1943 Unaccounted Airmen Database Reconciliation

**Jagan** · 17th April 2020, 01:42

Time to start the 1943 thread. I am in a better position with this one - with 90% accounted for..

There are 29783 airmen/women recorded in CWGC for 1943

26835 (90.10%) are accounted for with some details on circumstance of death
2948 records (9.90%) are unaccounted with no cause of death.

The month wise distribution of Unaccounted:

Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1943

Some Unaccounted Queries by Region:

Europe: 967
SEAC: 551
Pacific: 422
N Africa: 433
Rest of Africa: 261
Mediterranean: 176
USA / Canada / N America : 90

Runnymede returns 24 records Unaccounted
Singapore Memorial has 42

By Force : RCAF : 90 RAAF : 326 RNZAF: 135 SAAF: 115 RIAF: 119

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 10:52

Air Sergeant John Hugh Munro MACKENZIE (96034) SAAF 1943-01-03 South Africa Cape Town (Maitland) Cremation

Heart failure according to Death Certificate on familysearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61...554&cc=2517051

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 11:16

Leading Air Mechanic Aron MARCUS (237579) SAAF 1943-01-08 South Africa Johannesburg (West Park) Cemet

Died in Baragwanath Hospital Johannesburg of Sub-acute Lung Abscesses - According to Death Notice and Death Cert on FamilySearch

**wwrsimon** · 17th April 2020, 11:18

Jagan

A start on the Canadian casualties:

Flight Sergeant Daniel Archibald BRAND (R/119996) - Nothing in his R.C.A.F Service File apart from 'killed during air ops' but Henk had him in Beaufort L9828: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-1943-19430120

Leading Aircraftwoman Olive Goddard WALSH (W/301792) - her RCAF service file records that she died at Deer Lodge Hospital, Winnipeg due to carcinoma of the breast.

Aircraftman 2nd Class Walter Francis O'CONNELL (R/135869) - his RCAF service file records that he died after being discharged as physically unfit for duty. He had been in Christie Street Hospital, Toronto being treated for sarcomatosis of the left loin, having been admitted on October 8th 1942 suffering from influenza. He was disharged from hospital on January 22nd 1943, and the record states "this man's relatives have been warned that transferring him from the hospital may be fatal. They were told in November that the outlook in his case was hopeless...in spite of the warning, this boy's people are determined to take him home and he was discharged today [22.1.43]."
The Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that he died at Babylon, New York, due to general Carcinomatosis, death due to service.

Corporal Joseph Ernest Gabriel MARTEL (R/96673) - his RCAF service file records that he died post-discharge, having been discharged on medical grounds. No further details.

CorporalLionel GREGORY-ALLEN (R/87988) - his RCAF service file records that he died post-discharge, having been discharged on medical grounds. The Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that he died at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver due to chronic tonsillitis and coronary thrombosis. Death was due to service.

Leading Aircraftman Harvey Franklin LAWRENCE (R/109424) - his RCAF service file includes a death certificate which records that he died at Colonel Belcher Hospital, Calgary, death being due to haemorrhage and sarcoma, right maxilla.

Aircraftman 2nd Class Arnold Leo GALENZOSKI (R/167756) - his RCAF service file records that he died post-discharge, after being discharged as physically unfit for duty. The Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that he died at Christie Street Hospital, Toronto due to acute myocarditis and pericarditis. Death due to service.

Leading Aircraftwoman Isabel Luella YOUNG (W/306370) - her RCAF service file records that she died at the Royla Victoria Hospital, Montreal, due to lateral pneumonia.

Aircraftman 2nd Class Walter Edward SIVIER (R/83161) - his RCAF service file records that he died at Windsor, Ontario, due to bilateral bronchiecstasis. He had been admitted to the Riverdal Isolation Hospital on February 3rd, diagnosed with scarlet fever with bronchial pneumonia.

Corporal Ralph Stanley BEZANSON (R/65370) - his RCAF service file records that he died at Camphill Hospital, Halifax due to natural causes. The Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that death was due to cancer of the liver.

Sergeant Ervin Earl GRISSOM (R/137479) - his RCAF service file records that he died as the result of a flying accident, about half a mile east of Boundary Bay whilst taking part in formation training.
Hurricane 5387 - see: https://bcatp.wordpress.com/2014/03/...-earl-grissom/

Leading Aircraftman George Charles ADY (R/109016) - his RCAF service file records that he died at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver due a ruptured pancreas and oesophagus. He had been injured on April 5th 1943 when pinned to frame of a truck by the truck's dump-box [a tipper truck?].

I'll have a look at some more later on...

Regards

Simon

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 12:03

Leading Air Mechanic Douglas Thompson Stanley JACOBS (186653) SAAF 1943-01-16 South Africa Johannesburg (West Park) Cemet

Died of Gastric Carcinoma - in Military Hospital in Johannesburg - According to Death Cert

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 12:35

Corporal Joseph Ernest Gabriel MARTEL (R/96673) - his RCAF service file records that he died post-discharge, having been discharged on medical grounds. No further details.

Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948 for Joseph E G Martel provides more info

Shows he died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Death Due to Service - Which was hinted at in his Service File as he was hospitalized for in in 1941

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 14:27

Leading Aircraftman Ronald Geoffrey (Ron) ABSALOM (1322171) RAF 1943-01-17 South Africa Port Alfred (Settlers') Cemete

Death Cert: Accidental Drowning at West Beach, Port Alfred, Bathurst

**wwrsimon** · 17th April 2020, 14:29

Thanks Paul.

Continuing with the R.C.A.F. casualties:

Sergeant Robert Charles COLLINS (R 132987) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in Hurricane P3161 of 56 O.T.U. The file includes an accident report and accounts from several witnesses. He was taking part in formation flying and to identify and make dummy attacks on gun positions near Forfar. He was under orders not to go under 150 feet, but was seen to fly at ground level whilst approaching a gun postion. His wingtip hit the ground and the Hurricane was totally destroyed. It is thought he may have misjudged his approach to the gun position due to rising ground and a strong crosswind.

Leading Aircraftman James Edward CURTIS (R/131242) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died as the result of a fractured skull, the result of an accident in service transport whilst not on duty. He was admitted to the General Hospital, Aberystwyth where he died.
There was a Court of Inquiry, held at R.A.F. Castle Mawr on February 27th 1943, which found that the R.A.F. vehicle in which he was a passenger collided with an Army lorry on a narrow part of the road at Mill Street, Aberystwyth. L.A.C. Curtis was injured by the offside forward end of the Army lorry, which struck the canvas cover of the rear of the R.A.F. vehicle, injuring L.A.C. Curtis.

Flight Sergeant Colin Alexander James GORDON (R/105170) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at Garlands E.M.S. Hospital Carlisle, due to chronic nephritis, complicated by pneumonia. He was attached to 6 (C) O.T.U.

Leading Aircraftman Guy Weldon INMAN (R/138351) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at No.7 Canadian General Hospital, Marsden Green, Birmingham, due to pulmonary TB.

Flight Lieutenant William Harris SCOTLAND (C/3789) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed by a land mine while on duty, six miles north of Gabes, Tunisia. He was serving with 211 Group (H.Q. R.A.F. M.E.), and was initially buried near where he was killed, at the junction of Methonia Road with Sfax Sakes Rd.

Aircraftman 2nd Class Herbert Chipman AMERO (R/201545) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at Montreal General Hospital due to lobar pneumonia.

Leading Aircraftman John Albert JOHNSTON (R/145431) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in a flying accident in Harvard FE587 of 1 S.F.T.S. at 18.30 hours at Christian Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario. He was the sole occupant of the Harvard.

Pilot Officer Joseph Raymond GAUDET (J/17020) - his R.C.A.F. Service File includes a memo from No. 5 M.R.E.U. dated June 16th 1948, which records that he was lost in Wellington VIII LB115 of 221 squadron, which left luqa at approximately 21.56 on April 18th 1943 on a mission to search for enemy shipping in the Maritimo area. A sighting and attack report was received at 00.30 but no further news was received. Crew as follows:
100635 F/Lt. Fraser, R. I.
656962 Sgt. Millar, B. W.
J17020 P/O Goudet, J. R.
627726 Sgt. Scott, W.
R54802 Sgt. Hurley, C. D. R.
1073134 Sgt. Morton, W.

Pilot Officer Forbes ROBERTSON (J/17881) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was accidentally killed during air operations while serving with 12 U.S. Medium Bombardment Group, Advanced Detachment.

From this site: https://legionmagazine.com/en/2013/0...force-part-56/

'The USAAF began operating Mitchells in North Africa late in 1942. In a relatively informal theatre of war, Commonwealth personnel, including several RCAF crewmen, were loaned freely to American units. USAAF crews, unfamiliar with RAF signals procedures, welcomed Canadian radio operators to avoid “friendly fire” incidents with British anti-aircraft gunners.
Among these was Pilot Officer Forbes Robertson of Saskatoon. He went overseas as a wireless air gunner in October 1941, and had further training in Britain and Egypt before being attached to the 12th United States Medium Bombardment Group in December 1942. Robertson flew at least 22 missions with that formation and was awarded the American Air Medal before losing his life on April 29, 1943. He was aboard a bomber returning from a sortie which still had a live bomb on board. Upon landing, the weapon fell off and exploded.'

Leading Aircraftman Lee Khaim MARLOWE (R/145435) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed when Anson 6689 of No. 10 Air Observer School force-landed in a river near Bathurst, New Brunswick. He survived the crash landing, but was drowned when the dinghy filled with water and overturned.

Pilot Officer Horace Burpee TUCKER (C/21648) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at E.M.S. Hospital Winwick, Warrington, due to injuries sustained after accidentally falling from a window at his billet in Meliden Road, Prestatyn on the evening of April 24th 1943.
A witness from the floor below heard a noise above, then a thud, at around 1.15 a.m. Tucker was found lying on the ground under this room's window, suffering from a fractured skull and chest injuries. He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl, and transferred to Warrington on April 25th.

Regards

Simon

**paulmcmillan** · 17th April 2020, 14:33

Flight Lieutenant Leonard Guy DENNISS (78760) Flying Inst RAF 1943-01-19 South Africa Potchefstroom Cemetery

Death Cert says Died of multiple injuries and burns as a result of Aeroplane Crash