1943 Unaccounted Airmen Database Reconciliation

[paulmcmillan]

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.



Plane was with 434th Bomb Squadron

2nd Lt Paul John Gruesser Pilot
Injured while landing an airplane with unreleased bomb hanging from Wing April 29th 1943 at SFAX Air Base
Tunisia

A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945

This allowed me to find out in was B-25C 41-13190

[wwrsimon]

Many thanks for the info on the B-25 Paul, much appreciated.

Simon

[paulmcmillan]

I suspect another casualty of the B-25C 41-13190 is


O-439712 Edison W Ditzel 2L NY 29 4 1943 Army Air Corps


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...dison-w-ditzel

[wwrsimon]

Next batch of R.C.A.F. casualties:

Sergeant Lewis Edgar EAMES (R/53235) - the Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that he died at Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, due to myocarditis and hypertension with arterio-scleroris. Death was due to service.

Flying Officer Gerald James BUTLER (J/15234) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died in a boating accident in Findhorn Bay, Scotland. He and W/O Cook from New Zealand were drowned when their boat capsized.

I'm thinking W/O Cook would be: Warrant Officer Arthur Ronald CUNNOLD-COOK (404338)

Flying Officer Russell Melvin REISNER (J/20215) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died in Halifax DK122 which crashed near Fordingbridge, Hampshire on a non-operational 10 hour glider tow. It had taken off from Holmsley South at 12.57 towing glider DP382 [Horsa I]. The Pilot told the glider to cast off, and the Halifax crashed at 13.07 one and a half miles from where the glider had been released. Cause suspected to be engine failure.
Crew as follows:
Pilot - F/O E. B. Blackburn 119302 - injured
Second Pilot - F/O R. M. Reisner J. 20215 - injured, died of injuries
Nav - F/O F. Hilton 118642 - killed
W/Op - Sgt. F. W. Wilson - killed
AG - Sgt. W. Seager 755660 - unhurt
F/Eng - Sgt. P. J. Phipps 941330 - killed

Leading Aircraftman Wyndham WILLIAMS (R/153843) - the Canada War Graves Register (Circumstances of Death) records that he died at Christie Street Hospital, Toronto, due to acute cerebral oedema. Death due to service.

Pilot Officer Kenneth FORD (J/25381) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died in Harvard PE553 of the Flying Instructors School, Trenton, which crashed at 16.25 on the farm of Gordon Chase, Lot 9, Concession 18, Murray Township, County of Hastings, Ontario on the south bank of the Trent River, 10 miles from Trenton.

Warrant Officer Class I Robert Bertram HODGES (R/79680) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he lost his life due to enemy action at Korba North, Tunisia. No further details, and nothing in the ORB as far as I can see.

Leading Aircraftman John Arthur HOLGATE (R/184765) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at Hagersville, Ontario on June 18th (not June 8th as per his CWGC entry), due to injuries sustained on June 15th in a flying accident three miles east of Willow Grove involving Anson II 7339 of 1 B&GS at 18.30 hours.

Aircraftman 2nd Class Robert Lindsay MAIN (R/194809) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at University Hospital, Emonton, Alberta, due to lobar pneumonia and kidney complications.

Flying Officer Douglas WILLIAMS (J/15206) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died as the result of a flying accident involving Tiger Moth X5045 of 1480 Flight which crashed at Stormont, near Belfast at 3.45 p.m.

Flying Officer Thomas Howard RENNIE (C/7946) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at No. 5 General Hospital, Zerizer, near Bone, Algeria due to septicaemia and general peritonitis as the result of appendicitis, and that he was serving with AMES 897.

Aircraftman 2nd ClassHarry SOLTYS (R/191105) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at No.2 Manning Depot Station Hospital, Brandon, Manitoba due to myo-cardial failure.

I'll take a look at some more tomorrow...

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Just a quick one, with a query:

Pilot Officer Robert McGHIE (J/28074) - oddly I can't find his R.C.A.F. Service File on ancestry.com, despite excerpts from it being on the CVWM website:

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remem...obert%20McGhie

However, I did find his card on the 'Province of Ontario - Certificate of Registration of Deaths', which records that he was presumed killed during air operations, and that death occurred 'between Isle of man and Anglesey.' No unit listed, however.

