430415 - Unaccounted airmen - 15-4-1943

[Henk Welting]

What were the places of death registration for:

A - Died on active service:
AC1 Edward H. GODSELL - 1286070 - age 29, and
AC2 Francis J. MASON - 1099357 (from N.Ireland).

B - Killed on active service:
F/O (Nav) Arthur S. HERRINGTON - 129594, and
F/O (Pilot) Leslie H. HODGES - 128596.

C - Not found in Flight Global:
LAC William S.E. WALLINGTON - 919486 - age 25.

D - Proposed aircraft losses:
Beaufighter IF - R2098 - 51 OTU - spun into ground Putnoe Wood, near Bedford.
Beaufighter VI - JL566 - 9 (C)OTU - flew into ground Kirkbridge, near Cardurnock, Cumberland.
Beaufighter VI - JL627 - 304 FTU - crashed on take-off Port Ellen.

E - Also looking for cause of death of:
Sgt Robert HENDERSON - 1379032 - 221 Sqn (Luqa, Malta) - in Casualty Communiqué 247 (Flight 1-7-1943, page 25) reported as 'Missing believed killed in action' and commemorated on the Malta Air Forces Memorial. (Can't find a matching Wellington serial number - also refer to Sgt H.N. BATEMAN in thread for 14-4-1943).

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Godsell,29, registered at Wirral, Cheshire
Herrington,29, registered at Wigton, Cumberland together with Hodges,22.It is the right area for JL566.
Wallington,25, registered at Cambridge
Mason not in England and Wales but I see he was from Londonderry and is buried there
Regards
Dick

[alclark]

The ORB confirms Hodges and Herrington for JL566.

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Al & Dick for quick and helpful response.
Regards,
Henk.

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Henk,

Beaufighter IF - R2098 - 51 OTU - spun into ground Putnoe Wood, near Bedford.

Been trying to unravel this one for a bit now.

F1180 has sole fatality as F/O Dyer but no listing on CWGC.

Turns out he was USAAF

Dyer, Fred L, T120031

Regards
Ross

[wwrsimon]

Hello

AC2 Francis J. MASON - 1099357 - he is listed on the Will Calendar databse on the PRONI website, which has the following:

Mason, Francis Joseph of 7 Glenview Street Londonderry, Aircraftsman [sic] Royal Air Force, died 15 April 1943 at Bann View Hospital, Coleraine, County Londonderry.

Regards

Simon

[jonheyworth]

Mason died as the result of a motorcycle accident, see facebook comment link for details

[jonheyworth]

Edward Henry Godsell 1286070 , attached to RAF Sealand, was admitted seriously ill to RAF hospital, West Kirby on 23 January , becoming dangerously ill on 10 April and dying of influenza meningitis