Questions Posted to 254 Sqdn Website

**254Sqdn** · 30th August 2009, 03:15

Hi if anyone has any information regarding myfather Leslie edmund larkin flying blenhiems for 254 sqaudron ( he crashed on Islay lived to tell the tale ) I appreciate it vewry much
thank you

Graham

Great site. My grandfather’s brother was Sgt Francis Georeg Kinghan who was killed on operations in a Blenheim over Norway on 25/06/1940. Does anyone know the circumstances of the incident that killed him. He is buried at Haugesand (Rossebo) Var Frelsers Cemetery. Thankyou

I am researching Second World War casualties from my old school, one of whom is Pilot Officer Richard Godfrey William Garneys WALES.

On the CWGC website (where he is incorrectly listed as Richard Carnbys Wales) he is shown as belonging to 254 Squadron, and as having been killed on 22nd May 1941. School sources have the date of his death as 22nd March 1941 instead of May, and suggest that he crashed over or off Norway.

So far I've been unable to find out anything else about the circumstances of his death, and he doesn't appear in your Roll of Honour for 1940-41, either in March or in May.

I'd be very grateful for anything further you may be able to tell me about him, his aircraft or the other aircrew - or for any suggestions you can make for other sources I might try.

**AlanW** · 30th August 2009, 07:33

Graham,
The owner of this site also has a book published on RAF Coastal Command Losses WW2 1939-41.
For 25/06/40, 254sqdn Blenheim, N3604 took off from Sumburgh at 12.48hrs, shot down by Ofw Arnoldy of 4/JG77 at approx 14.25hrs whilst attacking a ship off Stavanger.
F/Sgt P.G. Cory.
Sgt D.F.S. Campbell.
Sgt F.G. Kingham.

As for R.G. Wales, no 254sqdn losses on 22nd May 41, but on 22nd March 41 (as you state) 254sqdn lost Blenheim L9406 off the coast of Norway. Coastal Command losses shows only 2 crew members for this aircraft, as do other sources, by rights it should be 3 crew, so "possible" he may have been 3rd unrecorded crewmember.
The GRO military deaths index only has him registered as R.G. Wales and not R.G.W.G.Wales.

From same book, 8th July 1941, 254sqdn Blenheim T1941. Suffered engine failure and ran into soft ground during a forced landing at Port Ellen, 20.45hrs,
Flt/Sgt L.E. Larkin, safe.

**Dick** · 30th August 2009, 11:09

Hi
With ref. to Richard Wales, Graham Warner in his book "Blenheim" records the loss on 22/03/41 of Blenheim IV,L9406, 254 Sqn as shot down by naval flak off Haugesund, Norway. The crew,all KIA, were P/O J Duff, P/O Wales(no initials) and Sgt J York. This would appear to make Wales the Observer.
Regards
Dick

**Henk Welting** · 31st August 2009, 10:01

Hi all,
As far as I know is the observer's name not listed in the 254 Sqn ORB. May the death date for WALES listed by CWGC (22-5-1941) be incorrect ?
Rgards,
Henk.

**roger smith** · 2nd December 2012, 19:18

Originally Posted by Henk Welting

Hi all,
As far as I know is the observer's name not listed in the 254 Sqn ORB. May the death date for WALES listed by CWGC (22-5-1941) be incorrect ?
Rgards,
Henk.

Hi Henk,
I'm researchiching P/O Wales on behalf of his cousin Elesabeth Reed, and have come across this message from you and wondered if you had found any more info.
From what I can find from Elisabeth and at the Air Forces Memorial at Runneymede and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website the info about him is about right, although there are a few doubts about a few things, mainly dates and what he was actually doing. Not anything clandestine, but Elisabeth would really love to know all details about him.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Roger Smith