1940 Unaccounted Airmen Database Reconciliation

[dennis_burke]

Jumping on, AC2 Samuel Sidlin is listed on GRO as RAF Stn, Biggin Hill,
But we discussed him before: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1352

[dennis_burke]

Aircraftman 2nd Class Thomas Peter KIRK (1065757)
Since he has a high panel number on Runnymede, I would take it that he was a lost burial, not found post war by CWGC.

He is not on the GRO RAF overseas list as I expect he was returned to family and they never got back in touch with the CWGC.

Cannot find his death in England/Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, using both Thomas and Peter as first names, tho I see Henk had suggested it might be 20 yr old , "Thomas Kirk", no middle initial, registered in Blackpool district.

[Jagan]

Thanks Dennis, i have been making some updates in real time based on your posts... the 1940 unaccounted have been whittled down slightly to 1241 now.

I havent processed Henks list yet, but it should fetch me a couple of hundred or more from which a cause of death can be ascertained. I will import that into the forum into this thread and provide links to the same.

If they are listed simply as "Died on Active Service" .. or "Death Registered in xxxx" with no cause of death, then I am not linking them.

[wwrsimon]

Hello

Aircraftman 2nd Class William Meston WOOD (635600):

From the Berwickshire News and General Advertiser, January 16th 1940:

BERWICK AIR GUNNER KILLED
Collision With Lorry During Black-Out
Cycling along a dark road to rejoin his unit, William Meston Wood, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wood, of 59, St. Aidan’s Road, Berwick, came into collision with a lorry.
He was severely injured, and died after removal to hospital. His parents received word on Friday that he was seriously ill and that he had died on Sunday.
Wood was 19 years of age and would have reached his 20th birthday next month. He had been in Cambridgeshire. He joined the Royal Air Force 11 months ago and was an air gunner.
The funeral is to take place on Wednesday, when full military honours will be accorded.

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

And another:

Pilot Officer Anthony BRYAN-SMITH (76003) - Hampden L4043. From http://bomberhistory.co.uk/49squadro...anSmith_A.html

S/Ldr Lowe reported the following:
"We did not lay our mines due to bad weather which rapidly deteriorated on the way home. I was having trouble with all my flying instruments but the compass and turn and bank indicators were still working. Eventually we managed to make contact with Hemswell and they gave us a bearing which proved to be inaccurate. Shortly after crossing the coast an aerodrome was sighted flashing a red 'D'. We were unable to get a response so decided to send an 'SOS' on the Aldis lamp... again nothing happened... we then fired a red Very light and this time searchlights came on to the north of us." S/Ldr Lowe made for the searchlights with the intention of being 'brought in' by them. One engine then packed up but they managed to maintain height on one. When this engine started to spit and cough the captain offered his crew the option to bale out... none wished to jump. The aircraft was rapidly becoming uncontrollable and the captain decided to force land on the coastline; the pilot continues:
"I instructed the crew to collect in the compartment behind the pilot’s seat. I held off as long as possible but the aircraft swung violently towards the cliffs and rocks below. I managed to correct this slightly, but not enough to clear a line of rocks running out into the sea. When I was holding off and practically stalling, I pulled the nose up and landed on a tail slide with very little speed."
P/O Anthony Bryan-Smith was attempting to join the other two members of the crew amidships when the aircraft landed. He was only half-way through the rear door and was killed instantaneously. The navigator, P/O Beauchamp received slight cuts on the hand, the W/Op, AC1 Appleton bumped his head and was slightly concussed and the pilot escaped with a cut lip.
The Hampden crashed at about 04.00hrs near Ryhope, south of Sunderland.

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Hello again

Corporal James Mackenzie CLAVERING (528648):

CLAVERING, James MacKenzie, Cpl. (528848) [sic].
Joined in Feb./36, but was KIA on April 18/40 at Church Fenton. He was hit while the Hurricanes were test firing their machine guns. Although raised in Canada, his parents went back to Ashington, Northumberland and his wife was in Leeds.

See: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...9-One-for-Henk

Regards

Simon

[Jagan]

Moved all the 1939 related posts to http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...Reconciliation

[wwrsimon]

Aircraftman 1st Class Albert QUINCEY (651827):

The Berks and Oxon Advertiser, May 17th 1940:

INQUEST AT BENSON
The Coroner for South Oxon (Mr. A. Lett) held an inquest on Friday last on aircraftman Albert Quincey, who was drowned while bathing in the Thames the previous evening.
It was stated that deceased, with three other men, were bathing between Benson and Shillingford when he got into difficulties. He went under, and on coming to the surface, was seized by his companion. He struggled, however, and his companion becoming exhausted had to let go and Quincey sank.
Other R.A.F. men hurried to the spot and dived in fully dressed. Later a medical officer arrived and he too, fully dressed, dived in and recovered the body from the mud at the bottom of the river. Artificial respiration was unsuccessful.
A verdict of Accidental drowning was returned.


Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Aircraftman 2nd Class Stanley Holbrook DOCKING (983581):

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle, May 27th 1940:

Tragic Death of Former United Player
Stanley Holbrook Docking (25) of 66, Plessey Crescent, Whitley Bay, formerly a member of Newcastle United F.C., died in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, early today, apparently from the effects of disinfectant poisoning. Docking was an aircraftman in the R.A.F.
A native of Chopwell, Stanley Docking played for the colliery club of his native village before joining the Birtley team. In the 1933-34 season he had a few games with Newcastle United ‘A’ as an amateur.
After the practice matches of 1934 he was signed as a professional by the Newcastle club on August 17 of that year.
A weighty inside left, he had many appearances with Newcastle’s first team before being transferred in May, 1938, to Tranmere Rovers, with whom he stayed to the outbreak of the war.

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Aircraftman 2nd Class Anthony Foreman MOSS (552152):

Moss was killed when a taxiing Wellington hit him with its prop. R3161 was returning from a raid on road centres at Soissons and Laferre. 10 aircraft on the raid, one lost and 552152 AC2 Moss was struck when aircraft was being taxiied back to the dispersal point by Sqn Ldr P.I. Harris DFC. A/C landed at 0910 hrs on the 11th, accident followed shortly after.

Regards

Simon