOUSE, Leslie - Sgt (A/G) - 2210786 - RAFVR - Tywyn Cemetery, Merionethshire. [ Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
GRAY, Ronald Frank - Sgt(Nav) - 1586855 - RAFVR - Mere, Wiltshire. [ Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
KEY, John - Sgt (A/G) - 3010600 - RAFVR - Haughton (St. Mary), Lancashire. [ Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
WAKEFIELD, Norman George - Sgt (Nav) - 1582235 - RAFVR - Birmingham (Handsworth), Warwickshire. [ Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
WICKHAM, Anthony Trelawney - F/L (Pilot) - 103011 - D F C - RAFVR - Rusper (St. Mary Magdalene), Sussex. [ Mosquito T III - HJ863 - 60 OTU ].

Alex

[Dakota]

G'day

McNeely died of natural causes on the 14th of June, 1944 while in hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was posted to R.C.A.F. Station Swift Current, Saskatchewan at the time of his death.

Cheers...Chris

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

FRANCE
CLEAR, George William - Sgt (Groundcrew) - serving with 6234 RDF.

IRAQ
ETCHELLS, George Gerald - LAC - serving with 1 Armoured Car Company.

UK
BATES, Francklin Blakiston - Sgt - probably killed whilst flying in Beaufighter VI, ND182 of No 54 OTU, which was abandoned over the North Sea following an engine failure, but he did not survive.
GRAY, John Fraser - F/O (Radio Mech) - registered in Westminster, DOAS].
HARDING, William John - LAC - registered in Bridgend.
HILL, William Leslie - F/S - see Bates.
STATE, Joseph Henry - LAC - registered in Aylesbury (RAF Hospital, Halton?).
ANKERS, Edward - Sgt (Air Bomber) - Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
BACKHOUSE, Leslie - Sgt (A/G) - Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
GRAY, Ronald Frank - Sgt(Nav) - Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
KEY, John - Sgt (A/G) - Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
WAKEFIELD, Norman George - Sgt (Nav) - Wellington X - LN172 - 11 OTU ].
WICKHAM, Anthony Trelawney - F/L (Pilot) - Mosquito T III - HJ863 - 60 OTU ].

Malcolm

[wwrsimon]

Re CLEAR 1109556 - what does RDF stand for?

Regards

Simon

[Oldduffer]

Radio Direction Finding. In this case, probably a mobile unit providing support to air forces ashore in France.

[wwrsimon]

Thanks Oldduffer.

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Hello

GRAY, John Fraser - F/O (Radio Mech) - C/18607 - his R.C.A.F. Service Record indicates the cause of death was Suicide - strangulation by hanging while off duty. His body was found at approximately 21.35 hours on June 14th at the Dominion Officers Club, 46 Grosvenor Street, London.

STATE, Joseph Henry - LAC - 1610100 - the National Probate Calendar confirms that he died at Princess Mary's Hospital, Halton.

Regards

Simon

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

I've just noticed that my original post contained an error

Clear was with No 6234 BD Flight not RDF

Malcolm

[jonheyworth]

William John Harding 929014 , attached to Number 7 AGS , was seriously injured on 13th June when his bicycle collided with a bus on the Aberthaw to Barry road near RAF Rhoose. Admitted to RAF Hospital St. Athan, where he sucummed to following day

[jonheyworth]

Ainslie Morrison McNeely 10149 , attached to number 1 CNS , died in St. James, Manitobia of ulcerative colitis and generalised peritonitis