423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

On Nov. 11, 1943, a Sunderland Mk. III (DP181) of 423 Squadron crashed while attempting a night-time landing on rough waters on Lough Erne, N. Ireland. Five of the 11 crew members were killed, but the following individuals survived: F/L M.D. Lee (C2362?) RCAF - Captain; F/O L.R. Hobbs (J11852) RCAF - Navigator; P/O H. Hutchinson (J17696) RCAF - F/Eng.; Sgt. C.S. Sheffield (533705) RAF - F/Eng.; Sgt. J.F. Long (1684826) RAF - FME/AG; and, Sgt. R.J. Green (1320446) RAF - WOM/AG. I would like to learn what happened to each of these men once they recovered from their injuries. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Neil T.

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

The man you have listed as Sgt. C.S. Sheffield (533705) RAF appears to be George Stanley Sheffield. He was promoted to Pilot Officer with number 55714 here (see first column toward the bottom):

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3757

He appears many times in the late 1940s in The Gazette.

Search for him off this search page https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
using: Sheffield 55714

The final mention is in 1953 here (see second column toward bottom) when he was cashiered from the service by General Court Martial:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/5995

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

Neil,

The number given Hutchinson belonged to P/O John William Fraser, of F/Lt Hopgood's crew/617 Sqn fame.

C2363 F/Lt Melvin Dewey Lee, born La Grande, Oregon 8 December 1914, deceased Vancouver 9 November 1991, commercial pilot post-war.

Attachment was of interest. It seems twins ran in the family as Melvin's wife gave him a set.

J11852 F/O Leslie Richard Hobbs, born London, UK 1 January 1910, deceased Nanaimo, BC 22 August 1976. Report in the Nanaimo Daily News 21 January 1944 has his in-laws receiving a letter from him detailing his injuries "one break in the right arm, three in the left, ankles and toes broken. Doing well"

1320446 Sgt. Richard James Green
1684826 Sgt. Jack Frederick Long

Regards,

Dave

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

Thank you for the information concerning George Stanley Sheffield. On the Form 765 Report on Flying Accident or Forced Landing Not Attributable to Enemy Action, they mistakenly listed him as Sgt. C. S. Sheffield. I will follow up on the additional leads you gave me.
Cheers, Neil

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

Dave,
Thanks for the additional information on Lee, Hobbs, Green and Long. As a result of your comments on Hutchinson, I rechecked the Form 765, Report on Flying Accident or Forced Landing not Attributable to Enemy Action, and the form lists P/O H. Hutchinson's service no. as J17696. I checked another source I have used in the past and it indicates his service no. is actually J17694. Would you be willing to check your sources and advise if this new number is the correct one for P/O Hutchinson?
Thanks much for your assistance.
Cheers, Neil

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

Neil,

The Canada Gazette was so horribly scanned I can't find anything. Obituary checks came up with quite few ex RCAF No. 423 Sqn veterans but Hutchinson wasn't one of them.

Regards,

Dave

Re: 423 Sqn - Hobbs, Lee, Hutchinson, Sheffield, Long, Green
 

Hi Dave,
Thanks for checking for me - your help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Neil