Is he another casualty in Anson N5373 as mentioned on his findagrave entry?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/.../robert-mcghie

See also:

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=N5373

https://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/5...-anson-i-n5373

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Carrying on with the R.C.A.F. casualties, here are the next 10:

Flying Officer John Clark FRASER (J/21759) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at Charing Cross hospital due to severe head injuries as the result of falling from a window at the Regents Palace Hotel, London at 00.20 hours, while on leave from 301 F.T.U., R.A.F. Lyneham.

Warrant Officer George Robert ACHESON (R/82633) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died as the result of a non-operational flying accident. He was the observer in a Boston of 114 Sqn. The O.R.B. Form 540 record that Boston 'S' of B Flight crashed in the hills to the south of the airfield after an engine had cut out, killing Acheson and seriously injuring the pilot, Sgt. Keep, and injuring the gunners. The O.R.B. Form 541 has W8287 'S' but W8287 was lost on September 4/5 1943...?

Warrant Officer Class II Francois Gabriel MAHEU (R/55910) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was reported missing after Wellington X MS492 crashed at sea on the night of 28/29 June 1943. It had been hit by flak over Sicily, which punctured the fuel tanks. Crew as follows:
Pilot - R.722114 A/W/O Junker, J. N. - safe
W/Op/AG - R.114515 T/Sgt McMillan, D. K. - safe
B/A - R142250 T/Sgt Saunders, V. A. - safe
A/G - R.55910 T/W/O II Maheu, F. G. - presumed lost at sea
Nav - J.12981 T/F/O Fairely - safe
The four survivors climbed into the dinghy, but did not see any trace of Maheu.

Flying Officer Richard Michael Hastings PURDON (J/16351) - Typhoon EJ961 QO-H
See: https://www.thetyphoonproject.org/ra...gs-Purdon.html

Flight Lieutenant William Wilson COLLEDGE D.F.C. (J/8207) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in Oxford I X6858 of No.3 F.I.S. which crashed bewtween 10.15 and 11.00 at Bishops Wood, approx. 1 mile south of Wickwar, Glos. Also killed was Aus.408168 F/O K. Munro D.F.C. and Bar. It was thought the Oxford struck some trees whilst flying at low level, causing a loss of control. It had been authorised for low flying, but not below 250 feet.
Munro: https://highgate-rsl.org.au/afcraaf-...enneth-408168/

Aircraftman 2nd Class Orville Alvin LAMONT (R/258908) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died due to heat exhaustion while on a sports parade at Brandon. He had passed out while taking part in a softball game at 18th Street Parade Ground, and was taken to Brandon General Hospital where he died a couple of hours later.

Warrant Officer Class II Charles Edward BAKE (R/109772) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in a flying accident near Piarco, Trinidad on a ferry flight with No. 45 (Atlantic Transport) Group. No further details.

However, I see from the CWGC website that there was another casualty that day from 45 Group, buried in the same cemetery:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...rton,-richard/

He is recorded as being killed in Baltimore IIIa FA137, so perhaps Bake is another casualty?

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=FA137

Leading Aircraftman Walter Edward FRENCH (R/170751) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at No. 8 Radio School, R.A.F. Cranwell, due to meningococcal septicaemia.

Flying Officer Harry Alan TRELOAR (C/8503) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in a motor accident when the Jeep in which he was a passenger left the road and landed in a ditch near Maison Bridge Road, Redhill, Surrey.

Pilot Officer Glen William MONKS (J/23318) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in Cessna Crane 7777 which crashed at 22.00 about seven miles S.W. of 10 S.F.T.S., Dauphin, Manitoba. It collided with Crane 8665, flown by Pilot Officer B.B. Kersey (AUS410811), who was also killed.
See also: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...n-19-July-1943

Regards

Simon

[wwrsimon]

Next ten R.C.A.F. ones:

Flying Officer Edward Griffin MEADE (J/7586) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in Nomad 3498, which crashed about nine miles west of No.9 B&GS, Mont Joli, Quebec. Also killed was R/121554 Cpl. John Edward Vasilieff.
See also: http://aircrewremembered.com/meade-edward-griffin.html

