10 B&GS is the unit listed for McLean on the ancestry.com airmen database.
10 B&GS is the unit listed for McLean on the ancestry.com airmen database.
Dennis Burke
- Dublin
Foreign Aircrew and Aircraft Ireland 1939-1945
www.ww2irishaviation.com
From Kenley Revival Facebook page
Not all the deaths of RAF Kenley related personnel were due to enemy action. One such was the tragic death of Leading Aircraftman William Spirrell in Devon on 7 June, 1940.
A member of 615 (county of Surrey) Squadron, William was going to a party in Plymouth with his fiancée, Phyllis West, but had decided to have a swim at The Point, Turnchapel, before they went.
Phyllis described the events at the inquest, recorded in the Daily Mirror:
"He said the water was cold when he first went in and I told him not to go too far out. He did not answer and then his arms stopped moving. I shouted: All right I am coming in and jumped into the water. Just as I got hold of him, he went down. I grabbed his leg and then managed to get to a boat where I held him until help came."
A naval surgeon-commander attending the inquest said there was nothing to explain Spirrell’s sudden death. The verdict of the inquest was accidental death.
More about William John Spirrell here:
https://www.kenleyrevival.org/conten...-john-spirrell
Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.
#kenleyrevival Kenley Common
Aircraftman 1st Class Richard Sidney NAPPER (10188A) 1940-03-09 Canada Hamilton (Woodland) Cemetery
"Killed when he walked into a running propeller of an aeroplane at the Air force Station at Vancouver (prob 119th Bomber Sqn)"
I have not seen this record on Ancestry before and it provides some circumstances of death - All Canada accounted for but..... a little more detail on this - it has aircraft involved
Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948
for Richard Sidney Napper
Killed when struck by the airscrew of a Norseman No 697 on 9th March 1940 at
RACAG Station, Vancouver
Serving No. 119 (BR) Squadron
Norseman No 697 was assigned to RCAF Station Vancouver at the time.
jonheyworth (23rd June 2022)
Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948 Looks like it only covers physical burials in Canada (so no one on a memorial appears to be included)
jonheyworth (23rd June 2022)
WRONG INFO ANOTHER MAN - PLEASE CAN YOU REVERT TO UNACCOUNTED
Flight Lieutenant
Claude Henry LEGGOTT (35148) -> Leggott of R.A.F. Station Church Fenton near Tadcaster Yorkshire died 31 January 1940 at Military Hospital York following an operation
Published: Thursday 15 February 1940
Newspaper: Suffolk and Essex Free Press
1940-01-31
Killed when hit by car while riding a bicycle
COLLISION IN BLACK-OUT
... defendant's car. Sergeant-Major Robert Lake said Leggott's rear light faded and then went out. as if he had stopped. Almost at once the car collided with Leggott's cycle. , Robert Alexanoer. surgeon, said Leggott suffered a broken rib. cuts to the head and ...
Published: Friday 16 February 1940
Newspaper: Hull Daily Mail
County: Yorkshire, England
Type: Article | Words: 235 | Page: 3 | Tags: none
Last edited by paulmcmillan; 30th September 2022 at 13:55.
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