RAF Losses Western France 7 Aug 41

[Chris Goss]

Has anyone any record of a loss, probably Coastal Command, which resulted in the deaths of at least 2 crew? I have been given a number of photos in which were 2 photos of said casualties and the date 7 Aug 41 on the reverse

[Larry]

Chris,

I'm search for details of F/Lt D Rayment and Sgt R Sadler from Blenheim P4832 lost three weeks before on 17th July 1941 off Cherbourg (edited post as it was not 17 August 1941)

37536 Flt/Lt D.L. Rayment AFC, RAF Special Duty Flight
755417 Sergeant R. Sadler, RAF Special Duty Flight

It could be that they were washed ashore and buried as unknowns

Do you have anything that fits?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi Larry,
http://www.winkton.net/fonfa%20pages/hurricanes.htm

[Chris Goss]

Larry: The 2 bodies have not been washed ashore and are lying on heather, clearly identifiable (assuming the date is correct) so would not be buried as unknown

[Larry]

Chris and other members

I meant to say F/Lt D Rayment and Sgt R Sadler were lost on 17th JULY 1941.

They may be buried in France somewhere so the search continues!

[Henk Welting]

Larry,
I've a note that the crew of P4832 - SD Flight Christchurch - were on a radar calibration flight and hunting a balloon with the intention to destroy this; ditched about 24 miles SW of Worth Matraver in Dorset. Both airmen were seen on the ditched aircraft but disappeared.
Regards,
Henk.

[Larry]

Thanks Henk

Yes I have this info too! I think I was clutching at straws as they say in the UK, to try and fit two crew members that Chris has a photo off to the crew of P4832.

My thinking the other evening was that as they were actually seen to ditch and get out and stand on the wing (rather than crash into the sea) about 12 miles off Cherbourg, could they have got to land somehow and died from exhaustion after arriving?

At one time I thought there was a possibility that they were picked up by an He59 which in turn was shot down with them on board, especially as Ginger Lacey claimed a He59 on 17th July 1941 (though no loss of such an aircraft was recorded in LW records).

I will just have to accept that they just drowned or died of exposure

[Chris Goss]

A closer look at the back of the photos shows '7/8 1941' which could mean July-Aug 41 but the crash location is said to be Morlaix-any clues?