391206 - Unaccounted Airmen - 06-12-1939

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

391206 - Unaccounted Airmen - 06-12-1939

From Henk's List -

UK
WILSON, Herbert - AC2c - 617452 - RAF - 7 Sqn.
Sunderland ( Ryhope Road ) Cemetery, Durham.

From CWGC -

AUSTRALIA
NORBURY, Ralph Vardon - Cadet - RAAF.
Williamstown General Cemetery, Victoria, Australia.
[ Wapiti II - A5-35 ].

FRANCE
SKINNER, Malcolm Phillips - F/Lt(Pilot) - 33286 - RAF - 13 Sqn.
WHITEHEAD, Edward - Lac( A/G) - 567873 - RAF - 13 Sqn.
These two airmen rest at Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
[ Lysander II - L4763 - 13 Sqn ].

UK
BAGLEY, John Charles - Lac - 528459 - RAF - 206 Sqn.
COCKAYNE, Harold John - Cpl - 550939 - RAF - 206 Sqn.
GRIMES, John Henry - P/O - 41237 - RAF - 206 Sqn.
MACMILLAN, Victor Donald - Sgt - 526547 - RAF - 206 Sqn.
These four airmen are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
They were crew of Anson I - K6189 - 206 Sqn.
ROEDEL, Emil - GAF.
Great Bircham ( St. Mary ) Churchyard, Norfolk.
ULLMANN, Karl - GAF.
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.

Alex

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Wilson - He was serving with No 7 Sqn, and was killed in an accident, but nothing is recorded in the ORB, his death being registered in Aylesbury.

Malcolm

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

AUSTRALIA.

Air Cadet Ralph Vardon NORBURY RAAF.

Can confirm that Air Cadet Ralph Vardon NORBURY RAAF, of No.1 Flying Training School, Point Cook, Victoria, was killed when his Wapiti (IIA) A5-35 spun in one mile west of Laverton, at 10.35, on 6 December, 1939. Cadet Norbury was flying on the right side of a formation of three aircraft flown solo by cadets. During a gentle dive at 1,500 feet, prior to breaking formation, his aircraft executed a gentle turn to the right and was not sighted again by the other pilots until the crash occurred

At 25, Air Cadet Norbury was bit older than the usual Cadet. He had previously served as a Cadet in the Royal Australian Navy for three and a half years (1928-1931),prior to joining the RAAF. He was also a career policeman in the Queensland Police Force and the sailing writer on the Brisbane "Truth" and "Sportsman". Cadet Norbury also held a Private Pilots Licence and had married only five weeks prior to his death - he was no slouch!

Air Cadet Ralph Vardon Norbury RAAF, was reportedly an Old Boy of the Brisbane Grammar School (a "Churchie" - needs confirmation!). He is not listed on their 1939-1945 Roll of Honour, nor is he listed on the DVA Nominal Roll.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1719685

Col.

[jossleclercq]

Hello

From very old hand notes from No. 13 Squadron's ORB (AIR 27/181) :
6th December 1939, at 10 AM, HM King George VI discusses with Squadron personnel at Douai.
at 11:15, F/L Skinner and LAC Whitehead crash 2 miles South-west of Mons-en-Chaussée. LAC Whitehead is killed outright. F/L Skinner is severely wounded and taken to Mondicourt. He passes away during the night. Aircraft was a complete "write-off"
LAC Whitehead is buried on the 7th at 2:30 PM. F/L Skinner is buried on the 8th at 2:30 PM, both at Péronne.
F/L Graham takes over 'a' flight on 9th December. He will lose his life in May 1940.

Joss

[wwrsimon]

Hello

ROEDEL, Emil - GAF
ULLMANN, Karl - GAF -
[and also WODTKE, Wolfgang - GAF]

He-115 Wn. 2081 S4+BL of 3./KFG 506 - see:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159895704
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146376353
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146376352

Regards

Simon

[jonheyworth]

Herbert Wilson 617452 , attached to 7 Squadron , was injured in an Airscrew accident involving Hampden L 4138 at RAF Upper Heyford. He was admitted to RAF Hospital, Halton, but died the same day