Seeking ID of 91 Sqn. RAF Pilots

[Tom Semenza]

I am looking to positively ID the following pilots who served on 91 Sqn.

F/Sgt. (later W/O) J. A. Brown (17 Jan. 44 to end of war)

F/O E. F. Clarkson (July-Aug. 42)

Sgt. (later P/O) W. W. Connolly (I believe he was RCAF - served from 6 June 41 to 08 Jan. 42 - posted to 222 Sqn.)

Sgt. J. Crowford (served from 30 Sep. 41 to 26 June 42 - posted out to Malta)

Sgt. K. Hawkins RCAF (10 June to 12 Oct. 42)

P/O A. Lemaire (Belgian - posted in from 66 Sqn. on 12 June 42 and posted out to 349 Sqn. 12 June 43)

F/L A. "Alex" Smith (June 44 to end of war)

Thanks,
Tom

[alieneyes]

Tom,

I'd be very surprised if this isn't your Connolly.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1133...liam-connolly/

R90246 Sgt Kenneth William Hawkins of Ingersoll, Ontario appears on the 398th RCAF Casualty List dated 18 October 1942 as "dangerously ill on active service"

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...lliam-hawkins?

Regards,

Dave

[Tom Semenza]

Dave,

A big thank you for these gems. There can be no doubt about Connolly given his service details in the obituary. Obviously the initials I had for him were incorrect. I had previously noted Kenneth William Hawkins as a likely candidate for K. Hawkins. While not definitive, your info from the RCAF Casualty List is compatible with the fact that Sgt. Hawkins was shot down and bailed out injured on 12 October.

Best Regards,
Tom

[JohnE]

F/Sgt. (later W/O) J. A. Brown (17 Jan. 44 to end of war) - Jack Arthur Brown (1333573)

F/O E. F. Clarkson (July-Aug. 42) - Edwin Frederick William Clarkson (45210)

Sgt. (later P/O) W. W. Connolly (I believe he was RCAF - served from 6 June 41 to 08 Jan. 42 - posted to 222 Sqn.) - Dennis William Patrick Connolly (J/15109)

Sgt. J. Crowford (served from 30 Sep. 41 to 26 June 42 - posted out to Malta)

Sgt. K. Hawkins RCAF (10 June to 12 Oct. 42) - Kenneth Williams Hawkins (R/90246)

P/O A. Lemaire (Belgian - posted in from 66 Sqn. on 12 June 42 and posted out to 349 Sqn. 12 June 43) - Andre Marie Etienne Joseph Lemaire (103565)

F/L A. "Alex" Smith (June 44 to end of war) - Alexander Smith (103451)

John Engelsted

[Tom Semenza]

John,

Many thanks to you for your, as usual, great information. I had the Clarkson that you sited as the primary candidate but no way to verify him. Also Lemaire I had just his first two initials and his service number so thanks for the very full name.

As for Alexander Smith (103451), he seems to have been in the Training Branch and the only mention I can find in the London Gazette shows his promotion to F/O w.e.f. 1 Apr. 1947. Perhaps a more likely candidate is 1104086 Alexander Smith (111493). He was a pilot and had been promoted to F/L w.e.f. 20 Sept. 1943. Your insights would be welcome.

That leaves only Crowford. I have as a possibility 1375216 John Dudley Crowford (from AIR 78).

Best Regards,
Tom