Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

I am struggling to find information on a Lysander crash that occurred on 15 May 1940. The pilot was P/O Stathers, 13 sqn, he forced landed in a field close to Brussels, Belgium. From his logbook he reports his aircraft flipped in the field and was a write-off. Looking at the scribbled serial number it looks like V1228, not sure.

Any ideas would be appreciated, I have had a look at AIR 81 - PRO without success.

Thanks

Danny

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Could be N1223, recorded as lost in France June 1940, whilst with 13 Squadron, according to Air Britain serials.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hello Danny,

I agree with Sean about N1223. It seems to be the only candidate in the 'N122x' serial range and one we have had no history for to date. Can that '3' in his logbook also be read as an '8' ? The 'V' may well be the individual aircraft letter - or 'N' written badly ! Does the logbook record who his AG was on that flight ?
This loss adds to the two we know 13 Squadron suffered on 15 May 1940.

I would also note that in the 13 Squadron F.541 for March 1940 N1223 is recorded being flown a total of four times, including twice by P/O Strathers.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Finally got his logbook, and yes it is L1223, thanks for all your help guys. V was the tail number for this Lysander. And it was lost on 15 May 1940, with LAC Stephens as his Airgunner, no first name yet.

Please note the spelling of his surname and no R. A minor point.

Cheers

Danny

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Danny

Since L1223 was a Blenheim, I presume you agree the correct s/n was N1223?

Cheers
Stig

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Thanks Stig, yes, N

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hello ,

Did L1223 flipped over in a field at Braine-l'Alleud Belgium ?

Regards
Alain57

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hello ,

Did this Lysander flipped over in a field near Braine Braine-l'Alleud Belgium

Regards
Alain57

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hi,

All I know with the logbook entry is it says, near Brussels. I cannot find any crash report or data on this crash anywhere.

But total agreement it is Lysander N1223

Thanks

Danny

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Danny,
Thanks for this information.
It is nice to know that even after so many years there is still new information to be found.
Andy

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Does his
Logbox link any other 13 Lysander serials to Sqn Code ? Now we know he in B Flight with V

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Paul,

I will check and let you know. I am getting most of the details pilots log book entries for my next book Lysander Attack.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Ok great little by little some of these mysteries are solved - i don’t know how many 13 Sqn battle of France Lysanders are unidentified

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Danny,

Your Air Gunner ‘Stephens’ is a much tougher nut to crack than the others ! I cannot prove it for certain – hopefully others can – but there is one possible candidate. My reasoning is a bit tortuous, but bear with me.

Firstly the individual aircraft letter ‘V’ is important. I believe this was a ‘C’ Flight aircraft as 13 Squadron had ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Flights up to mid-September 1940.
I cannot find any trace of him in the 13 Sqn. ORB or Appendices up to the end of March 1940 when the Daily Routine Orders , etc. cease. Virtually nothing for April or May due to lost records as you know all too well. So he probably joined the squadron during that April or very early May 1940.
Sgt. Stephens, as he was by then, appears in at least one of the 13 Sqn. Appendices from July 1940 and is shown as an Air Gunner but no more detail unfortunately. Then in mid-September 1940 the entire ‘C’ Flight of 13 Sqn. – including Sgt. Stephens – was transferred to 231 Squadron. Again I cannot find any detail on him in the 231 Sqn. ORB or Appendices.

However the 231 Sqn. Appendices (AIR 27/1427, page 263) throws up a possibility. In the Daily Routine Orders for 18-10-1940 no less than 16 airmen from Sergeants to AC2’s are listed under the heading ‘TRAINING AS AIR CREW’, and all are detailed to report to the squadron Orderly Room three days later. One of these is ‘774 Sgt. S. J. Stephens’. Perhaps he volunteered to train as a pilot or observer ?

Looking through the AIR 78 enlisted personnel name cards one finds a 905774 Stanley John Cecil Stephens.I can find no trace of this service number in either the London Gazette or the CWGC websites. So he survived, was not commissioned and received no award. As far as I can see he did not become a POW either. Although the 231 Sqn. Appendices only goes to the end of October 1940 there is no further mention of him after 18-10-1940, and unfortunately their ORB has no F.541 for 1940.

Hopefully someone can verify his connection to 13 Squadron – or not. Or maybe some details of his post-1940 service.

Regards,

Martin.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hello,

905774 P/O Stanley John Cecil STEPHENS (116051) RAFVR

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...5476/page/1018

and ...

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/6415

There is also this fellow skulking about in 1931:

Air Ministry 31st March, 1931
ROYAL AIR FORCE
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.

The undermentioned are granted short service commission as Pilot Officers on probation with effect and with authority of 13th March, 1931 (p.2140).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...3703/page/2141

Stanley John Cecil STEPHENS.

and ...

Air Ministry 23rd June, 1931
ROYAL AIR FORCE
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.

The short service commission of Pilot Officer on probation Stanley John Cecil STEPHENS is terminated on cessation of duty. 17th June, 1931.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...3728/page/4079

He would not have had time to unpack his bags!

Col.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hello Col,

Fantastic sleuthing ! For the second day in a row the LG gives me no returns when I enter his enlisted S/N. His officer number does produce a number of results however.
Very possibly the same chap in 1931. He probably had an interesting life story to tell !

Regards,

Martin.

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Probably the same chap he was born 1911 in Malta so 20
In 1931 and died in Uk in 1980

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hi Danny,
since you seem to have his log book, can you see the times of this flight (take-off and possibly crash)?


Thanks, Pieter

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Thanks guys,

Pieter,

Will check today and let you know the details. Is it just times you need?

Thanks

Danny

Re: 13 Sqn Lysander crash 15 May 1940
 

Hi Danny, in principle yes, allows to find possible match with attackers.


Cheers, Pieter