3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

What caused the deaths of:

1. Leading Airman Richard H. Ritchie, RN FAA/SR.644, H.M.S. Ford [Naval History.net: Peregrine = RN Air Station, Ford, Sussex], age 21, 20/05/1940, Dorking Cemetery, UK

2. Air Mechanic (E) 2nd Class James O'Brien, RN FX76797, H.M.S. Peregrine [RN Air Station, Ford, Sussex], age 23, 06/06/1940, Arundel Roman Catholic Cemetery, UK

3. Air Fitter (O) John T. Beecroft, RN L/FX79011, [Daedalus II, RN Aircraft Training Establishment, Newcastle under Lyme], age 22, 16/06/1940, Newton (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hyde, UK

And to what units did they belong?


Regards,


Bart

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Unless they were aircraft related, your chances are slim as the majority of FAA records were destroyed in the 60s

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Hello Chris,

That's a pity, but it's good to know. Do you know what caused the destruction of the material?

Regards,

Bart

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Bart,
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1003-Intro.htm has all three as "DIED" (non-flying accident or natural causes).

Goed weekend en gegroet,
Henk.

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

They are all buried in the UK so maybe died of natural causes, accidents or in air raids etc if you ask on RAFCommands someone may look up the death registration district for you and this may give a clue fo air raids etc

anyway you could always request a death certificate at £7 (ish) and that may provide more details

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Thanks Paul and Henk,

Reason why I posted this question here is because FAA is not RAF, so I didn't know if the RAF Commands Forum would be the right place to post.

But Henk, weekend? Not for me: have to unload a container tomorrow.

Regards,

Bart

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

An over zealous officer apparently thought that the records would be of no further use..............so they were destroyed

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Hi Bart
Beecroft is in http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1940-06JUN2.htm simply as died. He is recorded as being on HMS Daedalus which I believe is the name of the Shore Establishment at Lee-on-Solent. Both Ritchie(20/5/40) and O'Brien(6/6/40) are also recorded simply as died and both were serving on HMS Peregrine which I believe is the name of RNAS Ford
Regards
Dick

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Hi Bart
Following Paul's suggestion I found the registration of the deaths of Ritchie and O'Brien at Chichester which is consistent with Ford but Beecroft is registered at Newcastle-u-Lyme which is in Staffordshire and a long way from Lee-on-Solent. The only thing I can suggest is that he "might" have been at an RN establishment at Clayton on the edge of Newcastle. I know of it's existence because many of the buildings were used post-war as part of Clayton Hall Girls Grammar School where my wife was educated. On the Naval History site his unit is given as Daedalus II which could be a different place to RNAS Lee-on Solent
Regards
Dick

Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
 

Thanks Dick and Chris,

@ Chris - I suppose this officer was later court martialed and quartered or at least beheaded? If not, it's time to do so.

@ Dick - HMS Daedalus is indeed a naval station as is HMS Peregrine. Unfortunately this doesn't mean a lot, as flying personnel in the diverse FAA Squadrons are listed by the CWGC as belonging to 'HMS Daedalus' etcetera.

Cheers,

Bart
(quicker back than expected, after unloading 12 tons of Chinese banners for the Dutch market)