Sergeant Glen Edwin ROZELL (R/107240) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was posted missing in a Boston on an armed reconnaissance mission over Sicily, and his body was recovered near Masseria.
The ORB Form 541 has him missing in Boston AL747 on the night of July 17/18 1943, not July 21st. Crew as follows:
F/S O'Hara [415176 Bernard Aloysius O'Hara, R.A.A.F.]
Sgt. R. H. Halliday [2714V C. A. Halliday, S.A.A.F.]
Sgt. Kincaid [1080458 Clifford Kincaid]
Sgt. G. E. Rozell

Leading Aircraftman Robert Monteith COSH (R/197913) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died post-discharge at Toronto due to tuberculous meningitis and pulmonary TB.

Flying Officer Victor HNIDAN (J/20877) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was serving with 42 O.T.U., and was killed in a flying accident off Fishguard. The Whitley was on a night cross-country flight and was seen by the coastguard caught in the beam of a searchlight and to crash into the sea and explode whilste trying evade the light. No further details of the ID of the Whitley in question.

Flying Officer Leonard Thomas Joseph KELLY (J/17885) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was a member of the crew of a U.S.A.A.F. B-25D of the 81st Bomb Group which was lost on a mission to attack Ponte Olivio, Sicily. Witnesses saw the aircraft hit by flak and two parachutes were seen to open.
B-25D 41-29693
Other crew as follows:
Pilot - 1st Lt. James D. Boston 0-725488 [P.o.W]
Co-pilot - 2nd Lt. Donald E. Williams 798625 [P.o.W]
Navigator - 1st Lt. Keith S. Callahan 0-659037 [KIA]
Gunner - Sgt. Joseph F. Cashman 31080950 [KIA]

Corporal Robert Andrew McMASTER (R/86951) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was accidentally killed when he ran into a service pedestrian on his bicycle near Croft, suffering a fractured skull and broken jaw.

Leading Aircraftman Charles Ernest MARTELL (R/104349) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died due to diptheria at R.A.F. Ford.

Flight Lieutenant Allison George TATTON (J/15699) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was one of those killed in Wellington MP622, which collided with a Halifax near New Milton while returning from being diverted to Beaulieu after operations. The Wellington had just taken off to return to Chivenor, cloud base 1,000 feet, and it collided with the Halifax which was circling Holmsley to land.
See also: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=MP622

Flight Lieutenant John BROWNLEE (C/5894) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died due to asphyxiation (carbon monoxide gas poisoning, self-administered). The inquest into his death was reported in the Gloucester Citizen of August 30th 1943. His body was found in a gas-filled room at a guest house in Kensington, London. The verdict was that he took his life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

Warrant Officer Class II John Daniel RUBINSTEIN (R/117674) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he died at the R.A.F. Hospital, Benghazi, due to poliomyelitis.

Regards

Simon

[Jagan]

Thanks Simon and Paul.

And also a big thanks to Andrew Curtis for working on the Pacific Sector entries. Which are now down to 87

[paulmcmillan]

Warrant Officer Class I Robert Bertram HODGES (R/79680) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he lost his life due to enemy action at Korba North, Tunisia. No further details, and nothing in the ORB as far as I can see. - Killed 07/07/1943 - Maybe linked to

History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945. Volume 4:

Monday, 7 June 1943
Early in the morning 15 FW 190's of III./SKG 10 led by Lt. Herbert Eissele and another 16
from II./ SchG 2 led by Hptm Dörnbrack attacked airfields in Tunisia,
both units raiding Korba North airfield. Three pilots and 20 ground crew of the
31st Fighter Group were wounded and one man killed; six of the unit's Spitfires were damaged on the
ground. The Luftwaffe ...

[paulmcmillan]

Warrant Officer Class II Charles Edward BAKE (R/109772) - his R.C.A.F. Service File records that he was killed in a flying accident near Piarco, Trinidad on a ferry flight with No. 45 (Atlantic Transport) Group. No further details.

Ocean bridge: the history of R.A.F. Ferry Command
Carl Andrew Christie, F. J. Hatch
Confirms Bake

1 July 43 Baltimore FA137 Sgt Richard Alderton, RAF Pilot Sgt Charles Edward Bake RCAF RO,
Crashed during Landing at Piarco, Trinidad, navigator survived