F/L Jack Ethelbert Pebody, AFC - KIA 18th December 1940

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Please could someone help me to identify the cause and aircraft flown by this RAF Officer killed on 18th December 1940?

Any information about a 217 and a 22 Squadron loss reported that day would be great ( crew and serial number or codes ).

Thanks in advance.
Adriano S. Baumgartner

[Peter Cornwell]

Herewith some details on the two losses you requested. No sign of F/L Pebody I’m afraid. If anyone can add to these please feel free to post.

22 Squadron, North Coates

Beaufort I L4516. Suffered engine failure and stalled shortly after take-off for night mine-laying sortie to Wilhelmshaven and crashed at Marshchapel, south of Cleethorpes, mine exploding on impact 11.30 p.m. (Pilot) Sergeant Dennis George How, (Obs) Sergeant Paul Victor Renai, (WOp) Sergeant Ralph Gerald Hart, and (WOp/AG) Sergeant Leonard James Peachey all killed. Aircraft OA*W a write-off.

217 Squadron, St Eval

Beaufort I L9823. Run out of fuel on return from night sortie to Bordeaux and ditched in the Channel, south-east of the Isle of Wight, 1.15 a.m. (WOp/AG) Sergeant Henry Eric Postill missing, (Pilot) Flight Sergeant [ ] Petch, Sergeant [ ] Hayes, and Sergeant [ ] Penver all rescued by RAF high-speed launch. Aircraft MW*L a write-off.

[Henk Welting]

L9823: I've:
N.S. PETCH - 564951; C.R. HAYES - 565911 and E.J. PENVER - 529068.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

I've PEBODY on board of SS Napier Star of the Blue Star Line, torpedoed by U.100 off Iceland pos. approx. 58.58N-23.13W, on a voyage from Liverpool to New Zealand (82 crew and 17 passengers of whom 15 survived).
Regards,
Henk.

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi ,

AIR 78 mentions for

564951 N.S.Petch : Norman Sykes (AIR 78-126 part 1 page 340)
565911 C.R.hayes : Cyril Robert (AIR 78-73 part 3 page 36)
529068 E.J.Penver : Edward James (AIR 78-125 part 1 page 1471)

Beste regards

Luc

[Adriano Baumgartner]

PETER, HENK and LUC,
Many thanks for the information related to Coastal Command losses on the 18th December 1940. I really thought that he was killed on active duty (flying operations). The information you sent will help me separate the airmen I am looking for. Unfortunately not every RAF member registered on CWGC does have information about his Squadron, hence my first question about F/L Pebody, AFC.
I am very grateful to you, who helped me to solve a cross-checking data.
Yours very sincerely
Adriano

[Peter Cornwell]

Another fine example of the mutual benefits of TOCH as a research forum. Many thanks Henk and Luc - much appreciated.