70 squadron Austria
 

Does anyone have any information at all about a 70 squadron bomber going down in Austria on or around 7th July 1944? A cousin, Flight Sargeant/W/OP/airgunner Rowland Eames Jones died that date and is buried in Klagenfurt Cemetery. It appears he has been forgotten by the family and I would love to know something about him.

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Jenglow, I've sent you a PM as well. Here is the total crewlist of Wellington X LP198:
Capt. MARQUARD, G. B. 205617V Pilot 70. Sqdn. SAAF 8. A. 12. (C)
Capt. POVEY, R. H. 104048V Navigator 70. Sqdn. SAAF 8. A. 12. (C)
Sgt. MAYLEY, Derek Graham 1800825 Air Bomber 22J. 70. Sqdn. RAFVR 8. A. 12. (C)
F/Sgt. JONES, Rowland Eames 657707 W. Operator 25J. 70. Sqdn. RAF 8. A. 11.
Sgt. ROWE, Alfred 544205 W. Operator 70. Sqdn. RAF 8. A. 12. (C)
The code at the ending reports the grave at the Klagenfurt war cemetery. "(C)" stands for collective grave. Maybe a clue that your cousin was the only crewmember clearly identified?
All the best for your research! Sincerely - Kurtl

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Why is it I can't find any listings of plane losses with crews' names? I have the information I needed but the 70 squadron site doesn't provide any sort of listings as I can find.

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

The best reference work for RAF losses and crew details is a series of books called RAF Bomber Command Losses, by WR 'Bill' Chorley, published by Midland County Press. 1939-40 is one book and thereafter there is one book for each year of the war. There are also separate books for Bomber OTUs and HCUs

Norman Franks, has done the same for RAF Fighter Command, in three books 1939-41, 1942-43 and 1944-45 by the same publisher.

Ross McNeill started doing a series for RAF Coastal Command but only Vol. 1 covering 1939-41 was ever issued 10 years ago - I have no idea why.

Hopefully someone will complete this for 1942-45

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Unfortunately, Chorley's would be of no use here. Mediterranean losses are not covered in that series of books.

If Vol 2 of David Gunby and Pelham Temple's "Bomber Losses in the Middle East and Mediterranean" ever comes out this particular loss would be covered there. Vol 1 covers 1939-1942.

Like Ross McNeill's Coastal Command Losses, Gunby and Temple's first book was also published by Midland County.

Further information on if/when MCP will ever publish Vols 2 of CC Losses and ME Losses here. It doesn't look good:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...Command-Losses

Regards,

Dave

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Thank you for that but I find it absolutely terrible that these man gave so much but are so anonymous on the internet.

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Doh!

I was thinking it was a mission flown from the UK!

Re: 70 squadron Austria
 

Thank you for your help gentlemen. I still feel that all this sort of information should be readily available.
I have a little more information that is on this post thanks to Kurt. From reading about another squadron it looks like they were dropping mines in the Danube. The plane went down fast and in flames according to an eye witness. Kurt has excavated some small parts of this Wellington.